Arimoto Laboratory

1. Development of a new agent to protect plants from pest damage
   Our research and development has yielded a new, edible insecticide effective against spidermite eggs. We had confirmed its high efficacy by 2008 and have submitted an application for registration as an agricultural chemical. In addition, it has been demonstrated that this insecticide does not affect natural predators of the two-spotted spider mite, Kanzawa spider mite, tomato russet mite, or the broad mite, thus, opening the possibility of its use as part of integrated pest control in conjunction with predator species.
2. Investigation of proteins related to host penetration by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL).
   Penetration of the tomato host by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) is facilitated by the host's glutamine. In order to identify genes controlling penetration, we compared proteins produced by penetrating and non-penetrating F. oxysporum isolates. Targeting genes expressed in high quantity by the former for knockout, we generated isolates that had lost their pathogenicity.

Research Subjects

• Development of a new agent to protect plants from pest damage
• Investigation of proteins related to host penetration by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL).