Diversity of salt tolerance in , wild related species of the azuki bean ().

is a wild species closely related to the azuki bean (), with salt-tolerance abilities. The present study aimed to explore the genetic and salt tolerance diversity within the species, by evaluating the phylogenetic relationships of 55 accessions of including 25 newly collected from the Gotō Islands and Iki in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. We conducted salt-tolerance analysis for 48 of the accessions, including 18 of the newly collected accessions.

Genetic characterization of cucumber genetic resources in the NARO Genebank indicates their multiple dispersal trajectories to the East.

Genotyping-by-sequencing of 723 worldwide cucumber genetic resources revealed that cucumbers were dispersed eastward via at least three distinct routes, one to Southeast Asia and two from different directions to East Asia. The cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is an economically important vegetable crop cultivated and consumed worldwide. Despite its popularity, the manner in which cucumbers were dispersed from their origin in South Asia to the rest of the world, particularly to the east, remains a mystery due to the lack of written records.

Elucidation of genetic variation and population structure of melon genetic resources in the NARO Genebank, and construction of the World Melon Core Collection.

Numerous genetic resources of major crops have been introduced from around the world and deposited in Japanese National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) Genebank. Understanding their genetic variation and selecting a representative subset ("core collection") are essential for optimal management and efficient use of genetic resources. In this study, we conducted genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) to characterize the genetic relationships and population structure in 755 accessions of melon genetic resources.

Domestication of azuki bean and soybean in Japan: From the insight of archeological and molecular evidence.

Domestication of azuki bean and soybean has enabled them to acquire non-dormant seeds, non-shattering pods, and larger seed size. Seed remains of the Jomon period recently discovered at archeological sites in the Central Highlands of Japan (6,000-4,000 BP) suggest that the use of azuki bean and soybean and their increase in seed size began earlier in Japan than in China and Korea; molecular phylogenetic studies indicate that azuki bean and soybean originated in Japan. Recent identification of domestication genes indicate that the domestication traits of azuki bean and soybean were established by different mechanisms.

Domesticating : Chromosome-Level genome assembly reveals as a candidate gene decreasing hard-seededness.

To increase food production under the challenges presented by global climate change, the concept of domestication-utilizing stress-tolerant wild species as new crops-has recently gained considerable attention. We had previously identified mutants with desired domestication traits in a mutagenized population of the legume Kuntze (minni payaru) as a pilot for domestication. Given that there are multiple stress-tolerant wild legume species, it is important to establish efficient domestication processes using reverse genetics and identify the genes responsible for domestication traits.