Elucidating the mechanism by which plants activate their immune system: Toward the development of agricultural methods to suppress disease outbreaks caused by rain

Q1. What motivated you to pursue becoming a researcher?

A1. I found biology fascinating in class

I grew up in Kimotsuki District on the eastern side of the Osumi Peninsula in Kagoshima Prefecture, an area rich in nature. Being surrounded by plants and fields sparked my interest in living things in general. As I studied biology in high school, I found it fascinating how various questions I had harbored since childhood were gradually being resolved.

When I was preparing for university entrance exams, I learned that there was a graduate school beyond the undergraduate program, and I began to want to study more deeply. Since entering university, I have consistently researched the same field from my undergraduate days until now. As an undergraduate student, I became interested in cell death, where cells fulfill their final role by dying themselves, and I learned that plants have their own similar immune response mechanism.

Since plants cannot move on their own, they are constantly exposed to external threats, and I was amazed and fascinated by the fact that they possess the power to protect themselves and survive. At that time, I learned that Professor Yasuomi Tada, who had joined Kagawa University, was researching plant immunity, so I joined his laboratory and continue to conduct research under Professor Tada's guidance to this day.

Q2. What research are you currently working on?

A2. Plants prevent infection through stimulation of leaves

I am currently researching the mechanism by which plants sense rain and activate their immune system, using Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress) as my experimental material. While rain is essential for plant growth, it can also be a source of infection via pathogens contained in rainwater. As a result, plants prepare for infection risk by activating their immune system when exposed to rain, enabling them to fight faster and more strongly when pathogens invade.

I have clarified that this reaction occurs not simply from getting wet with water, but from the mechanical stimulation of rain hitting the leaves. When hair-like structures called "trichomes" on the leaf surface are bent by rain, calcium ion concentration increases in concentric circles, activating the immune system and preventing pathogen infection.

By elucidating the mechanism of such immune responses, there is potential to develop agricultural methods that can suppress rain-related diseases without using conventional pesticides. Having grown up in an area with many farmers, I hope that this research will eventually lead to the development of crops that are resistant to diseases.

Q3. Message for aspiring researchers

A3. Have confidence and a spirit of challenge, and be objective

I want people who aspire to become researchers to continue challenging themselves without setting limits. During my doctoral program, I developed a reagent for synthesizing proteins used in experiments. Having found that the technology that I initially developed for my own research has been proven useful to many people, I established a company to sell it. I learned that research outcomes can lead to business opportunities, which broadened my future options. I realized the importance of not just stopping at "it would be nice if we could do this," but actively pursuing new methods myself.

Research cannot be done alone. It's necessary to build networks and help each other. Even when teaching students, I've realized that rather than giving one-way instructions, building trust through mutual respect and valuing daily communication makes things proceed smoothly.

The environment around us changes daily, and global research advances rapidly. Therefore, I feel it's important to work diligently every day, constantly acquiring new knowledge and updating myself to stay competitive.

(Article; Yasuhiro Hatabe)