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【JIRCAS Mail Magazine No.24 (Oct. 2021)】
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Registration for the JIRCAS International Symposium 2021 is now open.

Date: November 17, 2021, Online (YouTube JIRCAS channel)
Theme: The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation in Achieving Sustainable Food Systems in the Asia Monsoon Region: A Platform for International Collaboration
Details of the program and registration for the Symposium are available at:
https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/symposium/2021/e20211117

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■ Latest Topics
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● Elucidation of the Unique Reproductive Behavior of Desert Locust
Normally, male and female desert locusts live separately, but just before egg laying, females fly to the male population during the day to mate, and at night the pairs lay eggs in groups.
Since desert locusts slow down during egg laying, targeting the egg laying site may be an efficient way to get rid of them for pest control.
https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/release/2021/press202110

● Dr. Nishigaki Bags Best Poster Presentation Award at the Annual Meeting 2021 of the Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition
Dr. NISHIGAKI Tomohiro, Researcher in the Crop, Livestock and Environment Division, received the award for excellence in poster presentation at the annual meeting 2021 of the Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (JSSSPN) held online on September 14-16, 2021 for his poster titled “Cultivation of Stylosanthes guianensis can enhance phosphorus dynamics and following rice production in the central highlands of Madagascar”.
https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/reports/2021/r20210928

● Former JIRCAS Director Receives the 2020 Best Paper of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition (SSPN Award)
Dr. TORIYAMA Kazunobu, former Director of the Crop, Livestock and Environment Division, and his colleagues have been awarded the 2020 Best Paper of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition  (SSPN Award) and received the certificate at the award ceremony at the Annual Meeting of Japanese Society of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition held online on September 15, 2021.
https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/reports/2021/r20211008

● The Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Japan Visits JIRCAS
On October 14, 2021, H.E. Mr. Mukhsinkhuja Abdurakhmonov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Japan, and his delegation visited JIRCAS and exchanged opinions with President Koyama and other executive staff.
https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/reports/2021/r20211019

● Published Pickup Articles Surpass 400
Pick up 405, “Limiting Global Temperature Rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius”, focuses on the initiatives of COP26, which will be held from October 31, to limit the increase in average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, and as much as possible within 1.5 degrees Celsius.
https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/program/proc/blog/20211025

● Applications for employment of a researcher and fixed-term employment of young researchers
Would you like to do research with us? JIRCAS is now accepting applications for fixed-term employment of young researchers from April 2022. Deadline for application is on Nov. 19 (documents must be received by 5:00 PM). Applications by e-mail are accepted so feel free to apply or provide information to suitable candidates you may know.
https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/reports/2021/r20211019_0

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■ New Technology and Research Results from JIRCAS
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The JIRCAS International Symposium this year will focus on rice cultivation in the Asian monsoon region.
In last month's mail magazine, we introduced our research on development of rice varieties. This time, we are introducing the results of rice research in Asia and Africa.

● Soil oxidation conditions during the initial growth period of ratoons could contribute to improve the yield performance of ratoons
Even after the rice is harvested, the young leaves regenerate from the plant and produce tillers, so in areas where two cropping seasons are used, it is possible to harvest from the same plant.
In Myanmar, when rice plants were water managed under dry soil conditions for four weeks before and after the first harvest, the yield from the regenerated rice plants increased by more than 50% compared to plants managed under water-filled paddy fields.
https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/publication/research_results/2020_a04

● Rice and weeds in upland rice fields can be discriminated with good accuracy from a commercial-grade small drone
Weed control is an important issue for improving the productivity of upland rice, a major crop in Laos, and early detection and rapid weed control treatment are necessary.
In this study, a method that can classify rice, weeds, and soil with high accuracy using object-based image analysis of aerial drone images of upland rice fields was developed that can be used  to improve the efficiency of weeding operations.
https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/publication/research_results/2020_c05

● Effect of non-flooded water management on inside-canopy temperature dynamics, spikelet sterility, and grain yield of lowland rice in the tropics
Although non-flooded water management is expected to contribute to sustainable use of water resources and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, it has also been pointed out that it may cause yield loss due to high temperatures.
In Ghana, when non-flooded water management, which was not a problem during the rainy season, was applied during the flowering period of the dry season, it was found that the temperature in the paddy field increased during the afternoon and night, resulting in a decrease in yield.
https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/publication/research_results/2020_b12

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【Edited and Published by】
Information and Public Relations Office
Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS)
1-1 Ohwashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan