Suppression subtractive hybridization was carried out to identify resistant genes against to pear scab caused by Venturia nashicola using leaves harvested at 24 and 48 hours after inoculation into ‘93-3-98’ (highly resistant) and ‘Sweat Skin’ (highly susceptible). As a result of the ESTs analysis, nine and 14 unique genes were expressed on 24H (tester, mRNA at 24hr after inoculation of ‘93-3-98’; driver, one of ‘Sweet Skin’) and 48H (tester, mRNA at 48hr after inoculation of ‘93-3-98’; driver, one of ‘Sweet Skin’), respectively and genes related to defense or stress response were accounted for 40% (24H) and 42% (48H). Differential expressed genes classifying into PR protein family were pathogenesis-related protein 1a, major allergen Pyr c1 and allergen mal d 1 at 24H and major allergen Mal d 1.03B at 48H, respectively. Major allergen Pyr c1, F-Box/kelch-repeat protein, Flavoprotein wrbA, and hypothetical protein POPTRDRAFT_783792 are expected to closely connecting to scab resistance of pear following strongly expressed in highly resistant cv. ‘Bartlett’ and ‘93-3-98’ compared with moderately susceptible cv. ‘Gamcheonbae’, susceptible cv. ‘Wonhwang’, and highly susceptible cv. ‘Niitaka’ and ‘Sweat skin’.

Forty lines of gerbera (Gerbera hybrida) were developed by self-pollination of 80 commercial pot varieties. The lines show wide variation in both qualitative characters (flower and disk color) and quantitative characters (flower diameter, peduncle length and days to flowering). The inbred lines showed varying degrees of inbreeding depression in peduncle length and flower diameter as much as 66-88% and 89%, respectively. As selfed generations were advanced, the quantitative characters of lines became uniform as measured by variance among 30 individual plants per generation. It is postulated that a few number of genes are controlling flower color since most lines of third or fourth selfed generation showed uniform color. Hybrids between developed lines of third selfed gereration showed considerable level of heterosis in flower diameter, peduncle length, and number of flowers, and considerably lower degree of heterosis in days to flower.

The β-carotene biofortified transgenic rice was developed by transforming rice cv. Nakdongbyeo with phytoene synthase (Psy) and carotene desaturase (Crt I) genes isolated from Capsicum and Pantoea. The aim of this study was to perform molecular characterization of rice transformants of T5-T7 generation harboring Psy and Ctr I genes driven by endosperm specific globulin promoter for biosafety evaluation of β-carotene biofortified transgenic rice. The structure and sequence of T-DNA in the transformation vector and the insertion sites, flanking sequences and generational stability of inserted T-DNA in transgenic rice lines were analyzed. The transformation vector consisted of right border, MAR gene, carotenogenic genes unit, herbicide resistance selectable marker unit, MAR gene and left border in sequential order. T-DNA was introduced at the position of 30,363,938-30,363,973 bp of chromosome No. 2 by adaptor-ligation PCR. Stable integration of T-DNA and stable expression of bar gene was confirmed in T5 to T7 generations. It was also confirmed that the backbone DNA of transformation vector containing antibacterial gene was not present in the genome of β-carotene biofortified transgenic rice. HPLC analysis confirmed that carotenoids were consistently detected through T5-T7 generations.

The selectable marker-free rice plants containing mcry1Ac insecticidal gene isolated from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) were generated using a non-selection approach by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. The nutritional composition of two lines of transgenic rice plants (RTB5 and RTB11) was compared with that of its non-transgenic counterpart. The results showed that, except for small differences in dietary fiber and some minerals, there was no significant difference between transgenic rice and conventional counterpart variety with respect to their nutrient composition. Most of measured levels of nutrients were within the range of values reported for other commercial cultivars, showing substantial equivalency. Therefore, the insertion of transgenes did not affect the nutritional composition of transgenic RTB5 and RTB11 rice grains.

A new peanut variety ‘Sangan’ (Arachis hypogaea ssp. fastigiata L.) was bred at the Department of Functional Crop, National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), in Milyang 2011. This was developed from the cross between high quality cultivar ‘Palkwang’ and fewer branched germplasm ‘Chinese collect. 1’. ‘Sangan’ which is Shinpung plant type had 10 branches per plant and its length of main stem was 43 cm. Each pod has two grains with brown testa and long ellipse-shaped large kernel, and 100 seed weight was 96 g in the regional yield trials (RYT). Seed quality showed 48.5% of crude oil and 29.1% of protein content. This variety also showed more resistant to late leaf spot and web blotch, compared with reference cultivar. In the regional yield trials ‘Sangan’ was more productive than reference cultivar by 15% with 4.87 MT/ha for grain production.

Nunkeunheugchal (registration No. 01-0001-2014-4), a black waxy giant embryo rice cultivar, was developed by the rice breeding team of National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), RDA in 2012. This cultivar was derived from the cross between ge^t and Josaengheugchal in 2004/2005 winter season, and selected by a promising line, YR25277-B-B-314-2, was selected and designated as the line of Milyang263 in 2009. The local adaptability test of Milyang263 was carried out at four locations from 2010 to 2012 and it was named as Nunkeunheugchal. This variety is a early maturity cultivar. It has 65 cm in culm length and 72 spikelets per panicle, and 1,000 grain-weight of brown rice is 17.8 g which is less than that of Josaengheugchal. This variety is resistant to leaf blast, but susceptible to bacterial blight, neck blast, virus disease and insect pest. The yield potential of Nunkeunheugchal was about 3.54 MT/ha as brown rice at ordinary fertilizer level in local adaptability test for three years. Nunkeunheugchal possesses benefits to rice consumers because of high amounts of GABA, anthocyanin, calcium and iron. This variety would be adaptable to the paddy field of middle and southern plain region of Korea.

A new peanut variety ‘Boreom1’ (Arachis hypogaea ssp. fastigiata.) was bred at the Department of Functional Crop, NICS, in Milyang in 2010. This was developed by pedigree method after the cross between the large grain cultivar ‘Suwon 108’ and the short stem cultivar ‘Milyang4’. ‘Boreom 1’ which is Shinpung plant type had 9 branches per plant and its length of main stem was 43 cm. Each pod has two grains with brown testa and long ellipse-shaped large kernel, and its 100 seed weight was 105 g in the regional yield trials (RYT). ‘Boreom1’ showed 49.9% of crude oil and 54.5% of oleic acid composition in dry seed, and had 30.8 mg/g of sucrose and 4.2 mg/g of tannin content in fresh peanut. In the regional yield trials, ‘Boreom 1’ was more productive than reference variety by 8% with 10.16 MT/ha for fresh pod production and by 3% with 4.26 MT/ha for dry grain production.

Green pumpkin ‘NongHyup Ae’ F₁ hybrid cultivar was developed by the NH Seed Research & Development Center from 1996 to 1999, which has trailing plant type, oblong fruit shape, short internode length, small leaf. Especially green pumpkin ‘NongHyup Ae’ is high quality and yielding cultivar with firm fruit texture and high femail/male ratio. Female line was developed and fixed with short internode and high female/male ratio. Male line was selected and fixed with firm fruit texture, light green color fruit and oblong H shape fruit. F₁ combination was made and pollinated in 1996 year, hybrid selection and sample seed production were progressed in 1997-1998 year, farmers’ field test was carried out at major green pumpkin cultivation area and resulted in good performance in 1999. Green pumpkin ‘NongHyup Ae’ showed higher yield with high quality than existed varieties.

‘Dapyeongok’, a new maize F₁ hybrid (Zea mays L.), is developed by the maize breeding team at the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), RDA in 2010. The high-yielding hybrid, named ‘Dapyeongok’ was bred by crossing between two inbred lines, ‘KS158’ and ‘KS155’. It is a yellow dent maize hybrid (Zea mays L.). After preliminary yield trial and advanced yield trial of Dapyeongok in Suwon for two years, regional yield trial of that was subsequently carried out for evaluation of its growth and yield at three different locations from 2008 to 2010. The silking date of Dapyeongok is the same with that of the check hybrid, ‘Jangdaok’. The plant height of Dapyeongok is similar to Jangdaok, and its ear height ratio is the same with that of Jangdaok. It has resistance to lodging. The ear length of Dapyeongok is shorter than that of Jangdaok. The weight of 100 seeds of Dapyeongok is lighter than that of Jangdaok. It has strong resistance to northern leaf blight (Exserohilum turcicum) and southern leaf blight (Bipolaris maydis). It has moderate resistance to black streaked dwarf virus (BSDV), ear lot and corn borer. The grain yield (8.6 ton/ha) of Dapyeongok was 8% higher than that of Jangdaok. The seed production of Dapyeongok has gone well due to a good synchronization of flowering period during crossing between the seed parent, KS158, and the pollen parent, KS155, in Yeongwol and F₁ seed yield was 2.8 ton/ha. Dapyeongok would be a suitable cultivar to all plain area in Korea.

‘Oryun’ was developed in 2012 through crossing ‘Atlantic’ and ‘CIP 705’ followed by seedling and line selections at the Special Crops Research Institute, Gangwon-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services (ARES). The regional yield trials were conducted three times from 2010 to 2012. The growth characteristics of ‘Oryun’ include high vigor, tolerant to lodging, and semi-erected. ‘Oryun’ has white flower, short oval tuber with yellow skin and white flesh. The dormant period of ‘Oryun’ was 90~100 days after harvest, which was 5~10 days longer than ‘Superior’. The average tuber yield of ‘Oryun’ for the three years (2010~2012) was 36.8 M/T per ha and the specific gravity was 1.080, which was higher than that of ‘Superior’. In addition, the variety can be suitable to environment–friendly potato production because of tolerance to late blight (Phytophthora infestans). ‘Oryun’ was applied for Korea Seed & Variety Service with No. 62 in 2013.