Coordination of Basic and Development Researches on Vitamins

Reviewed biosynthetic pathways in green leaves of thiamine, riboflavin and folate as disclosed by the authors, and the regulatory systems operating on their biosynthesis and biodegradation as revealed since a potent inhibitory activity of ATP was found for the phosphatase reactions in 1965. Physiological roles of ascorbic acid in plant were evidenced by its higher content in green and flower leaves; the content in persimmon leaves for example was found ten or more times of that in citrus fruits. A close relationship existing between basic and development researches was illustrated by examples chosen from the author's researches. Examples cited were as follows; basic researches on vitamins were extended to the creation of thiamine enriched rice, to the growth promotion of rice plant by foliar application of thiamine, and to the use of ascorbic acid to prevent the appearance of beer cloudness; histological and biochemical studies on protein bodies in rice endosperm turned out amino acid enriched rice; techniques acquired in the studies on catalase were successfully employed for the utilization of single cell protein (MIPRON) for human food; conception of hybernation was led up to under-water or under-ground storage of cereal grains.