Area Abbreviation: BVOC Climate Regulation

Area Number: 23A401

Period of the Second Phase of Publicly Offered Research: FY2023 (Reiwa 5) – FY2027 (Reiwa 9)

Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 17, 2025

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① Overview of the Research Area

The rapid increase in atmospheric CO₂ concentration and the resulting climate change are having serious impacts on many wild species and crops. Among the biological responses to climate change, one of the most evident signs is the alteration of seasonal activities (phenology), such as the timing of budburst and flowering. Continued global warming is feared to exceed the limits of survival and reproduction for many organisms, increasing their risk of extinction. On the other hand, plants not only respond to climate conditions but also exert feedback effects that alter atmospheric composition and climate.

 

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), emitted from plant leaves and flowers, are known to produce forest scents, influence solar radiation balance and precipitation through aerosol formation, and contribute to ozone generation in the troposphere. The emission of BVOCs is a phenological trait exhibiting daily and seasonal patterns, and there is no doubt that their seasonal behavior will have a significant impact on the future global environment. However, the elucidation of the dynamic feedback between plant seasonal activities and climate faces numerous challenges, such as a lack of data and high uncertainties in the atmospheric chemical processes involved in BVOC emission and reaction.

 

This research area aims to pioneer a new interdisciplinary field, Plant–Climate Feedback, by integrating mathematical biology, plant molecular biology, ecology, atmospheric chemistry, and climate simulation. The ultimate goal is to unravel the dynamic feedbacks between plant seasonal activities and climate at the genetic level.

 

To achieve this, two main research themes have been established within the planned research projects: [Control Mechanisms] and [Feedback].

 

• The [Control Mechanisms] theme focuses on elucidating the genetic control mechanisms behind plant phenology, such as BVOC emissions, flowering, and leaf development, and on developing models to predict plant responses to climate change.

• The [Feedback] theme aims to develop observation technologies and climate prediction models to scale up individual plant responses to the population and regional levels.

 

 

To integrate these research themes operating at different scales, a Plant–Climate Integration Center will be established within the core team. This center will promote interdisciplinary collaboration through strong organizational support in advanced measurements, modeling, and field surveys.

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② Call for Proposals and Expectations for Open Research Projects

This research area spans a wide range of subjects—from genes to ecosystems and climate—necessitating multifaceted analytical approaches to the multilevel data obtained. It is therefore essential to enhance the research area with open research projects to cover domains beyond the scope of the core team and planned research.

 

We invite proposals for open research projects that will generate synergistic effects through active collaboration with the planned research. The following are examples of the types of research we seek; however, proposals are not limited to these examples, and we welcome a wide range of studies as long as they can contribute to the area through organic collaboration with the planned projects. Studies targeting molecules other than BVOCs, as well as those focusing on diverse plant species or regions, are also encouraged.

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[A01: Experimental/Observational Studies (Biological Sciences)]

We are calling for a total of 7 projects in this category, including:

    •    Studies to elucidate phenological changes and stress tolerance in plants under climate change,

         and their control mechanisms

    •    Research on the biosynthetic genes of BVOC-related compounds such as terpenoids and

         low-molecular-weight phenols, as well as molecular mechanisms involved in the accumulation and

         emission of BVOCs including methane

    •    Analyses of interspecies interactions and ecosystems considering dynamic changes in gene expression

    •    Studies incorporating the concept of plant–climate feedback into paleoclimate and paleobiological research

 

[B01: Experimental/Observational Studies (Ecosystem, Atmospheric Science, Climate)]

We are calling for a total of 6 projects, including:

    •    Research on plant–climate feedback driven by molecules other than BVOCs

    •    Ecosystem observation using new devices such as automated remote monitoring systems

         (e.g., species identification, biomass and phenology observations)

    •    Development of advanced measurement techniques for BVOCs and aerosols

 

[C01: Data Analysis and Mathematical Modeling]

We are calling for a total of 5 projects, including:

    •    Development of new methodologies for the analysis of large-scale, high-dimensional, multi-layered data

    •    Development of new biodiversity models incorporating genetic diversity

    •    Theoretical studies modeling the feedback between plants and climate to predict future scenarios

 

Since this category primarily involves data analysis and modeling and does not require significant experimental costs, the maximum grant amount per project has been set lower than in other categories, at 2 million yen.