Cryptomeria japonica, or the Japanese cedar, is highly revered as the national tree of Japan. Locally known as ‘sugi,’ it covers over 4.5 million hectares of land, accounting for nearly half of Japan’s artificial forests. However, it is also notorious for causing hay fever, with a good 26.5% of Japan’s population reporting cedar pollen allergies in 2008. Over the past years, pollen allergy caused by this conifer has become a widespread social issue among Japanese residents, with many having to avoid going outdoors during pollen season.
Click here for original story, A (pollen-free) sigh of relief for Japan: The genetics of male sterility in cedar trees
Source: Phys.org