Prof. SAIJO Yusuke
Please tell us about your own research and what you find interesting about it.
We study on plant immunity, with particular focuses on plant interactions with mutualistic and parasitic microbes and on plant adaptation to fluctuating environments. Biotic interactions between organisms have provided the main driving force behind the diversity of life we see today, and it’s fascinating to unravel the mechanisms underlying interaction - defense and infection - strategies on both the host and microbe sides. We also hope to contribute to the promotion of sustainable agriculture by making effective use of the obtained knowledge on plant immunity and plant-inhabiting microbes.
Please tell us about the difficulties and joys of the research field.
It seems increasingly difficult for students to acquire practical skills at a usable level with a good understanding of the background of the research and to have confidence that they can conduct cutting-edge researches. It’s really exciting when our students and lab members discover or achieve something interesting through their ideas and ingenuity.
Please tell us about the expected results and social significance of the project.
Through the study of plant immunity and plant-microbe interactions, we expect to discover universal principles that underlie host–microbe interactions and plant adaptation to the environments. We also hope to utilize beneficial microbes (microbiomes) and immune regulators in plants to develop technologies that enhance plant nutrition, environmental stress tolerance, and disease resistance.
A message of support for students who are about to take the exam
Basic knowledge asked in conventional exams is useful for doing researches, but what is important in advancing researches is very different. In contrast to exams, where you solve a problem that has a definite correct answer in a limited time, in research you have the fun of finding important questions and solutions by yourself. You may not know what to do at first, but if you’re good at noticing small differences, making small adjustments, and coming up with unusual ideas, and if you’re interested in biology, you’ll be hooked on the joy of research within a year or two.
What websites, books, review articles, and so on, do you recommend for studying in order to apply for the lab ?
If you’re interested in plant immunity or plant-microbe interactions, please apply for "Lab tour" in our laboratory.
What do you do to keep yourself fresh?
Outdoor activities and soccer, reading.