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Forest Botany Lab
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The lab studies plants and fungi in forests to protect the health of trees.
AboutAbout the lab
Studying plants and fungi to protect forest health
The Forest Botany Lab studies the plants and microorganisms that grow and live in forests.
Forest botany is an applied plant science that supports forest management, and it includes taxonomy, morphology, ecology, physiology, and genetics.
The lab aims to maintain the health of forest ecosystems and of each individual tree.
This field forms the foundation for forest cultivation and conservation, the conservation of rare species, and the control of tree diseases.
Key terms
- Mycorrhizal fungi
- Fungi that live in symbiosis with tree roots and help them absorb nutrients and water from the soil
- Xylem embolism
- A condition in which air bubbles or similar obstructions enter the water-conducting tubes in the trunk and block them, so that water can no longer be transported from the roots to the leaves
- Endophytes
- Fungi that live inside the leaves and bark of plants without causing noticeable harm
NewsLab news
Joint research with Nara University of Education and others clarifies how pine wilt disease progresses
Prof. Fukuda receives the Society Award from the Japanese Society of Tree Health
Prof. Matsushita receives the Society Award from the Japanese Society of Tree Health
A doctoral student receives the Student Encouragement Award from the Japanese Forest Society
A doctoral student receives the Student Poster Award from the Japanese Forest Society
ResearchResearch themes
The lab aims to build knowledge about the plants and microorganisms that grow and live in forests, in order to maintain the health of forest ecosystems and individual trees. It works on three interrelated topics: the ecology of forest plants and fungi, tree health and stress responses, and interactions between trees and microorganisms.
*Illustrative imageEcology of forest plants and fungi
The lab broadly investigates the diversity and ecology of the trees, herbaceous plants, and fungi that make up forests. One example is research that uses DNA differences to clarify how plants and fungi reproduce.
*Illustrative imageStress responses of trees
The lab studies how trees maintain their health under stresses such as water shortage, low temperatures, and pathogen infection. Using an MRI system designed specifically for trees, it also studies xylem embolism, in which the water pathways in the trunk become blocked.
*Illustrative imageInteractions between trees and microorganisms
The lab aims to clarify the ecology of the diverse microorganisms surrounding trees, and how they interact with trees. These include mycorrhizal fungi that help trees absorb nutrients and water, pathogenic fungi and nematodes that cause disease, and endophytes that live in leaves and bark.
MembersFaculty
The members of the Forest Botany Lab consist of faculty, project researchers, technical assistants, doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students, and specially designated support staff in agricultural sciences.As of 2026
- ProfessorKenji FukudaPublications ↗
- ProfessorNorihisa MatsushitaPublications ↗
- Assistant ProfessorIwakiri AyukaPublications ↗
VoicesStudent voices
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Beech forest in Nyuto Onsenkyo (3)” 掬茶 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Ecology of forest plants and fungi: “Kaiserling (Amanita muscaria) 20191014-RM-153953” Ermell / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Stress responses of trees: “Growth Rings tree rings 02” Vijayanrajapuram / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Interactions between trees and microorganisms: “Tricholoma matsutake ( )” Tatiana Bulyonkova from Novosibirsk, Russia / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (造林学研究室
（村岡裕由研究室／Silva） ): “Looking up into a dense green forest canopy” Krishna k. sahh / CC0 (cropped) - Related lab (森
林動物学研究室): “Stag Beetle, Ceruchus striatus” Lindsey Holm / CC BY 2.0 (cropped) - Related lab (微生物分野): “Hakuho Maru, Fremantle, 2019 (03)” Bahnfrend / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (森圏管理学研究室): “UonumaPhoto Oshirakawa Buna Forest 201705” 魚沼市 / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
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