Seed dormancy is an important adaptive mechanism to protect seeds under the unfavorable environments. Unlike to wild type species, the seed dormancy trait of cultivated crops has been weakened by breeding programs during the domestication period. Weak seed dormancy often causes preharvest sprouting (PHS) problem in many cereal crops that result in significant economic loss. The seed dormancy is a quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlled by multiple genetic and environmental factors. So far, many QTLs for seed dormancy have been identified from rice and wheat as well as in the model plant Arabidopsis. Unveiling of QTL genes and complex mechanisms underlying seed dormancy is accelerated by the rapid progress of crop genomics. In the present study, we reviewed current status of research progress on the seed dormancy QTLs and correlated genes in Arabidopsis and cereal crops.

Eighteen years have passed since Korea introduced plant variety protection (PVP) system. Korea is being considered as one of the countries which introduced PVP system successfully. However, there have been lots of changes in circumstances surrounding PVP system during this period. Regarding future direction of PVP system in Korea, firstly the function and role of three organizations which now independently operate PVP system need to be reorganized to improve efficiency in PVP operation dealing with global issues. Secondly, authorities need to devise more user-oriented application form and process. This is because breeders feel some difficulties in preparing application documents. Thirdly, Korea has to create sound environments which guarantee effective enforcement of breeders’ rights and secure reliability of the system against infringement. Regarding decision of infringement, a reasonable threshold should be set up to decide whether certain varieties are different from protected varieties or not using both growing test and DNA test. For essentially derived varieties (EDV), authorities need to establish a reasonable threshold to decide whether there is an essential derivation or not. In addition, to prevent dispute between PVP holders and farmers regarding the use of farm saved seeds in the future, clarification of farm saved seed article in legislation is necessary. Lastly, there might be some contradiction between PVP and Nagoya protocol in disclosure of origin, prior informed consent, benefit sharing, etc. In advance of enactment of domestic ABS law, authority needs to study impact of Nagoya protocol on PVP system to minimize confusion and damage on breeders.

Bakanae (foolish seedling) disease caused by Gibberella fujikuroi creates serious problems in the foremost rice growing countries. This study was conducted to identify new resistance genetic sources to Bakanae disease. Bioassay showed that 11 varieties including Gwangmyeongbyeo, Hawn, Wonseadaesoo, Erguailai etc. were resistant to bakanae disease among 254 rice germplasm. Mismatch ratio between phenotype on bakanae disease bioassay and allele type of RM9, a SSR marker closely linked the bakanae disease resistant QTL, qBK1, were 38.3%. These results suggest that RM9 might be used for selecting qBK1, but it cannot be used for wide range of rice germplasm. Resistant germplasm in this study might be have resistant genes different from qBK1. The eleven varieties resistant to selected in this study will be used to identify new resistant alleles or genes to improve bakanae disease resistance in rice.

This experiments were carried out to know the response to Brown Planthopper(BPH) resistance genes at rice seedling stage using Biotype 1 for develoment of resistant cultivars. Varieties with Bph1, Bph3 and Bph18 genes showed a very strong resistance response, BpH2, Bph6, bph7 and Bph9 genes exhibited moderate resistance. Bph5 and Bph8 gene retention varieties and Nampyeongbyeo showed a very weak sensitivity in response to BPH. After 72 hours, Nampyeong(no gene) and IR72(Bph3 gene) were showed a feed-preference 690% and 0%, respectively. Results of Antixenosis and seedling resistance response to BPH were grouped into similar by specific resistance genes. Ten days after inoculation, BPH survival rate of vareities with resistance genes were below 30%, whereas Nampyeongbyeo was more than 70%. The results showed that Bph3 and Bph18 genes are highly resistant response against BPH, these genes are very useful for improve the rice cultivars with various resistance genes

Flower bud differentiation by temperature and photoperiod was investigated in early-, medium-, and late-maturing cultivars of radish (Raphanus sativus L.). Flower bud differentiation was induced by only day-length extension treatment (18 hr light/day) in early - and medium-maturing cultivars. Therefore, the early- and medium-maturing cultivars of radish were advanced the time of the flowering by the 2 weeks low temperature duration with day-length extension (18 hr light/day). The vegetative growth of early- and medium-maturing cultivar was the best by only day-length extension (18 hr light/day). However, late-maturing cultivar was needed for the flower bud differentiation and optimal vegetative growth not only long-day but also low temperature during 4~6 weeks at least. Our results suggest the optimal condition for flower bud differentiation in the each early-, medium-, and late-maturing cultivars of radish, which will be useful to develop breeding materials of radish.

A new soybean variety, ‘Joongmo 3009’ (Milyang 222) was developed at the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS) in 2012. ‘Joongmo 3009’ was released by pedigree selection from the cross between ‘Cheongja 2(Milyang 121)’ and ‘Daemangkong’.

It has determinate growth habit, white flower, brown pubescence, brown pod color, green seed coat, green cotyledon, spherical seed shape, oval leaf shape and large seed size (29.3 grams per 100 seeds). It was late 16 days in maturing date than the check cultivar ‘Cheongjakong’. The average yield of ‘Joongmo 3009’ was 2.91 ton per hectare, which was higher 36 percentage than the check variety, in the regional yield trials carried out in three adaptable locations of Korea from 2010 to 2012. The number of breeder’s right is ‘5474’

A new soybean cultivar ‘Wonhyun’, was developed by mutation breeding technique using a 250 Gy gamma ray at Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) in 2010. ‘Wonhyun’ has black seed coat and much better agronomic performance than original variety ‘Paldal’. Their total yield (177.1kg/10a) is much higher than that of ‘Paldal’ (126.9 kg/10a). Also, 100 seed weight of Wonhyun was 27g compared to ‘Paldal’ (13.7g). Contents of 4 essential amino acids such as aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, arginine and unsaturated fatty acid including linoleic and linolenic acid have much higher than ‘Paldal’. This cultivar is good for cooking with rice as improved functional ingredient soybean.

A new peanut variety ‘Sinpalkwang’ (Arachis hypogaea ssp. hypogaea L.) was developed at the Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science (NICS) in Milyang 2012. This was developed from the cross between line ‘HP299’, crossed high yielding variety ‘Palkwang’ and short stem cultivar ‘PI156649’, and ‘Palkwang’. ‘Sinpalkwang’ which is a Virginia plant type had 25 branches per plant and its length of main stem was 41 cm. Each pod has two grains with brown testa and long ellipse-shaped large kernel. Its yield components showed 45 pods per plant, 92 g of 100-seed-weight and 79% of pod shelling ratio in the regional yield trials (RYT). Seed quality showed 45.4% of crude oil and 29.2% of protein content. This variety also showed more resistant to web blotch, compared with reference variety. In the regional yield trials for 3 years ‘Sinpalkwang’ was more productive than reference variety by 28% with 5.4 MT/ha for grain production.

‘Jungmo1024’ is a blast resistant early maturing rice cultivar with high temperature tolerance during grain filling stage. ‘Jungmo1024’ was derived from a sodium azide treatment on ‘Suweon472’, a high yielding japonica elite line which was latterly registered as ‘Namil’. Comparison with the agronomical traits of ‘Namil’, ‘Jungmo1024’ was uniquely characterized as the induced gained function due to the reduced culm length, increased tiller number, strong blast resistance and especially high temperature tolerance during grain filling stage. The high temperature tolerance of ‘Jungmo1024’ was supported by two years experiments by comparing the head rice ratio produced in ordinary paddy field and green house condition. The heading date of ‘Jungmo1024’ was July 29 in central plain area, which was 9 days earlier than that of ‘Hwaseong’. The milled rice yield performance of ‘Jungmo1024’ was about 4.98 MT/ha in local adaptability test for three years. ‘Jungmo1024’ had 69 cm in culm length, which was 15 cm shorter than that of ‘Hwaseong’, 20 cm in panicle length, 16 in tiller number, and 22.3g in 1,000 grain-weight of brown rice. ‘Jungmo1024’ exhibited strong rice blast resistance, but do not have any clear resistance gene sources against bacterial blight, viral diseases and insect fests. ‘Jungmo1024’, nevertheless, would be a useful rice cultivar could be used as a donor line for the breeding programs for developing southern plane adaptable early maturing rice cultivars with enhanced rice blast resistance, lodging tolerance, and especially high temperature tolerance during grain filling stage.

Cherry tomato ‘TY Candy’ F₁ Hybrid was bred in Tomato Life Science and Research Institute from 2008 to 2014, which has indeterminate plant type, oblong fruit shape, average fruit weight 17 ~ 22 g and sugar content brix 8 ~ 9. Female line was selected and fixed with vigorous plant, firm fruit texture, Fusarium and Cladosporium resistance. Male line was selected and fixed with medium internode, deep leaf color, high brix, Yellow leaf curl virus and Nematode resistance. F₁ combination was made and pollinated in 2011 year, hybrid selection and sample seed production were progressed in 2012 year, farmers’ field trial was conducted at major tomato cultivation area and resulted good performance in 2013 ~ 2014. The distinctive characteristics of ‘TY Candy’ are higher yield, fruit quality and TYLCV, Nematode, Cladosporium etc. multi-disease resistance compared to existed varieties.