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SAITO Akihiro Assistant Professor |
From Graduate School 【 display / non-display 】
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Tokyo University of Agriculture Graduate School, Division of Agriculture Department of Agricultural Chemistry Doctoral program (second term) Completed
- 2009.03
Country：Japan
Studying abroad experiences 【 display / non-display 】
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2019.04 - 2020.03 French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA/INRAE), BPMP(Biochimie et physiologie moléculaire des plantes), Montpellier, France Research on iron nutrition of higher plants
Degree 【 display / non-display 】
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Ph.D. (Agricultural Chemistry) ( 2009.03 Tokyo University of Agriculture )
Employment Record in Research 【 display / non-display 】
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Tokyo University of Agriculture Faculty of Applied Bio-Science Department of Applied Biology and Chemistry Assistant Professor
2011.04 - 2018.03
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Tokyo University of Agriculture Faculty of Applied Bio-Science Department of Agricultural Chemistry Assistant Professor
2018.04 - 2019.03
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Tokyo University of Agriculture Faculty of Applied Bio-Science Department of Agricultural Chemistry Invited Researcher, French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRA/INRAE) Montpellier, France
2019.04 - 2020.03
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Tokyo University of Agriculture Faculty of Applied Bio-Science Department of Agricultural Chemistry Assistant Professor
2020.04
External Career 【 display / non-display 】
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Institut national de la recherche agronomique (INRA/INRAE) Biochimie et physiologie moléculaire des plantes (B&PMP), Montpellier Researcher
2019.04 - 2020.03
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The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences Researcher
2010.04 - 2011.03
Country：Japan
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Waseda University Faculty of Education and Integrated Science Postdoctoral Fellowships of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
2009.10 - 2010.03
Country：Japan
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The University of Tokyo Graduate School of Frontier Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowships of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
2009.04 - 2009.09
Country：Japan
Professional Memberships 【 display / non-display 】
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Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
2004.06
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The Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists
2005.01
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The Botanical Society of Japan
2009.04
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The Japanese Society of Photosynthesis Research
2009.04
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International Society of Photosynthesis Research
2010.03
Research Interests 【 display / non-display 】
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Plant Nutrition
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Photosynthesis
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Chloroplast
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Mitochondria
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Vacuole
Papers 【 display / non-display 】
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Establishment of a non-transgenic iron-biofortified rice line using a novel HRZ1 mutation Reviewed
Akihiro Saito, Junya Kumano, Masataka Suzuki, Kento Nakamura, Hiromi Ichinokawa, Arata Higashimoto, Mai Kato, Kei Shimada, Sachiho Koshika, Satomi Nakayama, Nanami Kawano, Shunta Nishino, Takehiro Kobayashi, Haruka Nakamura, Kurumi Yamanaka, Ayane Konno, Rina Shimokawa, Ryoma Sugano, Shuhei Mukaida, Hayate Hata, Takuji Ohyama, Yusuke Shikanai, Toshihiro Kumamaru, Shimpei Uraguchi, Toru Fujiwara, and Kyoko Higuchi
Rice 19 ( 24 ) 2026.04
Authorship：Lead author, Corresponding author Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal) Publisher：Springer Nature
DOI： https://doi.org/10.1186/s12284-026-00897-6
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Diurnal changes in the transport rates of ureides, amides, cations, anions, and organic acids estimated by xylem sap exudate and the transpiration rate of soybean plants Reviewed International journal
Ryo Toyoda, Kyoko Higuchi, Akihiro Saito, Takuji Ohyama
Plants 15 ( 4 ) 561 2026.02
Language：English
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Role of callose accumulation in the suppression of calcium-deficiency-induced necrosis in Arabidopsis thaliana cotyledons Reviewed
Yusuke Shikanai, Takehiro Kamiya, Akihiro Saito, Kyoko Higuchi, Toru Fujiwara
Plant Signaling & Behavior 21 ( 1 ) 2607237 2026.01
Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
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Variation in the use efficiency of leaf iron for growth among rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars Reviewed
Akihiro Saito, Mio Okamura, Yusuke Shikanai, Kyoko Higuchi
Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 72 ( 1 ) 90 - 96 2026.01
Authorship：Lead author Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
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Induction of uncharacterized NRT2 genes by high-pH stress in barley International journal
Sho Nishida; Akari Miyauchi; Haruka Shirai; Kotono Tomita; Kazuki Musha; Keisuke Tanaka; Yusuke Shikanai; Akihiro Saito; Takuji Ohyama; Kyoko Higuchi
Soil Science and Plant Nutrition 2025.10
Language：English Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)
Misc 【 display / non-display 】
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遺伝子組換えを使用しない社会実装型の高鉄米のゲノム育種
齋藤彰宏
The NEWS 東京農大 ( 第107号 ) 2026.07
Authorship：Lead author Language：Japanese Publishing type：Article, review, commentary, editorial, etc. (other)
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良食味化・多収化を目指した「鉄栄養強化イネ」新品種の効率的育種と高品質多収栽培法の確立（２０２５年度 こめプロジェクト報告書）
齋藤彰宏（PM）・佐々木卓治・篠崎和子（PD）ら
東京農業大学・受託研究プロジェクト報告書 2026
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良食味化・多収化を目指した「鉄栄養強化イネ」新品種の効率的育種と高品質多収栽培法の確立（２０２４年度 こめプロジェクト報告書）
齋藤彰宏（PM）・佐々木卓治・篠崎和子（PD）ら
東京農業大学・受託研究プロジェクト報告書 2025
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良食味化・多収化を目指した「鉄栄養強化イネ」新品種の効率的育種と高品質多収栽培法の確立（２０２３年度 こめプロジェクト報告書）
齋藤彰宏（PM）・佐々木卓治・篠崎和子（PD）ら
東京農業大学・受託研究プロジェクト報告書 2024
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良食味化・多収化を目指した「鉄栄養強化イネ」新品種の効率的育種と高品質多収栽培法の確立（２０２２年度 こめプロジェクト報告書）
齋藤彰宏（PM）・佐々木卓治・篠崎和子（PD）ら
東京農業大学・受託研究プロジェクト報告書 2023
Honours, Awards and Prizes 【 display / non-display 】
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Poster Award (ICOBTE 2015 FUKUOKA)
2015.07 International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements
Award type：International academic award (Japan or overseas) Country：Japan
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Poster Award, JSSSPN 2013 (Nagoya University)
2013.09 Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
Akihiro Saito, Katsuki Kato, Tomomi Nakajima, Eitaro Miwa, Kyoko Higuchi
Award type：International academic award (Japan or overseas) Country：Japan
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Poster Award, JSSSPN 2009 (Kyoto University)
2009.09 Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
Award type：Award from Japanese society, conference, symposium, etc. Country：Japan
Scientific Research Funds Acquisition Results 【 display / non-display 】
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鉄欠乏耐性植物の新規「光化学系の超分子複合体」の機能・構造の解明とその応用
2024.04 - 2027.03
科学研究費助成事業 基盤研究(B)
齋藤彰宏
Authorship：Principal investigator
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可塑性に富むオオムギ光化学系の多様な鉄欠乏順応機構の解明
2020.04 - 2023.03
科学研究費補助金 基盤研究(B)
樋口恭子
Authorship：Coinvestigator(s)
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重金属過剰で誘導されるミトコンドリア選択的オートファジーの分子機構
2016.04 - 2019.03
科学研究費補助金 若手研究(B)
齋藤彰宏
Authorship：Principal investigator
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基幹的代謝の最適化に基づくオオムギの鉄欠乏適応機構の解明
2013.04 - 2015.03
科学研究費補助金 基盤研究(B)
樋口恭子
Authorship：Coinvestigator(s)
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集光機能の改良に基づく無機栄養ストレス耐性作物の創出
2012.04 - 2014.03
科学研究費補助金 若手研究(B)
齋藤彰宏
Authorship：Principal investigator
鉄は葉緑体の電子伝達系の構成因子であり、安定した光合成を可能にする。仮に鉄が長期的に欠乏すると、葉緑体の電子伝達が異常となり、最終的に光酸化ストレスによって細胞死が起こる。本研究では、鉄欠乏オオムギの光合成機能の最適化を担う必須因子HvLhcb1.12に着目した。HvLhcb1.12は集光性アンテナタンパク質の一種であるが、そのN末端側には多数のリン酸化部位が存在する。本遺伝子をイネに導入した結果、過剰光条件下での収量が野生型のイネより約25%増加し、光酸化ストレスの回避に貢献することが示された。
Other External Funds 【 display / non-display 】
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植物の先祖返りでGX 志向型植物工場を実現する
2026.04 - 2027.03
自然科学研究機構 自然科学研究機構_Open Mix Lab (OML)公募研究プログラム（テーマ設定型）
横野牧生
Authorship：Coinvestigator(s)
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農作物の生産性向上や持続可能な作物生産に資するRIイメージング技術の開発及び導き出される生産方法の実証
2024.04 - 2029.03
福島国際研究教育機構 Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation (F-REI) F-REI(福島国際研究教育機構)研究費
樋口恭子・齋藤彰宏・鹿内勇佑
Authorship：Coinvestigator(s) Grant type：Competitive
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高タンパク質かつ良食味米の育種およびその評価に関する研究
2024 - 2026
医食同源生薬研究財団 医食同源生薬研究財団研究助成
Authorship：Coinvestigator(s) Grant type：Collaborative (industry/university)
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良食味化・多収化を目指した「鉄栄養強化イネ」 新品種の効率的育種と高品質多収栽培法の確立
2021.12 - 2026.03
東京農業大学 東京農業大学総合研究所・こめプロジェクト研究
Authorship：Principal investigator Grant type：Competitive
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Development and practical application of a new "nutritionally enhanced rice" to improve the nutritional metabolism of modern humans - Development of a unique brand of rice from Tokyo University of Agriculture-
2018.06 - 2020.03
Grant type：Competitive
Past of Commissioned Research 【 display / non-display 】
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企業の研究支援（複数）
2018.04 - 2019.03
一般受託研究 The General Consignment Study
Past of Cooperative Research 【 display / non-display 】
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Joint research with NARO
2017.04
Cooperative Research within an Affiliated University or Institute Cooperative Research within an Affiliated University or Institute
Presentations 【 display / non-display 】
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Iron as a mediator of light energy: How barley restrains runaway light energy under iron deficiency
Akihiro Saito, Suzuha Hirayama, Miku Arakaki, Kai Nakano, Karin Irie, Makio Yokono, Yusuke Shikanai, Kyoko Higuchi
22nd International Symposium on Iron Nutrition and Interactions in Plants (ISINIP2026) 2026.06 ISINIP
Event date： 2026.06
Language：English Presentation type：Oral presentation (general)
Venue：Kanazawa Country：Japan
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Kyoko Higuchi, Kai Nakano, Kiei Soyama, Jun Furukawa, Ichiro Niiyama, Yusuke Shikanai, Naoki Kawachi, Akihiro Saito
22nd International Symposium on Iron Nutrition and Interactions in Plants (ISINIP2026) 2026.06 ISINIP
Event date： 2026.06
Venue：Kanazawa Country：Japan
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「米／稲」の栄養とその改良 Invited
齋藤彰宏
第80回 日本伝統食品研究会 2026.04 日本伝統食品研究会
Event date： 2026.04
Language：Japanese Presentation type：Oral presentation (invited, special)
Venue：学習院大学（東京） Country：Japan
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Efficient Quenching by Phosphorylated Lhcb1–Enriched PSI–PSII Megacomplexes Formed in Thylakoid Membranes of Iron-Deficient Barley International conference
Akihiro Saito, Suzuha Hirayama, Miku Arakaki, Kai Nakano, Makio Yokono, Yusuke Shikanai, Kyoko Higuchi
67th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists in Tokyo 2026.03 the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists
Event date： 2026.03
Language：English Presentation type：Poster presentation
Venue：Meiji University, Surugadai Campus Country：Japan
Barley varieties commonly enhance nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ), a thermal dissipation mechanism, under Fe deficiency to protect against photodamage. In this process, phosphorylated Lhcb1 (pLhcb1) plays an essential role in NPQ induction. However, the mechanism underlying pLhcb1 function in Fe-deficiency-induced NPQ has remained unclear. We recently discovered novel pLhcb1–PSII–PSI megacomplexes that are constitutively formed in the stroma lamellae of Fe-deficient barley. In barley chlorina mutants lacking Lhcb1 and the ability to enhance Fe-deficiency-induced NPQ, these megacomplexes were almost absent, suggesting that pLhcb1-mediated NPQ is associated with these complexes. To elucidate the energy-transfer pathways within the megacomplexes, we performed fluorescence decay–associated spectra (FDAS) using a variety whose megacomplexes remain stable during isolation. FDAS revealed that the megacomplexes mediate rapid energy transfer from PSII to PSI via LHCII, mainly composed of Lhcb1, resulting in highly efficient thermal dissipation. We are currently isolating large quantities of the megacomplexes to clarify their protein composition and to prepare for structural analysis.
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Analyses of Cell Wall-Related and Disease-Responsive Gene Mutants in Low-Calcium-Induced Cell Death in Arabidopsis International conference
Yamada Koharu, Saito Akihiro, Higuchi Kyoko, Shikanai Yusuke
67th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists in Tokyo 2026.03 the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists
Event date： 2026.03
Language：English Presentation type：Poster presentation
Venue：Meiji University, Surugadai Campus Country：Japan
Calcium (Ca) deficiency symptom is a serious problem in crop production because it leads to necrosis, such as blossom end rot of fruits and tip burn of leafy vegetables. Ca deficiency alters cell wall composition and triggers defense responses, including cell death. Although much is known about pathogen-induced cell death, little is known about how Ca deficiency triggers necrosis or whether cell wall changes are involved.
In this study, we investigated the involvement of cell wall-related and disease-responsive genes in low Ca tolerance and the development of cell death in Arabidopsis. To date, we have measured the shoot fresh weights under low Ca conditions in 14 mutants defective in genes related to cell death and cell wall regulation. As a result, Ca channel deletion mutants (cngc2 and cngc4) and lignin-deficient mutants (myb15) showed a tendency of growth improvement compared with the wild-type plants under low Ca conditions, suggesting the possible involvement of Ca channels and lignin in low-Ca sensitivity. We are now going to clarify whether the mutants are involved in the occurrence of cell death in new leaves using trypan blue staining.
Teaching Experience 【 display / non-display 】
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細胞生物学
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卒業論文
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無機化学（一）
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分析化学実験
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研究室演習（一）
Committee Memberships 【 display / non-display 】
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"International Symposium of Iron Nutrition and Interactions in Plants 2026 (ISINIP2026) " Local Organizing Committee
2025 - 2026
Committee type：Academic society
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日本土壌肥料学会 2023年度日本土壌肥料学会関東支部大会運営委員
2022.09 - 2023.12
Committee type：Academic society
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Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition Steering Committee Member of the 68th Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
2021.04 - 2022.09
Committee type：Academic society
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Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition Management Committee for the 2018 election
2018.04 - 2019.03
Committee type：Academic society
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The Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists Steering Committee Member, The 56th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists
2014.04 - 2015.03
Committee type：Academic society
Social Activities 【 display / non-display 】
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Open Campus (held in June 2026) ,Mock Lecture for High School Students
Role(s)： Lecturer
2026.06
Audience： High school students, Guardians
Type：Visiting lecture
Lecture Title "Breeding strategies to enhance the nutritional value of rice"
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世田谷キャンパス新エリア「農と水の森」水田お披露目会（「農ある風景」運用委員会）
Role(s)： Logistic support
東京農業大学 2026.06
Audience： Schoolchildren, College students, Teachers, Guardians, Researchesrs, General, Company
Type：University open house
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こめプロジェクト報告会2025年度
Role(s)： Guest, Report author
東京農業大学・総合研究所 2026.03
Audience： Teachers, Researchesrs, Company, Governmental agency
Type：Lecture
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こめプロジェクト報告会2024年度
Role(s)： Guest, Panelist, Report author
2025.03
Audience： College students, Graduate students, Teachers, Guardians, Researchesrs, General, Scientific, Company, Civic organization, Governmental agency, Media
Type：Lecture
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東京農大・産学官HUB構想シンポジウムへの参加（社会実装を目指した学内研究プロジェクト成果報告）
Role(s)： Panelist, Report author
2024.12
Audience： High school students, Graduate students, Teachers, Guardians, Researchesrs, General, Scientific, Company, Civic organization, Governmental agency, Media
Media Coverage 【 display / non-display 】
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Radio appearances: ‘Iron-rich rice developed by Tokyo University of Agriculture’ TV or radio program
Tokyofm Tokyo FM radio programme ‘Agrizum’: 2026.06
On the Tokyo FM radio programme ‘Agrizum’, I talked about the ‘iron-rich rice’that we have developed.
https://radiko.jp/#!/ts/FMT/20260604155000
https://www.nodai.ac.jp/news/article/tokyofm-1/ -
Newspaper report: ‘Prevent iron-deficiency-related anaemia by eating rice?: Rice variety with over double the iron content developed’ Newspaper, magazine
The Japan Agricultural News 2026.06
This article discusses the development of non-GMO rice varieties containing more than twice the usual amount of iron per grain. Hoping that this rice will help to overcome iron-deficiency anemia without the need for medical treatment or supplements.
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TV appearances: Discussing research into rice cultivation with increased iron content and providing commentary on rice TV or radio program
TBS 「THE TIME,」 2026.05
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Newspaper of the Sho-Kei Advice (Business and Economic Advice) Top page 2026.04
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Newspaper report: ‘Tokyo University of Agriculture develops rice with double the iron content to combat anaemia’ Newspaper, magazine
The Nikkei（Newspaper about Japanese Businesses and Economics) 2026.04
Author：Other
Academic Activities 【 display / non-display 】
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"Agricultural chemistry-from the beginning to the future", the museum of Tokyo University of Agriculture
2018.09 - 2019.08
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110th Anniversary Kickoff Symposium on Department of Agricultural Chemistry, TUA
2018.03
Basic stance of industry-university cooperation 【 display / non-display 】
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I promote industry–academia collaboration to translate research outcomes into societal applications. At the same time, I believe that fundamental research is equally important as the foundation for creating new technologies and value.
Attractiveness of Research 【 display / non-display 】
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Humanity relies on plants for both photosynthetic products and essential nutrients. Through fundamental research on photosynthesis and mineral nutrition, we aim to uncover valuable plant traits and the genes that control them, ultimately contributing to the development of improved crop varieties.