A research group led by Associate Professor Yukio Nagano of Saga University and Associate Professor Kei Kimura of the Faculty of Agriculture analyzed the entire genome of Nori inhabiting the Ariake Sea.It is the first time in the world to compare various varieties of Nori at the whole genome level.

 According to Saga University, the research group analyzed the entire genome of farmed seaweed and wild seaweed collected near the farm, centering on neopyropia yezoensis cultivated in the Ariake Sea.Wild scorpionfish from Shandong Province, China was used for comparison.

 As a result of analyzing the genomes of chloroplasts and mitochondria, it was clarified that the genomes of cultivated and wild seaweed in the Ariake Sea are extremely small compared to those produced in Shandong Province, China, and are genetically very similar.

 Subsequently, when the genome of the nucleus was analyzed and the genetic changes of the same cultured varieties were tracked, it was confirmed that the cultured and wild seaweeds of the Ariake Sea are closely related species.Although there is a need to develop new varieties of cultured seaweed that can withstand climate change, the research group believes that even if breeding is performed using wild seaweed around the farm, no breakthrough varieties can be expected. ..

 A strain of Neopyropia yezoensis that grows rapidly was found and aquaculture spread, but the gene that caused the mutation is unknown.The research group will endeavor to discover genes through this genome analysis, and will also try to find varieties that can withstand climate change from a wide variety of seaweeds.

Paper information:[PLOS ONE] Genomic diversity of 39 samples of Pyropia species grown in Japan

Saga University

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Saga University is a national university that was established in 1949 with the former Saga University established in 1976 and the Saga Medical University established in 2004 as the parent body. It has 6 faculties and 6 graduate schools, and about 5,800 undergraduate students are enrolled.Along with acquiring knowledge in specialized fields, a wide range of education, cooperation with others, and independent learning […]

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