Training for the Next Generation

Graduate School of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology and Graduate School of Ibaraki University

In collaboration with Ibaraki University, the Garden supervises graduate students in two programs: the Master's program in the Department of Bioresource Science at the Graduate School of Agriculture, Ibaraki University, and the doctoral program in Plant Production Science at the United Graduate School of Agricultural Science. The latter is a consortium of three universities led by Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, including Ibaraki University and Utsunomiya University.

The Museum possesses a vast collection of living plants and dried plant specimens not found at other research institutions. Leveraging this collection and our accumulated knowledge, the Museum conducts phylogenetic systematics research on plants using indicators such as secondary metabolites, DNA, chromosomes, and external morphology, as well as research on plant adaptation and diversification in response to the environment. Students in the Master's and Doctoral programs can receive guidance on these research topics by researchers at the National Museum of Nature and Science.

Currently, four researchers are responsible for providing this guidance, and they hold concurrent appointments as faculty members at the graduate schools of Ibaraki University and Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. For more information about the research, please refer to the details below.

Goro Kokubugata, Visiting Professor

Focusing on the endangered plants of the Ryukyu Islands, we conduct phylogenetic systematics research using morphological and molecular data, as well as phytogeographical research on East Asia.

Nobuyuki Tanaka, Visiting Associate Professor

We conduct taxonomic and ethnobotanical research on the plant families Cannaceae and Zingiberaceae, which are large monocots belonging to the order Zingiberales. We also conduct plant inventory research in tropical Asia, particularly through fieldwork in Southeast Asia.

Yoshinori Murai, Visiting Associate Professor

We study polyphenolic compounds, such as flavonoids and anthocyanins, that are widely distributed in plants. By isolating and identifying these compounds from various plant species, we investigate their functions in plants, including flower coloration, UV protection, and their relationship with plant taxonomy and phylogeny.

Takayuki Mizuno, Visiting Associate Professor

Our research focuses on horticultural plants and other useful plant resources. We isolate and identify natural components, such as flavonoids, to clarify their roles and functions within living organisms, including their contribution to flower coloration.

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