Details of the Researcher

PHOTO

Hirofumi Kajino
Section
Graduate School of Life Sciences
Job title
Specially Appointed Research Fellow
Degree

  • 博士（農学）（京都大学）

  • 修士（農学）（京都大学）

Research History 1

  • 2022/04 - Present
    Tohoku University　Graduate School of Life Sciences　Postdoctoral Researcher

Education 3

  • Kyoto University　Graduate School of Agriculture　Division of Forest and Biomaterials Science

    2018/04 - 2022/03

  • Kyoto University　Graduate School of Agriculture　Division of Forest and Biomaterials Science

    2016/04 - 2018/03

  • Kyoto University　Faculty of Agriculture　Faculty of Agriculture

    2012/04 - 2016/03

Professional Memberships 3

  • The Japanese Forest Society

    2023/03 - Present

  • The Ecological Society of Japan

    2015/04 - Present

  • 東北植物学会

    2022/12 -

Research Interests 1

  • Plant Ecophysiology

Research Areas 1

  • Life sciences / Ecology and environmental science / Plant Ecophysiology

Awards 3

  1. 東北植物学会奨励賞

    2023/12　東北植物学会　なぜケイ素の利用は一部の種に限定的なのか？ケイ素利用の制約の解明に葉の力学特性から挑む。

  2. Excellent Poster Presentation Award

    2018/11　6th Taiwan-Japan Ecology Workshop　Relationships among Si accumulation, shoot growth and light environment in Broussonetia papyrifera (Moraceae)

  3. Excellent Poster Award

    2018/03　Ecological Society of Japan　Does Si accumulation with leaf age relate to light environment?

Papers 10

  1. Across 33 broad‐leaved deciduous woody species, silicon enhances leaf lamina stiffness but not tensile strength whereas cellulose enhances both Peer-reviewed

    Hirofumi Kajino, Yusuke Onoda, Kaoru Kitajima

    New Phytologist　2025/04/10

    Publisher: Wiley

    DOI： 10.1111/nph.70079 　

    ISSN： 0028-646X

    eISSN： 1469-8137

    More details Close

    Summary Silicon (Si) has been hypothesized to be a metabolically cheaper substitute for carbon‐based cell wall components to support leaves. However, how the biomechanical function of Si, deposited as amorphous silica, differs from cell wall components remains untested. Here, we tested the hypothesis that species with higher leaf Si concentrations have stiffer but more brittle leaf lamina. We measured the mechanical properties, including modulus of elasticity (E), tensile strength (σmax), and maximum strain (εmax), tissue density, and the concentrations of Si and cell wall components for 33 deciduous broad‐leaved woody species. Multiple regression results showed that tissue density, Si concentration, and cellulose concentration contributed positively to E and negatively to εmax. By contrast, tissue density and cellulose concentration, but not Si concentration, contributed to σmax. No significant contribution of lignin concentration to mechanical properties was detected. These results suggest that Si might function as a substitute for cellulose to increase stiffness but not the strength of a lamina. Greater Si concentration decreased εmax without increasing σmax, which made the lamina more brittle. The brittleness associated with Si might explain a potential cost or disadvantage of using Si, which would elucidate the trade‐offs between species with different leaf Si concentrations.

  2. Variations in soil nutrient availabilities and foliar nutrient concentrations of trees between temperate monsoon karst and non‐karst forest ecosystems on Mount Ibuki in Japan Peer-reviewed

    Hirofumi Kajino, Misaki Fukui, Yutaro Fujimoto, Rei Fujii, Tomohiro Yokobe, Chikae Tatsumi, Tetsuto Sugai, Naoki Okada, Ryosuke Nakamura

    Ecological Research　2023/08/08

    Publisher: Wiley

    DOI： 10.1111/1440-1703.12414 　

    ISSN： 0912-3814

    eISSN： 1440-1703

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    Abstract Plants growing on karst soils, which are characterized by high pH (>7.5–8.0) and low phosphorus availability, often exhibit phosphorus deficiency. However, little is known about the soil nutrient availabilities and foliar nutrient concentrations of trees in karst ecosystems with lower soil pH (<7.0). In this study, we analyzed soil properties and nutrient concentrations of leaf litter from two secondary forests in the Asian monsoon temperate region of Japan, one on karst (limestone) soil and the other on non‐karst (sandstone) soil. We also compared the live leaf nutrient concentrations of four dominant tree species (Carpinus tschonoskii, Cornus macrophylla, Neolitsea sericea, and Quercus variabilis) found in both sites. The karst soil had a higher pH (6.5) than the non‐karst soil (5.6), as well as higher phosphorus concentrations and calcium availability, but lower potassium availability. The phosphorus concentrations measured using Truog ([NH4]2SO4) and Olsen (NaHCO3) extraction methods were both higher in the karst soil. The availabilities of ammonium and nitrate in the soil did not differ significantly between the sites. The concentrations of calcium, potassium, and phosphorus in the live leaves and leaf litter reflected their availability in the soil, and the litter nitrogen concentration was higher in the karst forest. Overall, this karst soil with a relatively low pH (6.5) was rich in phosphorus but poor in potassium. Karst soil may provide a large quantity of phosphorus for trees at low pH. Future research should investigate the change in phosphorus availability of karst soils at different degrees of weathering.

  3. Lamina-specific localization of silicon accumulation in two broadleaf tree species Peer-reviewed

    Hirofumi Kajino, Kaoru Kitajima

    Journal of Plant Research　136　(5)　659-663　2023/05/30

    Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

    DOI： 10.1007/s10265-023-01467-3 　

    ISSN： 0918-9440

    eISSN： 1618-0860

  4. Plant material decomposition and bacterial and fungal communities in serpentine and karst soils of Japanese cool-temperate forests Peer-reviewed

    Ryosuke Nakamura, Chikae Tatsumi, Hirofumi Kajino, Yutaro Fujimoto, Rei Fujii, Tomohiro Yokobe, Taiki Mori, Naoki Okada

    Soil Science and Plant Nutrition　1-9　2023/02/16

    Publisher: Informa UK Limited

    DOI： 10.1080/00380768.2023.2177493 　

    ISSN： 0038-0768

    eISSN： 1747-0765

  5. Silicious trichomes as a trait that may slow down leaf decomposition by soil meso- and macrofauna Peer-reviewed

    Ryosuke Nakamura, Gaku Amada, Hirofumi Kajino, Kei Morisato, Kazuyoshi Kanamori, Motohiro Hasegawa

    Plant and Soil　471　(1-2)　289-299　2022/02

    DOI： 10.1007/s11104-021-05223-1 　

    ISSN： 0032-079X

    eISSN： 1573-5036

  6. Leaf silicon accumulation rates in relation to light environment and shoot growth rates in paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera, Moraceae) Peer-reviewed

    Hirofumi Kajino, Kaoru Kitajima

    Journal of Plant Research　134　(5)　1013-1020　2021/09

    Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

    DOI： 10.1007/s10265-021-01326-z 　

    ISSN： 0918-9440

    eISSN： 1618-0860

  7. Diverse recalcitrant substrates slow down decomposition of leaf litter from trees in a serpentine ecosystem Peer-reviewed

    Ryosuke Nakamura, Hirofumi Kajino, Kiyosada Kawai, Wataru Nakai, Masataka Ohnuki, Naoki Okada

    Plant and Soil　442　(1-2)　247-255　2019/09

    DOI： 10.1007/s11104-019-04183-x 　

    ISSN： 0032-079X

    eISSN： 1573-5036

  8. Leaf decomposition in a cool‐temperate broad‐leaved forest established on serpentine soil on Mount Oe, Japan Peer-reviewed

    Kai Sato, Ryosuke Nakamura, Hirofumi Kajino, Kiyosada Kawai, Wataru Nakai, Haruka Saito, Naoki Okada

    Ecological Research　34　(5)　678-686　2019/09

    DOI： 10.1111/1440-1703.12041 　

    ISSN： 0912-3814

    eISSN： 1440-1703

  9. Leaf water relations and structural traits of four temperate woody species occurring in serpentine and non‐serpentine soil Peer-reviewed

    Kiyosada Kawai, Haruka Saito, Hirofumi Kajino, Wataru Nakai, Ryosuke Nakamura, Kai Sato, Naoki Okada

    Ecological Research　34　(4)　485-496　2019/07

    DOI： 10.1111/1440-1703.12008 　

    ISSN： 0912-3814

    eISSN： 1440-1703

  10. POTASSIUM AND MAGNESIUM IN LEAF AND TOP SOIL AFFECTED BY TRIPLE SUPERPHOSPHATE FERTILISATION IN AN ACACIA MANGIUM PLANTATION Peer-reviewed

    Mori T, Ishizuka S, Konda R, Genroku T, Nakamura R, Kajino H, Wicaksono A, Heriyanto J, Hardjono A, Ohta S

    JOURNAL OF TROPICAL FOREST SCIENCE　30　(1)　1-8　2018/01/23

    Publisher: Forest Research Institute Malaysia

    DOI： 10.26525/jtfs2018.30.1.18 　

    ISSN： 0128-1283

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Presentations 17

  1. 日本国内の天然老齢林の地上部バイオマスの増減と気候条件、樹種組成の関係

    梶野浩史, 小黒芳生, 黒川紘子, 小野田雄介, 饗庭正寛, 彦坂幸毅

    第136回日本森林学会大会　2025/03/21

  2. 葉の強度の種間・種内の変異への剛性としなやかさの相対的重要性

    梶野浩史, 小野田雄介, 彦坂幸毅

    第72回日本生態学会大会　2025/03/16

  3. なぜケイ素の利用は一部の種に限定的なのか？ケイ素利用の制約の解明に葉の力学特性から挑む

    梶野浩史

    第14回東北植物学会　2024/12/08

  4. 葉の寿命と強度の種間・種内の変異は剛性と最大ひずみのどちらに説明されるか？

    梶野浩史, 小野田雄介, 彦坂幸毅

    第14回東北植物学会　2024/12/07

  5. Relationships of above-ground biomass with climate and species composition across Japanese natural forests: which types of forests stock more carbon?

    Hirofumi KAJINO, Michio OGURO, Hiroko KUROKAWA, Yusuke ONODA, Masahiro AIBA, Kouki HIKOSAKA

    2024/03/16

  6. 常緑樹の葉は落葉樹よりも強度が 高いだけでなくより大きな変形に耐える

    梶野浩史, 小野田雄介, 彦坂幸毅

    第135回日本森林学会大会　2024/03/10

  7. Relationship of above-ground biomass with climate conditions and species composition across natural forests in Japan.

    Hirofumi Kajino, Michio Oguro, Hiroko Kurokawa, Yusuke Onoda, Masahiro Aiba, Kouki Hikosaka

    2023/12/10

  8. Relationship of above-ground biomass with climate conditions and functional traits of trees across natural forests in Japan

    Hirofumi Kajino, Michio Oguro, Hiroko Kurokawa, Yusuke Onoda, Masahiro Aiba, Kouki Hikosaka

    134th Annual meeting of the Japanese Forest Society　2023/03

  9. Si enhances the stiffness of leaves but not strength - a comparison across 33 deciduous broad-leaved trees

    Hirofumi Kajino, Yusuke Onoda, Kaoru Kitajima

    12th Annual Meeting of Tohoku Botanical Society　2022/12

  10. Variations in soil nutrient availabilities and leaf nutrient concentrations in temperate karst and non-karst forests on Mount Ibuki, Japan

    Hirofumi KAJINO, Misaki FUKUI, Yutaro FUJIMOTO, Rei FUJII, Tomohiro YOKOBE, Chikae TATSUMI, Tetsuto SUGAI, Naoki OKADA, Ryosuke NAKAMURA

    69th Anniual Meeting of Ecological Society of Japan　2021/03

  11. Relationship between leaf mechanical properties and concentrations of Si and cell wall components among 33 broad-leaves trees

    Hirofumi Kajino, Yusuke Onoda, Kaoru Kitajima

    68th Annual Meeting of Ecological Society of Japan　2021/03

  12. Relationship between leaf mechanical properties and Si concentration among 31 broad-leaves trees

    Hirofumi Kajino, Yusuke Onoda, Kaoru Kitajima

    67th Annual Meeting of Ecological Society of Japan　2020/03

  13. Relationships among Si accumulation with leaf age, photosynthetic rate, and leaf longevity in Ficus erecta

    Hirofumi Kajino, Kaoru Kitajima

    66th Annual Meeting of Ecological Society of Japan　2019/03

  14. Relationships among Si accumulation, shoot growth and light environment in Broussonetia papyrifera (Moraceae)

    Hirofumi Kajino, Kaoru Kitajima

    6th Taiwan-Japan Ecology Workshop　2018/11

  15. Does Si accumulation with leaf age relate to light environment?

    Hirofumi Kajino, Kaoru Kitajima

    65th Annual Meeting of Ecological Society of Japan　2018/03

  16. Si accumulation in each part of leaves with leaf age in broad-leaved trees

    Hirofumi Kajino, Kaoru Kitajima

    64th Annual Meeting of Ecological Society of Japan　2017/03

  17. Si distribution in leaves of temperate broad-leaved trees

    Hirofumi Kajino, Kaoru Kitajima

    63th Annual meeting of Ecological Society of Japan　2016/03

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Research Projects 1

  1. Elucidating the mechanism making the leaf Si concentration diverse

    Hirofumi Kajino

    Offer Organization: Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

    System: Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up

    Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up

    Institution: Tohoku University

    2022/08 - 2024/03

Academic Activities 2

  1. 第72回日本生態学会大会 自由集会 「植物生理生態：資源の獲得・利用・分配に着目した地上部と地下部の相互作用」

    2025/03/16 -

    Activity type: Competition, symposium, etc.

  2. 第70回日本生態学会シンポジウム 「光の波長と植物の応答: 光合成から形態形成まで」

    2023/03 -

Other 1

  1. Experience as a reviwer

    More details Close

    Functional Ecology (2), Oikos (1), Tropics (1), Functional Plant Biology (1), Annals of Botany (1)