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Plant Physiology Lab
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A lab that explores how plants and algae live, with photosynthesis at its core.
AboutAbout the lab
Exploring the ways of life of organisms through photosynthesis
The Plant Physiology Lab carries out a wide range of research on plants, algae, and other organisms, centered on photosynthesis.
The backbone-like machinery that supports photosynthesis is similar across many organisms, but the reactions surrounding it strongly reflect the characteristics of each organism.
By studying these reactions surrounding photosynthesis, the lab seeks to understand the ways of life of plants, algae, bacteria, and other organisms.
Current research themes include the photosynthetic quotient, leaf senescence, the internal structure of chloroplasts, and the symbiosis between corals and zooxanthellae.
Key terms
- Photosynthetic quotient
- The value obtained by dividing the amount of oxygen produced in photosynthesis by the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed.
- Chloroplast
- A structure found in photosynthetic organisms. In plants, it is enclosed by a double membrane and contains thylakoid membranes inside.
- Zooxanthellae
- Phytoplankton kept inside the cells of corals.
ResearchResearch themes
The lab carries out a wide range of research centered on photosynthesis. By studying the reactions surrounding photosynthesis, it aims to understand the ways of life of plants, algae, and other organisms.
*Illustrative imageThe photosynthetic quotient and biodiversity
The lab evaluates the photosynthetic quotient, which is the amount of oxygen released in photosynthesis divided by the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed, in a variety of organisms. Under the Transformative Research Area "Photosynthesis Ubiquity," the lab explores the essence of photosynthesis that supports diverse ways of life.
*Illustrative imageMechanisms that trigger leaf senescence
The timing of leaf senescence in plants is thought to be regulated according to physiological state and environment, but the mechanism is not yet fully understood. The lab investigates it using the decrease of plastocyanin, a chloroplast protein, at the early stage of senescence as an indicator.
*Illustrative imageHow the internal structure of chloroplasts forms
Photosynthetic organisms have chloroplasts whose shapes differ from species to species. The lab investigates what purpose organism-specific structures, such as grana in plants and pyrenoids in diatoms, serve and how they are built.
*Illustrative imageSymbiosis between corals and zooxanthellae
Corals host zooxanthellae inside their cells and obtain sugars and other products made by photosynthesis. The lab investigates what kind of photosynthesis zooxanthellae carry out inside corals and whether the coral regulates it.
MembersFaculty
The Plant Physiology Lab consists of faculty members and master's and undergraduate students.As of 2026
- ProfessorGinga Shimakawa
- Assistant ProfessorYuta Kato
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: “Photosynthesis System analysing a maize leaf” Viséan / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- The photosynthetic quotient and biodiversity: “Nereis australis, or Algae of the southern ocean BHL46201233” Harvey, William H. / Public domain (cropped)
- Mechanisms that trigger leaf senescence: “Yellow autumn leaves” Lukas Riebling / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- How the internal structure of chloroplasts forms: “Lime chloroplasts” Mjolk1 / CC0 (cropped)
- Symbiosis between corals and zooxanthellae: “Fire Coral Bleaching” USGS / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (学際グループ（核機能学分野）
): “Yeast cells in wet mount of culture” Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped) - Related lab (植物細胞運命制御研究室): “A thaliana seedlings (cropped)” Safflle / CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (寄生虫学研究室): “Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte” Microrao / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (分子発生学研究室): “Confocal Microscope” Mark from Edinburgh, United Kingdom / CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped)
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