NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute (EAPSI) for FY 2013 in Japan

这一行动资助了华盛顿州立大学的Sven Nelson于2013年夏天在日本横滨的理研植物科学中心开展了一个生物科学研究项目。该项目的标题是“研究两种植物激素--赤霉素和脱落酸在拟南芥种子休眠中的作用。”种子休眠和萌发之间的平衡由两种植物激素--脱落酸(ABA)和赤霉素(GA)控制。休眠是种子即使在有利的条件下也不会萌发的时期。休眠通过干藏被称为后熟来解除。在干燥后熟期间，ABA水平下降。当后熟种子吸收水分时，GA水平会上升，但尚不清楚在干燥种子后熟期间GA水平是否会上升。其中一个原因是，干燥种子中的低激素水平很难测量。利用理研研究所采用的高度敏感的新技术，我们能够研究ABA和GA在种子休眠释放和萌发中的作用。这项研究将造福社会，因为对种子休眠的激素控制的知识将使谷类作物更好地控制萌发，以防止诸如收获前发芽和出苗不良等问题。对种子发芽的了解也将有助于发展发芽和出苗良好的作物，这是产量的一个主要决定因素。它将促进种子生物学领域的发现，同时通过教授研究员激素分析的新技术来促进学习。EAPSI奖学金的广泛影响包括为研究员提供美国以外的第一手研究经验；介绍各自地点的科学、科学政策和科学基础设施；以及对社会、文化和语言的定位。这些活动符合NSF的目标，即在其科学家、工程师和教育工作者的职业生涯早期为国际合作进行教育，从而确保拥有一支具有全球意识的美国科学队伍。此外，这项研究的结果将通过与徐博士一起在同行评议期刊上发表，以及通过向其他科学家口头陈述的方式广泛传播。此外，还将就这一研究课题向华盛顿州立大学未来有色人种美洲狮发表演讲，以鼓励来自代表性不足群体的高中生追求教育或从事科学事业。

This action funds Sven Nelson of Washington State University to conduct a research project in Biological Sciences during the summer of 2013 at the RIKEN Plant Science Center in Yokohama, Japan. The project title is "Investigating the Roles of Two Plant Hormones, Gibberellin and Abscisic Acid, in Arabidopsis Seed Dormancy." The host scientist is Dr. Mitsunori Seo.The balance between seed dormancy and germination is governed by two plant hormones, abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA). Dormancy is a period during which seeds will not germinate, even under favorable conditions. Dormancy is released by dry storage called after-ripening. During dry after-ripening levels of ABA fall. GA levels rise when after-ripened seeds imbibe water, but it is unclear whether GA levels rise during after-ripening of dry seeds. One reason for this is that the low hormone levels in dry seeds are difficult to measure. Use of new highly sensitive techniques employed at the RIKEN institute enables us to investigate the roles of ABA and GA in seed dormancy release and germination. This research will benefit society because knowledge of the hormonal control of seed dormancy will allow better control of germination in cereal crops to prevent problems such as preharvest sprouting and poor seedling emergence. Knowledge of seed germination will also allow the development of crops with good germination and seedling emergence, a major determinant of yield. It will advance discovery in the area of seed biology while advancing learning through teaching the Fellow new technologies for hormone analysis.Broader impacts of an EAPSI fellowship include providing the Fellow a first-hand research experience outside the U.S.; an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and an orientation to the society, culture and language. These activities meet the NSF goal to educate for international collaborations early in the career of its scientists, engineers, and educators, thus ensuring a globally aware U.S. scientific workforce. Furthermore, the results of this research will be broadly disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal together with Dr. Seo, and through oral presentations to other scientists. In addition, a presentation about this research topic will be made to the Washington State University Future Cougars of Color to encourage high school students from underrepresented groups to pursue education or a career in science.