Graduate student Kaoruko Koshida from Meiji University is at the forefront of a study exploring the cultivation of glasswort, an edible succulent that flourishes in saline conditions. Working in a lab in Kawasaki during August, Koshida and her team are investigating ways to grow the plant efficiently, given its potential to support farmers dealing with salt-damaged fields.
The research team, including lecturer Yoshikazu Ito and Professor Koji Kawagishi, has developed a straightforward grafting method aimed at increasing the yield of the plant. By selecting young plants, cutting them from the growth points, and soaking the cuttings in a sodium chloride and nutrient solution, they achieved a striking success rate—with over 90 percent of the cuttings developing roots within about 12 days when kept in optimal, controlled conditions.
This new propagation technique is especially significant as it addresses the difficulties of germinating glasswort, a plant notorious for its delicate and complex growing requirements. Historically, mass production has been hindered by the need to replicate nuanced environmental conditions that change with the plant’s development stages. The simplicity and efficiency of the cutting method offers a practical solution that can be readily adopted by farmers in developing regions, where salt damage to crops poses a serious economic burden.
Beyond its agricultural benefits, glasswort—also known as sea asparagus—has attracted attention for its diverse potential uses. Besides being sold as a vegetable in parts of Europe, the plant is associated with innovative applications, such as aiding in the removal of excess salt from farmland, contributing to biofuel production, and even forming the basis for drugs that may slow aging or fight cancer.
The project is driven by Koshida’s early inspiration during an English class presentation on resilient organisms. Fascinated by the plant's high sodium tolerance and backstory, she embarked on a mission to find a more feasible cultivation method when faced with the challenge of obtaining seeds in Japan—where glasswort is a protected, endangered species. Using samples imported from abroad and later collecting naturally occurring specimens from locations in Hokkaido, the researchers have set the groundwork for further exploration and selective breeding, aiming to secure a stable supply for future markets.
The findings, recently published in the Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, mark a potentially transformative step in harnessing a plant that might not only rescue salt-compromised agricultural lands but also open doors to new industrial and medicinal applications.