Tokyo University of Agriculture (TUA), or Tokyo Nogyo Daigaku (NODAI), is a unique university in Japan established with agriculture as a study base. At present, TUA has two graduate schools; Agriculture and Bioindustry, 5 faculties; Agriculture, Applied Biosciens, Regional Environment Science, International Agriculture and Food Studies, and Bioindustry, and a Junior Colledge. NODAI Culture Collection Center (NRIC) is an attached institution of the Faculty of Life Biosciens. The Faculty incruding NRIC takes the whiffler of the biotechnology research in Japan. NRIC collect and stores many strains of microorganisms, especially lactic acid bacteria (LAB) participating in traditional fermented foods in Japan and Southeast Asian countries. The raw materials of the traditional fermented foods of Japan and Southeast Asian countries are almost vegetable properties. At present, more than 4,700 strains of LAB are stored in NRIC. These strains of LAB are Plant Origin Lactic Acid Bacteria (POLAB), for which a habitation place regards a vegetable property wholly. NRIC is a greatest research center of POLAB in the world. NRIC (NODAI Research Collection Center) is a member of the World Federation for Culture Collection.
By the forth edition of NODAI catalogue of strains (2008), 1,492 strains of microorganisms are published. Of them, 1,020 strains are bacteria, 130 strains are molds and 342 strains are yeasts, that are from traditional fermented foods produced in Japan and Southeast Asian countries. Of bacteria strains, 552 strais are LAB and of them 331 strains are original strains of LAB which were isolated by staffs of NRIC and of TUA. NRIC accepts with the fair contract the use of ca. 4,500 strains of POLAB unpublished only for Japanese soil for a development of the study of POLAB.
We hope our strains are useful for your study and application.