Laboratory of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition

Graduate Scool and Faculty of Bioresources, Mie University

Tsu, Mie 514-8507 Japan

Last update: 4/Apr/2024

Our Laboratory is an educational and research field whose basic areas are "plant nutrition" and "soil science." We are integrating these two academic fields and working on problems that can be solved by understanding both.

We are conducting research on the role, accumulation, and transport of trace elements in plants, using metal analysis technology. Using this knowledge and technology, we are studying the special soil called serpentine soil (Ultramafic soil) and the unique flora that grows there.

Study themes in 2024

Construction of a database on metal accumulation in plants using plant specimens

By using a device called an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF), it has become possible to non-destructively measure the concentrations of elements contained in plant specimens.Applying this technology, we are currently borrowing plant specimens from museums around the country, measuring metal accumulation in each plant family and genus, searching for the maximum and minimum values of essential elements in plants, and identifying plants that accumulate specific metals. We are proceeding with exploration and application to research.

・Development of wasteland greening technology using domestic herb (Japanese thyme)

Half of Sugashima island, Toba City, Mie Prefecture, is covered in serpentinite, a special rock rich in magnesium, nickel, and various heavy metals. As a result of about 100 years of quarrying, the west side of Sugashima has become a wasteland, but the special soil composition makes it difficult to revegetate the area.

In our laboratory, we conducted chemical analyzes of plants that grow naturally on Sugashima Island, and we focused on a plant called Ibukijakousou, which has high nickel tolerance and grows vigorously even in wasteland. This plant is a type of thyme (a kind of edible herb) and has a highly aroma, and can be used for herbal tea, aroma oil production, honey production, etc.We are creating seedlings of this plant and verifying on-site how well they can actually adapt to wasteland.。

PI    Takafumi Mizuno 

                        (associate professor)

Born August 1969 in Hokkaido, Japan

Lecture in MIe University : Soil Science, Plant Nutrition, Inorganic Chemistry


Papers (Japanese papers were deleted)

●Takuo Enomoto, Junko Yoshida, Takafumi Mizuno, Toshihiro Watanabe & Sho Nishida. Differences in mineral accumulation and:gene expression profiles between two metal:hyperaccumulators, Noccaea japonica and Noccaea caerulescens ecotype Ganges, under excess nickel condition.Plant Signaling & Behavior, Volume 16, 2021 - Issue 10

●Nozomi Miyawaki, Takashi Fukushima, Takafumi Mizuno, Miyao Inoue and Kenji Takisawa Effect of wood biomass components on self‑heating, Bioresourcces and Bioprocessing, 8:21, 1-6, 2021

●Sho Nishida, Ryoji Tanikawa, Shota Ishida, Junko Yoshida, Takafumi Mizuno,

Hiromi Nakanishi and Naoki Furuta,　Elevated Expression of Vacuolar Nickel Transporter Gene IREG2 Is Associated With Reduced Root-to-Shoot Nickel Translocation in Noccaea japonica, Frontiers in Plant Science, vol11, Article 610, 2020, doi:10.3389/fpls.2020.00610

●Guillaume Echevarria, Alan JM Baker, Robert Boyd, Antony van der Ent,  Takafumi Mizuno, Nishanta Rajakaruna, Shota Sakaguchi, Aida Bani. A global forum on ultramafic ecosystems: from ultramafic ecology to rehabilitation of degraded environments. Ecological Research, 33(3), 517–522, 2018

●Mizuno T, Nakahara Y, Fujimori T, Yoshida H. Natural revegetation potential of Japanese wild thyme (Thymus quinquecostatus Celak.) on serpentine quarries. Ecological Research, 33(4), 777–788, 2018

●Nishida S, Kato A, Tsuzuki C, Yoshida J, Mizuno T. Induction of nickel accumulation in response to zinc deficiency in Arabidopsis thaliana. International Journal of Molecular Sciences,16, 9420-9430,2015

●Mizuno T, Kirihata Y,Elemental composition of plants from the serpentine soil of Sugashima Island, Japan. Australian Journal of Botany, 63(4) 252-260,　2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/BT14226

●Mizuno T, Emori K and Ito S.  Manganese hyperaccumulation from no-contaminated soil in Chengiopanax sciadophylloides and its correlation with calcium accumulation. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. 59,  591-602.2013

●Fernando DR, Marshall A, Baker AJM, Mizuno T. Microbeam methodologies as powerful tools in manganese hyperaccumulation research: present status and future directions. Frontiers in Plant Science.4, 1-9, 2013. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2013.00319

● Nishida S, Aisu A, and Mizuno T. Induction of IRT1 by the nickel-induced iron-deficient response in Arabidopsis. Plant Signaling and Behavior, 7(3): 329–331.  (2012)

●Harada E, Hokura A, Nakai I, Terada Y, Baba K, Yazaki K, Shiono M, Mizuno N and Mizuno T, Assessment of willow (Salix sp.) as a woody heavy metal accumulator: field survey and in vivo X-ray analyses. Metallomics, 3,1340-1346 (2011)

●Nishida S,  Tsuzuki T, Kato A, Aisu A, Yoshida J,and Mizuno T. AtIRT1, the Primary Iron Uptake Transporter in the Root, Mediates Excess Nickel Accumulation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Cell Physiol 52,1433-1442(2011)

●Nishida S, Morinaga Y, Obata H and Mizuno T. Identification of the N-terminal Region of TjZNT2, a Zrt/Irt-like Protein Family Metal Transporter, as a Novel Functional Region Involved in Metal Ion Selectivity. FEBS Journal.278, 851–858 (2011)

●Fernando DR,  Mizuno T, Woodrow IE, Baker AJM and  Collins RN. Characterisation of foliar Mn in Mn-(hyper)accumulators using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. New Phytologist,  188, 1014–1027(2010)

●Mizuno T, Nakagawa M, Ono H,  Sugiura D, Tamura H, Obata H. Isolation of multidrug resistance associated protein like gene from lead hyperaccumulator common buckwheat and its lead detoxification ability. Plant Biotechnology, 27,39-46 (2010)

●Mizuno T, Horie K, Nosaka S, Obata H, and  Mizuno N. Serpentine plants in Hokkaido and their chemical characteristics. Northeastern Naturalist. 16, 65-80 (2009)

●Takahashi T, Furuichi Y, izuno T, Kato M, Tabara A, Kawada Y, Hirano Y, Kubo K, Onozuka M and Kurita O. Water-holding capacity of insoluble fibre decreases the free water and elevates digesta viscosity in the rat. J. Sci. Food. Agri. 89: 245 – 250 (2009)

●Mizuno N, Amano Y, Mizuno T,  and Nanzyo M. Changes in the heavy minerals content and the element concentration of Tarumae-a tephra with distance from the source volcano.  Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 54, 839–845(2008).

●Nishida S, Mizuno T, and Obata H.Involvement of histidine-rich domain of ZIP family transporter TjZNT1 in metal ion specificity. Plant Phys. Biochem. 46 ,601-606 (2008).

●Sutigoolabud P, Mizuno T, Ongprasert S, Karita S, Takahashi T, Obata H and Senoo K. Effect of chlorate on nitrification in longan plantation soil. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 54, 387–392 (2008)

●Mizuno T, Asahina R, Hosono A, Tanaka A, Senoo K and Obata H. Age-dependent manganese hyperaccumulation in Chengiopanax sciadophylloides (Araliaceae). J. Plant Nutri. 31, 1811–1819 (2008)

●Mizuno T, Hirano K, Kato S and Obata H. Cloning of ZIP family metal transporter genes from a Mn hyperaccumulator plant Chengiopanax sciadophylloides, and its metal transport and resistance abilities in yeast.  Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 54,86-94 (2008)

●Mizuno T, Usui K, Nishida S, Unno T, and Obata H. Investigation of the basis for Ni tolerance conferred by the expression of TjZnt1 and TjZnt2 in yeast strains.  Plant Physiol. Biochem. 45(6-7), 371-378(2007)

●Mizuno T, Hirano K, Hosono A, Kato S, and Obata H. Continual pH lowering and manganese dioxide solubilization in the rhizosphere of Mn-hyperaccumulator plant Chengiopanax sciadophylloides. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 52, 726-733 (2006)

●Mizuno T, Usui K, Horie K, Nosaka S, Mizuno N, and Obata H. Cloning of three ZIP/Nramp transporter genes from a Ni hyperaccumulator plant Thlaspi japonicum and their Ni2+ transport abilities.  Plant Physiol. Biochem. 43(8),793-801 (2005)

●Mizuno, T., Obata, H., Horie, K., Nosaka, S., and Mizuno, N. Comparison of Ni/Zn metal accumulation ability of Thlaspi japonicum from three different areas in Hokkaido. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 51(4) 589-594(2005)

●Sutigoolabud, P., Senoo, K., Ongprasert, S., Mizuno, T., Mishima, T., Hisamatsu, M. and Obata, H. Decontamination of Chlorate in Longan Plantation Soils by Bio-Stimulation with Molasses Amendment. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 51(4) 583-588(2005)

●Sutigoolabud P, Senoo, K, Ongprasert, S, Mizuno, T, Tanaka, A, Obata, H and Hisamatsu, M. Decontamination of Chlorate in Longan Plantation Soils by Bio-stimulation with Sugar Amendment. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 50(2) 249-256(2004)

●Wang, Z., Kontani, Y., Sato Y., Mizuno, T., Mori, N. and Yamashita, H. Muscle type difference in the regulation of UCP3 under cold conditions. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 305,244-249 (2003)

●Mizuno, T.,Sonoda, T., Horie, K.,  Senoo, K., Tanaka, A., Mizuno, N., and Obata H.Cloning and characterization of phytochelatin synthase from a nickel hyperaccumulator Thlaspi japonicum and its expression in yeast. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 49, 285-290 (2003)

●Mizuno, N.Nosaka, S., Mizuno, T., Horie, K., and Obata, H. Distribution of Ni and Zn in the leaves of Thlaspi japonicum growing on ultramafic soil. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 49, 93-97 (2003)

●Tanaka, A., Sugimoto, H., Muta, Y., Mizuno, T., Senoo, K., Obata., H and Inoue, K. DSC Studies on the Effects of Ca 2+ on the Thermal Unfolding Pseudomonas cepacia Lipase.Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 67, 207-210 (2003)

●Mizuno, N., Takahasi, A., Wagatsuma T., Mizuno, T and Obata, H. Chemical component of guttation fluid in leaves of Petasites japonicus v. giganteus and Polygonum cuspidatum grown on ultramafic soil. Soil Sci. Plant Nutr. 48, 451-453(2002)

●Mori, N., Mizuno, T., Murai. K., Nakano I. and Yamashita, H. Effect of age on the gene transcription of neural-restrictive silencing factor NRSF / REST. Neurobiol. Aging, 23, 255-262 (2002)

●Mizuno, T., Mori, H., Nishimoto, M., Ito, H., Matsui, H., Kimura, A., Honma, H and Chiba, S. Isolation and sequence of a putative a-glucosidase gene from Brevibacterium fuscum var. dextranlyticum strain 0407. J. Appl. Glycosci. , 48, 287-291(2001)

●Mizuno, T., Miura-Suzuki, T., Yamashita, H. and Mori, N. Distinct regulation of brain mitochondrial carrier protein-1 and uncoupling protein-2 genes in the rat brain during cold exposure and aging. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm., 278, 691-697 (2000)

●Mizuno, T., Mori, H., Ito, H., Matsui, H., et al. Molecular cloning of isomaltotrio-dextranase from Brevibacterium fuscum var. dextranlyticum strain 0407 and its expression in Escherichia coli. Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem., 63, 1582-1588 (1999)

●Mizuno, T., Matsui, H., Ito, H., Mori, H., Kimura, A., Honma, H. and Chiba, S. Reinvstigation of isomaltotrio-dextranase from Brevibacterium fuscum var. dextranlyticum. J. Appl. Glycosci., 43, 347-353 (1996)

●Iwai, A., Ito, H., Mizuno, T., Mori, H., Matsui, H., Honma, H., Chiba, H., and Okada, G. Molecular cloning and expression of an isomalto-dextranase gene from Arthrobacter globiformis T6. J. Bacteriol., 176, 7730-7734 (1994) 


Books

●Takafumi Mizuno [Chapter 5. Nickel Disorder in Plants on Ultramafic Soils] in M. Inouhe, C. Walther and D.K. Gupta eds. 　Lithium and Nickel in Plants and the Environment. Pages:171–183 https://doi.org/10.1142/9789811283123_0007

●Mizuno, T., and Obata, H., Ni transporting function of ZIP/Nramp transporters in Ni hyperaccumulator plant Thlaspi japonicum. C. J. Li et al. (Eds), Plant Nutrition for food security, human health and environmental protection. 672-673, Tsinghua University. (2005)