Tomomi Wakabayashi Tomomi Wakabayashi

Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology *Profile is at the time of the award.

2026HagukumuBiology & Life sciences(hagukumu)

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Research topics: Intraspecific polymorphism and adaptive evolution of thermoinhibition of germination in Lotus japonicus

Keyword

Summary: Germination timing contributes to plant adaptation to local environmental conditions. Temperature is a key factor regulating germination timing, and its molecular mechanisms have been reported; however, evidence at the level of genetic factors underlying environmental adaptation in wild plant species remains limited. Lotus japonicus is widely and continuously distributed across Japan and is thought to have adapted to diverse environments during its range expansion. In our previous experiments, we observed variation among accessions originating from different locations in their germination responses to high-temperature conditions. In this study, I aim to elucidate the mechanisms of environmental adaptation in this species mediated by high temperature–induced germination inhibition, from both genetic and environmental perspectives.

Message

I am deeply honored to have been selected for the Inamori Research Grant, which has supported many outstanding studies to date. I am committed to advancing my research to elucidate the mechanisms and evolutionary processes underlying adaptive strategies in plants at the molecular level.