Currently...
Utilization of insect-associated symbiotic microbes as innovative source of plant defense elicitors
Previously, I established a new model where rice plants selectively recognize symbiotic microbes from honeydew of their insect pest, BPHs, and use them as important functional signals to activate their innate defense systems. With this know-how and already developed resources, I aim to further upgrade the novel types of insect-associated microbes into new type(s) of smart biocontrol agents. The main advantage of my approach includes the fact that plants evolved and optimized their pest recognition systems over millions of years, and thus plant-memorized elicitor microbes from insect secretions (honeydew) are expected to provide extremely stable, potent and environmentally friendly source of plant defense inducers. I will therefore (1) isolate, (2) characterize, and (3) validate BPH–associated microbes for their best efficacy and application methods on rice plants, using combination of molecular, laboratory and field experimental approaches
Previously...
Unlocking the Mysteries of Plant-Insect-(Microbe) Interactions
Discovery of new mechanisms for activation of plant defense against sucking insect pests
Plants evolved the ability to sense insect damage, for example tissue wounds caused by feeding of caterpillars, to timely activate their defense. However, feeding of tiny sucking insects, such as the rice brown planthoppers (Nilaparvata lugens; BPH), causes only limited mechanical damage on plants, so I hypothesized that plants must use other signals to detect planthopper attacks. Subsequently, I made original discovery that BPH honeydew secretions, released on rice plants during BPH feeding, act as strong triggers of rice defense, and published my results as first author in the Journal of Experimental Botany and Plant Signaling & Behavior. Main significance of this work lies in the fact that I demonstrated for the first time the involvement of “third-level players”, microbes in honeydew, as triggers of plant defense responses against sucking pests. This may apply to a broad variety of other agronomically important pests, such as aphids and whiteflies
Development of new methods for biological control of destructive insect pest Bemisia tabaci
Bemisia tabaci is a notorious agricultural pest. It causes serious damage in many crops due to spread of plant pathogenic viruses, such as TYLCVs or ToCVs. At present, control of B. tabaci heavily depends on toxic pesticides. The use of entomopathogenic fungi or natural predators that can control B. tabaci is therefore a very promising alternative method for safe environment-friendly biological control. However, it is practically contradicted by co-application of fungicides and insecticides in conventional crop management. To resolve this challenging problem, I examined combinatory effects of Beauveria bassiana (entomopathogenic fungi), natural predator (Nesidiocoris tenuis), various insecticides, and fungicides on management of B. tabaci in tomato production. The first part of this work as been published in the journal of Pest Management Science
Improvement of biological methods for control of spider mites by phytoseiid mites
Phytoseiid mites are useful arthropod predators that feed on plant-damaging spider mites. In my research, I hypothesized that certain groundcover plants could promote the efficacy of phytoseiid mites by providing them with refuge, alternate foods (nectar and pollen), and places to diapause, develop, and reproduce. By this, groundcover could have beneficial effect on control of plant- and fruit-damaging spider mites. I conducted 3-years of extensive research in peach orchards in Okayama Prefecture to examine (1) groundcover plants as potential insectary plants (2) phytoseiid mites on the groundcover plants, and (3) role of phytoseiid mites in spider mite control in peach orchards. Population work, featuring original molecular methods for genotyping of spider mite populations, was published in Biological Control. Identification of potential insectary plants that support phytoseiid mites was announced in Experimental and Applied Acarology. Practical guide and identification of suitable groundcover plants in peach orchards was released in two papers in Applied Entomology and Zoology and Japanese Journal of Applied Entomology and Zoology
Identification of novel mutations associated with insecticide/fungicide resistances and screening of pesticides for pest and disease control
Extensive use of pesticides enhances rapid development of pesticide resistances and leads to many difficulties in chemical control of agronomically important pests and diseases. In the additional projects I was involved in: I was involved in the international group effort to identify molecular mechanisms causing insecticide (pyrethroids)-resistance in Asian populations of diamondback moths. Results of this work were published in Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology with my co-authorship; I also assisted in-part in experiments and preparation of manuscripts in the identification of root nematodes of Lotus in paddy field conditions and screening and evaluation of essential nematicides Lotus root nematodes control. Results of this work yielded two scientific reports with my co-authorship were published in the Applied Entomology and Zoology and Agronomy journals. Furthermore, I also assisted in the monitoring and evaluation of cross-resistance patterns of succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicides against field isolates of Podosphaera xanthii on cucumber and the results were published in Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology with my co-authorship
Academic Goals and Career Prospects
...and I hope it come to pass
My long-term career goal is to become a leading scientist in the field of entomology and crop protection. I believe that this can be best achieved, as I am consciously doing, by combining basic and applied research fields in my training. This approach is likely to enhance my skills for being more authentic, creative and competitive that is all essential for my ultimate success in the highly challenging areas of innovation research and sustainable development of human society. Naturally, I aspire to one day guide young scientists in my birth country (Papua New Guinea, PNG), empowering and promoting science, and at the same time, linking Japan (the country I am currently based in) and PNG in research projects that can benefit both countries. PNG has great but underdeveloped agricultural sector, mainly because of wide-spread poverty and lack of access to modern knowledge and technology. More intimately, having grown up in a very remote area of PNG, where basic communal services (running water, electricity, gas supply) are scarce, I am extremely aware of flaring social problems in our PNG society. In fact, almost every child after high school or university has to return home to be a simple villager/farmer to help his/her parents, regardless of their true academic potentials. This has been the practice ever since; therefore, I work hard to establish myself as a leading scientist, also because I want to set a strong example, so that young students in PNG would get motivated, start to believe in themselves, and go the extra mile to (1) expose and (2) live to their full human potentials. Already repeating myself, I strongly wish to link Universities and High schools in PNG to those in Japan, and open before unimagined paths for those many, yet unnoticed students with outstanding academic capabilities in my home country.