Cornell University Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics

The research interests at the University of Tsukuba are:
1) Molecular genetic and cytogenetic studies for conservation and for genetic diversity of underutilized species
2) Production of transgenic plants and environmental biosafety assessment of transgenic plants with respect to the biological / genetic diversity
3) Sustainable germplasm enhancement of the genetic resources with biotechnology applications emphasizing polysomic polyploid species
4) Multidisciplinary studies associated with genetic diversity, biosafety and bioethics with emphasis on socio-economic and development aspects.

Specific commodities of interest in bioloigcal research are root and tuber crops such as potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) and sweetpotatoes (Ipomoea batatas).

The above activities are strongly linked with International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), Rome, Italy and other relevant international agricultural research centers such under Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

I have been working on various aspects of Convention of Biological Diversity, and the major components of the interest on CBD are on biosafety, access and benefit sharing and sustainable uses of biological resources. Particular category is on agrobiodiversity. Since I have been working with International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI, Rome, Italy) as an Honorary Research Fellow and with Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics at Cornell University as an adjunct faculty, my interest is international and multi-disciplinary activities on the conservation and use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture including biotechnology applications for sustainable development. By feeding back the knowledge and experiences on natural sciences and technology to the socio-economic and political sciences, I would like to make an integrated view on how the natural resources and modern science and technology could lead to sustainable development for food security, poverty alleviation, and regional and world peace.

Case studies of the following categories are emphasized with bio-diplomacy team at Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS) of United Nations University at Tokyo :
1) Setting recommendations on policy and regulatory guidelines / laws, and pitfall analyses for implementing biosafety rules under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety for the Convention of Biological Diversity
2) Intellectual property right associated with agri-biotechnology and genetic resources
3) Access and benefit sharing of biological resources, emphasizing plant genetic resources for food and agriculture
4) Proprietary agri-biotechnology transfer to developing countries for small-scale industrialization
5) Public awareness and bioethics on agri-biotechnology applications to development

At Cornell University, besides various collaborative arrangements with the faculty members on international agriculture, I offer a short module class on plant cytogenetics laboratory since 1992. My host is Department of Plant Breeding & Genetics and potato and other Solanaceae species are major interest as commodities on their genetics and genetic diversity studies.

My teaching responsibility includes Plant Cytogenetics Laboratory(PL BR 446) .

Recent Publications

Watanabe, K. N. 2002. Challenges in Biotechnology for Abiotic Stress Tolerance on Roots and Tubers. Proceedings on JIRCAS-APEC Joint Workshop on Agricultural Biotechnology, JIRCAS, Tsukuba, Japan, In press.

Hamalainen, J. H., T. Kekarainen, K. N. Watanabe and J. P. T. Valkonen 2000.  Two closely linked loci control distinct resistance responses against potato virus A (PVA) in diploid potatoes. Molec. Plant Microbe Interac. 13(4):Å@402-412

Watanabe, K. N. and A. Komamine (Ed./author)  2000. Challenge of Plant and Agricultural Sciences to the Crisis of Biosphere on the Earth in the 21st Century. Landes Bioscience, Austin TX, USA.  309p. ISBN 1-58706-015-9

Valkonen, J. P. T. and K. N. Watanabe 1999. Autonomous cell death, temperature-sensitivity and the genetic control associated with resistance to cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in diploid potato (Solanum spp.). Theor. Appl. Genet.99:996-1005.

Watanabe, K. and E. Pehu 1997. (eds.) Plant Biotechnology and Plant Genetic Resources for Sustainability and Productivity. R. G. Landes Co., Georgetown, Texas, USA,  247p.   ISBN-0-12-737145-1

Patent:
Furuswa, I., K. N. Watanabe and K. Kasai. 2000. JP 3047022:  A Novel SCAR marker for a gene Ryadg conferring extreme PVY resistance.

© 2006 Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University