Asuke Group

Welcome to the Asuke Group
in the Laboratory of Plant Pathology at Kobe University!

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RESEARCH

Our mission is to uncover the molecular principles that enable the creation of crops with robust and durable resistance to plant diseases. By focusing on host specialization in the blast fungus (Pyricularia oryzae), we seek to reveal the evolutionary drivers of fungal pathogenicity and to decode the genetic basis of disease resistance in cereal crops. Our work empowers next-generation resistance breeding to secure the future of global food production.

Pyricularia oryzae, the causal agent of rice blast disease, is a filamentous plant-pathogenic fungus that infects a wide range of grass species (Poaceae). Notably, P. oryzae exhibits host specialization at the plant genus level. For example, isolates collected from Oryza species (e.g., rice) predominantly infect rice but are unable to infect grass species belonging to other genera. To elucidate the genetic mechanisms underlying this host specificity, our laboratory employs genetic and molecular biological approaches to isolate virulence and avirulence genes from P. oryzae, as well as resistance genes from host plants.

Wheat is one of the most widely cultivated crops worldwide, and resistance breeding is among the most cost-effective strategies for disease control. However, only a limited number of wheat varieties currently possess resistance to the recently emerged wheat blast fungus. Our research aims to identify novel sources of resistance genes that are useful for breeding and to isolate these genes. To date, we have reported five resistance genes and are now collaborating with domestic and international research institutes to introduce these genes into major wheat varieties in Japan and worldwide. In addition to these identified genes, we are also working to discover new sources of resistance by exploring wild relatives of wheat, such as species in the Aegilops genus, as well as other related cultivated grasses, including oat and rice. We are developing technologies to effectively utilize these untapped genetic resources for improving wheat blast resistance.

PUBLICATION

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JOIN (MSc and PhD)

The laboratory of plant pathology belongs to the Division of Plant Health, Environment and Biotechnology in the Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University. If you are interested in joining/rotating in the lab, email soichiro.asuke**port.kobe-u.ac.jp with your CV attached (replace ** with @).