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Fourteen active chemical ingredients are officially registered in Japan as plant growth regulators (PGRs), exogenously-applied low dose chemicals regulating plant growth and development, for floricultural use. Of these, 11 are related to plant hormones, with similar activity to auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, and ethylene, and regulating biosynthesis and metabolism of gibberellin and cytokinin. There have been few changes in registered PGRs in recent years, but substantial new uses are being identified, and the range of applicable crops has been increasing. This review provides an overview of the use of PGRs in Japanese floriculture, which allows precise controls of harvest time and product shape while adapting to the large seasonal climate changes typical of monsoon climate. Relevant research elucidating the physiological and molecular processes underlying the practical applications of PGRs are summarized as well. • Fourteen active ingredients are registered as PGRs for floricultural use. • New applications of existing active ingredients are developing. • There are unique applications of PGRs in Japanese floriculture. • Physiological processes underlying the practical applications are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the biosynthesis of flavonol in grapevine in Japan. The research was done through observation of five flavonol genome sequences in various plants including grape, small berry, flower buds and flowers. Hypothesis of the study revealed that flavonol synthase' messenger ribonucleic acid accumulation decreases as it ripens which displays shading of the plant's color as it grow mature.

Presents abstracts of studies presented at the symposium on frontier of plant sciences in space during the 69th annual meeting of the Botanical Society of Japan. "Construction of Mini Earth," by Yasuhiro Tako; "Gravimorphogenesis in Plants," by Hideyuki Takahashi; "Expression of Genes Encoding Facililator Proteins of Auxin Polar Transport in Etiolated pea Epicotyls and its Regulation by Gravistimulation," by Tomoki Hoshino, Kensuke Miyamoto and Junichi Ueda.

Studies enantiomers of propionic acid by researchers from Japan. Determination on the absolute configuration of the enantiomers; Success on the conversion of racemate to diastereomeric esters; Result of the assay performed on the coleoptile elongation of Avena sativa.

Reports on the discovery of a novel fusicoccins by researchers from Japan. Identification of the novel fusicoccins from Phomopsis amygdali Niigata 2-A; Examination on their seed germination-stimulating activity in the presence of abscisic acid; Discussion on the possible biosynthetic relationships among these novel fusicoccins.

Ethylene interacts with other plant hormones to modulate many aspects of plant metabolism, including defence and stomata regulation. Therefore, its manipulation may allow plant pathogens to overcome the host's immune responses. This work investigates the role of ethylene as a virulence factor for Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), the aetiological agent of the bacterial canker of kiwifruit. The pandemic, highly virulent biovar of this pathogen produces ethylene, whereas the biovars isolated in Japan and Korea do not. Ethylene production is modulated in planta by light/dark cycle. Exogenous ethylene application stimulates bacterial virulence, and restricts or increases host colonisation if performed before or after inoculation, respectively. The deletion of a gene, unrelated to known bacterial biosynthetic pathways and putatively encoding for an oxidoreductase, abolishes ethylene production and reduces the pathogen growth rate in planta. Ethylene production by Psa may be a recently and independently evolved virulence trait in the arms race against the host. Plant- and pathogen-derived ethylene may concur in the activation/suppression of immune responses, in the chemotaxis toward a suitable entry point, or in the endophytic colonisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]