Details of the Researcher

PHOTO

Hirofumi Kajino
Section
Graduate School of Life Sciences
Job title
Assistant Professor

Research History 2

  • 2026/04 - Present
    Tohoku University　Graduate School of Life Sciences　Assistant Professor

  • 2022/04 - 2026/03
    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 12

  1. An evaluation on contribution of organo–metal complexes to enhanced soil CO2 release during drying–rewetting cycles using buried humic horizon soils Peer-reviewed

    Yuri Suzuki, Syuntaro Hiradate, Jun Koarashi, Mariko Atarashi-Andoh, Kazuki Suzuki, Masataka Nakayama, Yukiko Abe, Kouki Hikosaka, Hirofumi Kajino, Hiroyuki Sase, Rieko Urakawa, Hirohiko Nagano

    Progress in Earth and Planetary Science　13　(1)　2026/09/04

    Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

    DOI： 10.1186/s40645-026-00843-6 　

    eISSN： 2197-4284

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    Abstract Under global warming, precipitation is becoming less frequent but with more intense events, with little change in total precipitation amounts. These shifts have raised concerns about drying–rewetting cycles (DWCs) and their impact on soil organic matter decomposition and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) release. Microbially derived carbon (C), such as intracellular compounds released by cell lysis and osmolyte turnover, has been considered a primary C source of DWC-induced CO 2 release. However, C released from organo–metal complexes disrupted by rapid rewetting has emerged as a significant contributor. To evaluate this contribution, we conducted incubation experiments with a single DWC. Here, we used two buried humic layer soils characterized by abundant organo–metal complexes but low microbial biomass, with two surface soils for comparison. In both buried and surface soils, the DWC consistently led to higher CO 2 release rates during incubation compared to the control. The magnitude of the increase in CO 2 release from buried humic layers exceeded the measured decreases in microbial biomass C, which represented ≤ 40% of the increase, while the amount of pyrophosphate-extractable organic C associated with organo–metal complexes was at least 90-fold greater than the DWC-induced increase. A re-analysis including data from this study and our previous study showed that the relative CO 2 release increase at DWC from control was significantly correlated with the amounts of pyrophosphate-extractable aluminum in the soils. We also observed a shift in bacterial communities in the buried soils toward a nutrient acquisition strategy adapted for rapid growth after rewetting, which may have contributed to the enhanced CO 2 release. In the present study, we suggest that organo–metal complexes, traditionally considered a stable C pool, can substantially contribute to DWC-induced CO 2 release from buried humic horizons.

  2. The coordination between root and leaf functional traits across 33 woody plant species shifts between mycorrhizal types Peer-reviewed

    Katsumi C Suzuki, Hirofumi Kajino, Shusaku Hirokawa, Hajime Tomimatsu, Kohmei Kadowaki, Kouki Hikosaka

    Tree Physiology　46　(1)　2025/12/10

    Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)

    DOI： 10.1093/treephys/tpaf151 　

    eISSN： 1758-4469

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    Abstract Root and leaf traits are expected to converge on the plant economics spectrum (PES). Some studies have focused on correlation between specific root length (SRL) and specific leaf area (SLA), which reflect resource acquisition per invested mass in root and leaf, respectively. However, the results have been inconsistent amongst previous studies. We hypothesized that this discrepancy was due to overlooked variations in root traits depending on mycorrhizal types because SRL can be influenced by not only PES but also mycorrhizal types. To assess how mycorrhizal type inherently mediates the coordination of root and leaf traits, we determined the leaf and root traits of current-year seedlings of 33 species encompassing different leaf habits and mycorrhizal types, AM (arbuscular mycorrhizal) and ECM (ectomycorrhizal) species, grown under a common condition. Root and leaf traits correlated with the first axis of the principal component analysis, and this axis represented PES. Root diameter (RD) also correlated with the second axis, which differed between mycorrhizal types. Specific root length (SRL) and SLA were correlated positively to each other, but ECM species had higher SRL than AM species when compared at the same SLA. This was because (i) SRL is negatively related to root tissue density (RTD) and RD, (ii) RTD was negatively correlated with SLA and (iii) RD was smaller in ECM. Leaf and root traits are tightly coordinated with each other across species, but the relationship shifts between the mycorrhizal types.

  3. 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

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    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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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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Books and Other Publications 1

  1. 植物研究の進め方 : 原理と実験例（日本光合成学会[編]） 13章 植物の成長・機能形質の測定法

    梶野浩史, 彦坂幸毅

    朝倉書店　2025/11

    ISBN: 9784254172027

Presentations 38

  1. 日本国内の老齢林の地上部バイオマスの増減量と気候、森林構造、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73回日本生態学会大会　2026/03/15

  2. 苫小牧研究林および高山試験地のフラックス観測サイトにおける土壌の特性と分類

    平舘俊太, Md. Mahedy ALAM, 彦坂幸毅, 梶野浩史, 小嵐淳, 安藤麻里子, 中山理智, 阿部有希子

    第73回日本生態学会大会　2026/03

  3. 日本の老齢林の生産量と枯死量は気候、森林構造、樹種組成とどのように関係するか

    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15回東北植物学会　2025/12/12

  4. Coordination in leaf and root morphological traits promotes plant growth rate: Insights from a new whole-plant growth model

    Suzuki C. K., Kajino H., Hirokawa S., Tomimatsu H., Kadowaki K., Hikosaka K.

    Annual Meeting of the British Ecological Society　2025/12

  5. シロイヌナズナの水分屈性の多様性に関与する TRSL 遺伝子の水分 屈性における機能の解析

    庄司千捷, 卯博源, 梶野浩史, 彦坂幸毅, 藤井伸治

    第15回東北植物学会大会　2025/12

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. Associations of leaf silicon concentration with leaf structural and chemical traits across 13 Piper species in a lowland tropical forest.

    Nakamura R., Arakawa K., de Tombeur F., Putra R., Kajino H., Wright J. S.

    2025/03

  9. 当年生実生33種を用いた根と葉形質から見る地上部と地下部の同調と菌根タイプの関係

    鈴木桂実, 梶野浩史, 廣川周作, 冨松元, 門脇浩明, 彦坂幸毅

    第72回日本生態学会大会　2025/03

  10. 相対成長速度の種間差を古典的手法と窒素獲得・利用に基づく手法の両方から評価する

    鈴木桂実, 梶野浩史, 廣川周作, 冨松元, 門脇浩明, 彦坂幸毅

    第72回日本生態学会大会　2025/03

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 炭素同化と窒素獲得・利用から見る落葉樹と常緑樹の相対成長速度の違いを生む要因

    鈴木桂実, 廣川周作, 梶野浩史, 冨松元, 門脇浩明, 彦坂幸毅

    第14回東北植物学会大会　2024/12

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 共通圃場実験による日本の主要樹種の実生の窒素利用効率とその構成要素の種間比較

    鈴木桂実, 廣川周作, 梶野浩史, 冨松元, 門脇浩明, 彦坂幸毅

    第71回日本生態学会大会　2024/03

  17. 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

  18. 根と葉の形態形質間の関係に対する菌根共生の違いによる影響

    鈴木桂実, 廣川周作, 梶野浩史, 冨松元, 門脇浩明, 彦坂幸毅

    第13回東北植物学会大　2023/12

  19. 日本の主要な森林構成樹木33種における地上部形質と地下部形質の比較

    鈴木桂実, 廣川周作, 梶野浩史, 門脇浩明, 彦坂幸毅

    第70回日本生態学会大会　2023/03

  20. 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

  21. 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

  22. How do silicious trichomes influence leaf decomposition by meso- and macrofauna?

    Nakamura, R., Amada, G., Kajino, H., Morisato, K., Kanamori, K., Hasegawa, M.

    EGU General Assembly Online April 2021　2021/04

  23. Microbial decomposition ability in cool-temperate forests of contrasting rock types in Japan

    Nakamura, R., Tatsumi, C., Kajino, H., Fujimoto, Y., Fujii, R., Yokobe, T., Okada, N.

    2021/03

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. How does serpentine soil influence leaf-litter decomposition in a cool-temperate forest?

    Nakamura, R., Kajino, H., Kawai, K., Nakai, W., Ohnuki, M., Tsujii, S., Okada, N.

    2019/03

  28. 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

  29. 蛇紋岩生態系におけるリター分解

    中村亮介, 大貫真孝, 河合清定, 中井渉, 梶野浩史, 辻井慎一朗, 岡田直紀

    2018年度日本生態学会近畿地区会例会　2018/12

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

    Hirofumi Kajino, Kaoru Kitajima

    6th Taiwan-Japan Ecology Workshop　2018/11

  31. シカ高密度の熱帯原生林における葉の細胞壁構成成分と稚樹死亡率の関係

    丸田風子, 松村瞳, 梶野浩史, Lin, Yi-ching、Sun, I-Fang, 北島薫

    第28回日本熱帯生態学会　2018/06

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

    Hirofumi Kajino, Kaoru Kitajima

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

  33. 蛇紋岩土壌に生育する樹木の水分生理

    斎藤悠, 河合清定, 中井渉, 佐藤開, 中村亮介, 梶野浩史, 岡田直紀

    第64回日本生態学会　2017/03

  34. 蛇紋岩土壌における生葉の分解

    佐藤開, 梶野浩史, 河合清定, 斎藤悠, 中井渉, 中村亮介, 岡田直紀

    第64回日本生態学会　2017/03

  35. 熱帯林樹種の葉の防御形質はアフリカマイマイによる被食試験で定量できるか？

    松村瞳, 梶野浩史, Chen, Ke-fang、Lin, Yi-ching、Sun, I-Fang, 北島薫

    第64回日本生態学会　2017/03

  36. 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

  37. Variation in ecosystem silicon cycling via plants with elevation and rock on Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

    Nakamura, R., Ishizawa, H., Kajino, H., Suzuki, S., Kitayama, K., Kitajima, K., Wagai, R.

    2016/03

  38. 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 2

  1. 近縁種の比較から迫る植物のケイ素利用にかかる選択圧

    梶野 浩史

    Offer Organization: 日本学術振興会

    System: 科学研究費助成事業

    Category: 若手研究

    Institution: 東北大学

    2026/04/01 - 2029/03/31

  2. 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

Media Coverage 1

  1. 東北大と京大、葉の脆さがケイ素利用のデメリットになることを示唆

    日本経済新聞（オンライン版）

    2025/04

    Type: Newspaper, magazine

Academic Activities 3

  1. 第73回日本生態学会大会 自由集会 「植物生理生態：温暖化は植物の呼吸・成長・開花をどう変えるのか？」

    2026/03/12 -

    Activity type: Competition, symposium, etc.

  2. 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.

  3. 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

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    Functional Ecology (2), Oikos (1), Tropics (1), Functional Plant Biology (1), Annals of Botany (1), Ecological Research (2), Botany (1), Plant and Soil (1)