Nitrogen is one of the most essential nutrients for plant growth. Nitrogen sprayed as fertilizer is assimilated into glutamine in the roots, and other nitrogen-containing compounds such as amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids are synthesized. In the leaves, nitrogen is involved in the production of plant substances, mainly photosynthesis, as protein and chlorophyll, and is eventually stored in the seeds as storage protein. We are conducting research to develop highly functional foods made from plants and useful plant materials as biomass materials.

Nitrogen is present in very low concentrations in the soil mainly in the form of ions such as nitrate and ammonium. Plants efficiently take up nitrogen nutrition into their roots by expressing various nitrogen transporters in the root surface cells. Among these nitrogen transporters, we are analyzing the transporters involved in the transport of ammonium and urea and their regulation mechanisms at the activity level. We are conducting research to develop plants that can efficiently tackle the small amount of nitrogen fertilizer into their bodies and reduce their environmental impact.