Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is typically grown under field conditions in Korea, with one generation per year, and requires 6-7 years to develop homozygous lines. This study established generation-acceleration protocols for different rapeseed growth types by combining speed breeding (SB) and speed vernalization (SV) and evaluated their applicability to Korean-bred cultivars and lines. Under SB (22 h light/2 h dark), the spring and semi-winter types flowered at 33 and 43 days after sowing, respectively, whereas bolting was not observed in the winter-type. In contrast, the winter-type flowered after SV at 10℃ for 2 weeks under an extended photoperiod (22 h light/2 h dark), followed by transfer to SB conditions (SV(2)-SB). For all three types, pods were harvested 45 days after flowering, and seed germination exceeded 95%. Accordingly, the spring and semi-winter types achieved four generations per year under SB, whereas the winter type achieved three generations per year under SV(2). When applied to Korean-bred cultivars and lines, SB induced flowering in all accessions and most seeds germinated (>90%), enabling four generations per year. However, no seed set was obtained in one cultivar (‘Yuryeo’), indicating that further optimization is needed to ensure reliable seed production under generationacceleration conditions. Overall, these protocols account for growth-type-dependent vernalization requirements and provide a foundation for shortening the rapeseed breeding cycle, with the flowering response and white-flower phenotype as practical selection indicators.

Grain protein content (GPC) is a quantitative trait that strongly influences wheat processing quality and end-product performance, but is highly affected by environmental conditions. This study aimed to identify QTLs associated with GPC using Korean wheat resources and assess the usefulness of linked markers for selection. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population (F₇ and F₈; n=359) derived from ‘Joongmo2008’ × ‘Joah’ was genotyped with a 35 K SNP array, and QTL mapping was conducted using 4,891 filtered SNPs. Six QTLs were detected, and a major QTL on chromosome 3 B (Qgpc-3B) was consistently identified in both generations. Within the Qgpc-3B interval, lines carrying the ‘Joongmo2008’ alleles at AX-95163812 and AX-94495360 showed higher GPC, and the same trend was confirmed by a two-marker haplotype analysis. The direction of marker effects was also reproduced in a Korean wheat germplasm panel, suggesting that these markers have strong potential as practical selection indices for improving GPC in wheat breeding programs.

Research on tongil-type rice has aimed to enhance genetic diversity and yield through indica-japonica hybridization; however, poor eating quality remains a limitation in Korea. We evaluated three high-yielding tongil-type waxy cultivars, focusing on the allelic variation in the granule-bound starch synthase I (GBSSI) gene and its effects on quality traits. Physicochemical properties, including texture and retrogradation, were assessed using a texture analyzer, and pasting properties were analyzed using a Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA). ‘Hanareumchal’ showed the softest texture (1.70 Kgf) and the slowest retrogradation rate. Genetic analysis revealed a unique Wx-g2 allele derived from Japanese waxy rice (‘Odorokimochi’), which likely underlies these favorable traits. RVA profiling further indicated reduced viscosity parameters, supporting its suitability for processed rice products that require extended shelf life and texture stability. These findings highlight the role of Wx-g2 in improving tongil-type waxy rice and provide useful insights for breeding programs targeting enhanced processing performance.

This study aimed to provide foundational data for breeding new high-yielding and early-maturing oat varieties suitable for domestic environments by evaluating the quantitative and qualitative traits of 481 oat accessions and selecting elite lines. Descriptive statistics and diversity index analyses revealed a wide range of genetic variation in traits related to heading date, flag leaves, and panicles. Correlation analysis of the major agronomic traits revealed distinct positive correlations among yield-related traits, including plant height, leaf size, and panicle length. Based on key agronomic traits, principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated that the first and second principal components accounted for 78.4% of the total phenotypic variation. Finally, 36 elite accessions were selected based on three combined traits: biomass, yield potential, and early development. Among them, seven double elite lines (OG318, OG317, OG113, OG523, OG289, OG320, and OG117) exhibited significantly taller plant heights, longer panicle lengths, and higher biomass, making them highly suitable for breeding high-yielding varieties. Notably, the single elite lines, ‘OG391’ and ‘OG204’, demonstrated early-maturing characteristics while maintaining yield potential comparable to that of the standard variety, making them highly valuable resources for the domestic double-cropping system. Overall, the selected elite lines will serve as valuable crossing parents for future oat breeding programs.

‘Koshihikari’ is a high-quality japonica rice cultivar from Japan, exhibiting a medium-early heading type under Korean conditions, with tall plant height and susceptibility to lodging. ‘IS592BB’ is an early-maturing japonica rice cultivar in Korea, characterized by short culm, lodging tolerance, and multiple disease resistance. In this study, a recombinant inbred line population derived from a cross between ‘Koshihikari’ and ‘IS592BB’ (KSIS_RIL) was developed to investigate the genetic basis of heading date (HD) and yield-related traits through QTL analysis. QTLs associated with HD were identified on chromosomes 3, 6, and 8, and the candidate genes were assigned as Hd1 (Heading date 1), Hd16, Hd17, and Hd18. Among these, Hd1 was identified as the major QTL with the largest effect on HD variation and exhibited pleiotropic effects on multiple yield-related traits, including culm length (CL), panicle length (PL), number of spikelets per panicle (NS), ratio of ripened grain (RRG), brown/rough rice ratio (BRR), and grain yield per plant. Hd17 also affected HD, NS, and 1,000-grain weight (TGW), whereas Hd16 showed a masking effect because of interactions with other heading date genes. Combinations of alleles at Hd1, Hd16, Hd17, and Hd18 resulted in approximately 20 days of variation in HD, and specific allele combinations exhibited 4-5 days earlier heading than ‘IS592BB,’ indicating their potential for developing early-harvest cultivars. QTLs for CL were detected on chromosomes 1 and 11, with SD1 (Semi-dwarf 1) and OsCPL3 (C-terminal domain phosphatase-like 3) identified as candidate genes. SD1 was associated with variations in the CL, PL, NS, and TGW. OsCPL3 was identified within QTL associated with CL and BRR, suggesting its potential involvement in variations in plant architecture and milling-related traits. Notably, the OsCPL3 allele from ‘Koshihikari’ was associated with higher BRR compared to that from ‘IS592BB,’ indicating its potential utility as a favorable allele for improving milling quality in rice breeding programs.

‘Dawonmi’ was developed in 2023 as a high-yielding, mealy-textured sweetpotato cultivar for starch processing. It was derived from a cross between ‘Beniharuka’ (IT309504) and ‘Jinyulmi’ (IT309420). The storage roots had pink skin, white flesh, and a cylindrical shape. ‘Dawonmi’ is resistant to Fusarium wilt and moderately resistant to root-knot nematode. When steamed, ‘Dawonmi’ exhibits a drier and more mealy texture than the check cultivar ‘Jinyulmi.’ The free sugar content of steamed roots was 22.4 g/100 g (dry weight basis), which was slightly lower than that of ‘Jinyulmi.’ In starch pasting properties, ‘Dawonmi’ showed a higher peak viscosity (284.3 RVU), lower breakdown viscosity (114.4 RVU), and lower consistency (53.9 RVU) than ‘Jinyulmi,’ along with a higher gelatinization onset temperature (79.7℃), indicating greater thermal and structural stability of the starch. Under normal-season cultivation, the average marketable root weight of ‘Dawonmi’ was 237.1 g, with 3.2 marketable roots per plant. The marketable root yield was 37.1 MT/ha, which was 54.6% higher than that of ‘Jinyulmi,’ and the starch yield reached 13.7 MT/ha, representing a 125% increase. These results suggest that ‘Dawonmi’ possesses high yield potential and favorable starch characteristics, making it suitable for starch-processing applications.

Rural aging and labor shortages have become major constraints for primary watermelon production in Korea. In addition, the cultivation of large watermelons weighing 6-9 kg in a crouched posture imposes a heavy labor burden on farmers, leading to a continuous decline in the watermelon cultivation area. From a consumption perspective, the increasing number of small household consumers has shifted market demand from large to small to medium-sized fruits, highlighting the need for suitable cultivars. A new small to medium-sized watermelon cultivar, ‘Goldking,’ was developed to address these issues. This cultivar is suitable for vertical cultivation, enabling standing work, thereby reducing labor intensity, and producing fruits appropriate for single-household consumption and single-meal use; it is a diploid watermelon with a black rind, yellow flesh, and an oval fruit shape. The fruit weight was 6.3 kg under creeping cultivation, whereas it decreased to 4.0 kg under vertical cultivation with a planting distance of 25 cm, indicating small to medium-sized fruit. Yield under creeping cultivation was 4,892 kg/10 a, which was lower than that of ‘Sambokggul’; however, under vertical cultivation with four rows, yield increased to 9,481 kg/10 a, representing a 53.4% improvement compared to conventional creeping cultivation of large-fruited cultivars. As a result of these traits, ‘Goldking’ was applied for plant variety protection in 2022 and was officially registered as a variety (grant number No. 10317) with the Korea Seed & Variety Service in 2024.

‘Chaeheun’ is a mung bean cultivar developed to improve resistance to pod shattering and suitability for mechanical harvesting, while maintaining high sprout productivity. It was derived from a cross between ‘Dahyun,’ an erect plant-type cultivar, and IT273801, a genetic resource with strong pod-shattering resistance, in 2020. Segregating generations were advanced using the pedigree method, and the selected line was evaluated in an advanced yield trial in 2022 and in regional yield trials at three locations from 2023 to 2024. When sown in late June, ‘Chaeheun’ flowered on July 30 and matured on August 16, 1 and 2 days earlier than ‘Eowool,’ respectively. Plant height was 69 cm, 16 cm shorter than that of ‘Eowool,’ indicating better suitability for mechanical harvesting. The 100-seed weight was 4.9 g, and the mean grain yield was 2.57 ton ha^-1, representing an 8% increase over ‘Eowool.’ Under indoor drying conditions, the pod-shattering rate was 13.5%, confirming improved resistance to shattering. In sprout evaluation, ‘Chaeheun’ showed a germination rate of 98.3% and a hard-seed rate of 0.8%. Hypocotyl length and thickness were 8.9 cm and 2.23 mm, respectively, and sprout yield reached 762%, which was 52 percentage points higher than that of ‘Eowool.’ These results indicated that ‘Chaeheun’ is a promising cultivar for mechanized production and sprout use (Registration No. 10766).

An Artemisia argyi cultivar, designated ‘Pyeong-an-ae’, was developed to enhance yield, lodging resistance, and functional compound content for medicinal use. The breeding objective was to select a high-yielding cultivar with improved agronomic performance and regional adaptability. The breeding material originated from an open-pollinated population of a collected accession (MPR-0506), and superior lines were selected through pedigree selection. Line AA1903 was selected for favorable growth traits and subsequently evaluated in yield and regional adaptation trials under the designation Y-MCD-007-1 in Eumseong-gun and Pyeongchang-gun, Korea. ‘Pyeong-an-ae’ exhibited an erect growth habit, thicker stems, and a larger leaf area than the control (Artemisia argyi landrace), resulting in enhanced lodging resistance and biomass production. The average dry leaf yield was 535 kg/10a, approximately two-fold higher than that of the control. The cultivar maintained relatively higher levels of eupatilin than the control before flowering. RAW264.7 macrophage-based bioactivity assays showed that the water extract exhibited lower cytotoxicity than the ethanol extract. Both extracts significantly inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide production, with the ethanolic extracts exhibiting stronger inhibitory effects. ‘Pyeong-an-ae’ is vegetatively propagated and registered under Plant Variety Protection No. 398. Its superior agronomic traits, stable bioactive compound contents, and functional properties support its potential for commercial cultivation and medicinal applications.

‘Kkari1ho’ is a net-like, cracking-patterned seed-coated soybean cultivar developed from a crossing of ‘Cheongja3ho’ and ‘IT105279 (landrace)’ in 2009. The F1 and F2 populations were grown for two years, and promising lines were selected using the pedigree method from F3 to F5. A preliminary yield trial (PYT) and an advanced yield trial (AYT) were conducted from 2016 to 2017, and a regional yield trial (RYT) was conducted in seven regions from 2018 to 2020. ‘Kkari1ho’ is determinate, has an oval leaflet shape, purple flowers, and net-like cracking-patterned seeds. The flowering and maturation dates were August 3 and October 23, respectively. For quantitative characteristics, ‘Kkari1ho’ had a smaller seed weight (32.7 g/100 seeds), while its plant height and first pod height were similar to those of ‘Cheongja3ho.’ While ‘Kkari1ho’ was highly resistant to lodging under standard field conditions, its lodging resistance tended to decrease in high-density plots. Regarding pod shattering, ‘Kkari1ho’ exhibited higher resistance than ‘Cheongja3ho’ in both RYT field and indoor tests. ‘Kkari1ho’ showed comparable resistance to bacterial pustule to that of ‘Cheongja3ho’ in both field and artificial inoculation tests. In contrast, its resistance to soybean mosaic virus (G6H strain) was lower in inoculation tests but comparable in field tests. The mean yield of ‘Kkari1ho’ in the RYT was 252 kg/10a, which was a 4% higher mean yield across the region than that of ‘Cheongja3ho.’ ‘Kkari1ho’ is expected to replace landraces due to its resistance to lodging and bacterial pustule (Registration number: 9450).

‘Cheongpungchal,’ a waxy sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) cultivar, was bred to improve the adaptability of mechanized harvesting, yield potential, and cultivation stability for labor-saving production. It was developed through pure-line selection from a genetic resource (K269609) introduced in 2009, selected in 2019, and registered in 2021. This cultivar is medium-maturing, with a heading time of 68 days. It has an elliptical dense panicle with red-brown grains and a waxy endosperm. The culm length was 109 cm, which is suitable for mechanized harvesting. The panicle length (27.1 cm), number of panicles per plant (1.4), and panicle weight (95 g) were greater than those of the standard cultivar ‘Sodamchal.’ ‘Cheongpungchal’ showed strong lodging resistance and tolerance to major diseases and insect pests, indicating stable field performance. In replicated yield trials (2015-2016), the mean grain yield was 4.42 MT/ha, 22% higher than ‘Sodamchal’. In regional yield trials at seven locations (2017-2018), the mean yield was 3.57 MT/ha, representing a 48% increase. Nutritional composition, functional components, and antioxidant activity were not significantly different from those of the standard cultivar, indicating that ‘Cheongpungchal’ maintained equivalent nutritional quality. This cultivar has been widely adopted in Jecheon and Danyang, accounting for more than 40% of the region’s cultivation area, indicating its high adaptability and farmer preference. These results demonstrate that ‘Cheongpungchal’ maintains nutritional and functional properties equivalent to previously developed waxy sorghum cultivars, while exhibiting superior yield potential and adaptability for mechanized harvesting, contributing to labor-saving sorghum production (Registration No. 8656).

A new barnyard millet variety, ‘Matnajik,’ was developed by the Chungcheongbukdo Agricultural Research and Extension Services from 2014 to 2023 through gamma-ray mutation breeding. Morphologically, ‘Matnajik’ exhibits a semi-straight plant type, conical green panicles, grayish-white seeds, yellowish-brown dehusked grains, and a non-glutinous endosperm. Its heading date is July 29, classifying it as a medium-maturing variety that heads approximately 11 days later than the control variety, ‘Borajik.’ Notably, ‘Matnajik’ has a large panicle type; its average culm length is 138 cm, and its panicle length is 23 cm, both of which are significantly longer than those of the control. In the yield trials conducted from 2022 to 2023, the average grain yield of ‘Matnajik’ was 252 kg⋅10a^-1, a 13% increase over ‘Borajik’ (224 kg⋅10a^-1). Furthermore, physiochemical and biological activity analyses revealed that ‘Matnajik’ contains higher levels of crude ash and essential minerals, including potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Specifically, it showed significantly higher total polyphenol and flavonoid contents as well as greater radical-scavenging activity than the control, indicating its high value as a functional food material. In conclusion, ‘Matnajik’ is a promising variety with a large panicle, high yield, and enhanced functional properties, and it is expected to be widely utilized as a new specialized cash crop in the Chungbuk region (Registration No. 10814).

‘Joweon’ is an early-maturing rice cultivar developed by the Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services in 2020. It was developed from a cross made in the summer of 2015 between ‘Jopyeong,’ an early-maturing and high-yielding cultivar with early heading, and ‘Haedamssal,’ a cultivar with good eating quality and resistance to rice blast and rice stripe virus. Among the doubled haploid lines, ‘KR15-ACP71’ was selected for its early maturity, resistance to leaf blast, bacterial blight, and rice stripe virus, semi-erect plant type, and good brown rice appearance quality. Following preliminary and replicated yield trials, the line was designated as ‘Gyeongnam 1.’ Based on the results of three years of local adaptability tests, the line was named ‘Joweon’ by the Variety Selection Committee of Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services. The culm length of ‘Joweon’ was 64 cm, which was shorter than that of ‘Jopyeong.’ The percentage of ripened grains was 84.5%, which was higher than that of ‘Jopyeong.’ Its lodging index was lower than that of ‘Jopyeong,’ indicating improved lodging resistance. The milled rice yield of ‘Joweon’ was 516 kg/10a under early cultivation and 485 kg/10a under late cultivation, corresponding to 98% of ‘Jopyeong’ and 107% of ‘Geumo,’ respectively. In addition, neither white nor white-belly kernels were observed and the head rice rate was as high as 87%. Therefore, ‘Joweon’ is a high-quality, early maturing rice cultivar suitable for early-season cultivation and cropping systems following winter open-field horticultural crops (Registration No. 10561, April 2, 2025).

‘Olchanme’ is a new foxtail millet variety developed by Chungcheongbukdo Agricultural Research & Extension Service from 2011 to 2021. This variety was collected in Jecheon and developed through pure-line selection. The culm length of ‘Olchanme’ is similar to that of the standard variety ‘Samdame,’ but its panicle length is longer. The panicle shape differs between ‘Olchanme’ and ‘Samdame,’ but other inherent characteristics (panicle type, grain color, dehusked grain color, and endosperm) are similar. The grain and dehusked grain colors were yellow, and the endosperm was non-glutinous. The heading period is 11 days earlier than that of ‘Samdame,’ indicating that ‘Olchanme’ is an early-maturing cultivar. In local adaptability tests, conducted from 2018 to 2021, excluding 2020, the average grain yield of ‘Olchanme’ is 3.26 MT ha^-1. In terms of physicochemical composition, the crude protein content was 10.5% and amylose content was 18.6%, classifying it as a non-glutinous type. Its potassium and magnesium contents were higher than those of ‘Samdame,’ while radical scavenging activity was similar to that of the standard variety. Overall, the new variety ‘Olchanme,’ characterized by higher grain filling than ‘Samdame,’ is expected to demonstrate wide regional adaptability across the entire country, excluding Jeju Island.

Here, we report the breeding of a region-specific waxy corn, ‘Ararichal, ’ which contains anthocyanins. ‘Ararichal’ was produced by crossing two inbred lines, HW12 as seed parent and 16CLP39 as pollen parent. The hybrid was made in 2018 and has been evaluated for two years in Hongcheon, Yeongwol, and Inje since 2021. Days to silking of ‘Ararichal’ were 73 days, 3 days earlier than the standard variety ‘Cheongchunchal.’ The number of ears and weight of fresh ears was 3% and 49% higher than those of ‘Cheongchunchal,’ respectively. The lodging index was 1, indicating a stronger lodging tolerance than ‘Cheongchunchal.’ Resistance to southern and northern leaf blight was similar to that of the standard variety, confirming its cultivation stability. In a regional adaptability test for Jeongseon, ‘Ararichal’ showed the highest marketable yield of 801 kg/10a with a 97% marketable ear ratio, demonstrating excellent yield potential and regional adaptability. Based on the results of the two-year trial, ‘Ararichal’ was recommended for cultivation in Gangwon Province, particularly in Jeongseon, as a superior region-specific variety. The plant variety protection rights of ‘Ararichal’ were registered in December 2024 under grant number 10365.