Soybean has a high protein content in both its hay and seed. Studies have shown that the mixed cropping of corn and soybean improved forage yield and quality. The objective of this study was to select soybean germplasm suitable for mixed cropping with corn on the same row to produce better forage yield and quality. Eleven soybean lines selected from previous evaluations were used in this study. Soybeans were planted with corn on the same row at 10 cm intervals. The planting rate in hills was one corn plant and three soybean plants. The fertilization and time of forage harvest were based on the recommendations for forage corn production. The results showed that in corn–soybean mixed cropping, the forage yield increased by about 19%, the silage protein content increased by 1%–2%, the percentage of acid detergent fibers and neutral detergent fibers decreased, the total digestible nutrients increased, and the acetic acid content decreased. Therefore, the selected soybean lines were suitable for mixed cropping with corn to produce high quality forage and/or as breeding material for the development of forage soybean varieties. Based on this study, we suggest that the agronomic traits of soybean needed for mixed cropping with corn on the same row for forage are as follows: soybean should 1) have the ability to grow well under the corn canopy, 2) have lodging tolerance for ease of mechanical forage harvest, 3) develop to the full pod stage at the time of harvest for increased protein content, and 4) have no adverse effects on corn growth to maintain a high forage yield.

Oats are known for their abundance of quality proteins and lipids compared to those of other grain crops; they especially contain a large amount of good quality fibers, including β-glucan. The Korean domestic consumption of oats is rapidly increasing due to their high nutritional value. However, the research for functional food breeding material has been insufficient because oats have been focused on as feed. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the agronomic traits and important nutritional ingredients, including β-glucan, protein, lipid, fiber, and dietary fiber, of 142 oat germplasms from Korea, China, and Japan, which are maintained in the National Agrobiodiversity Center. In addition, the diversity by origin of the germplasms was analyzed based on their agronomic traits. For the agronomic characteristics, Korean oat germplasms were on average headed and matured earlier than the Chinese and Japanese ones. Seven accessions, including IT151107, were matured before mid-June, which makes double cropping possible in the Southern region of Korea. In the diversity analysis by origin based on quantitative agronomic traits, Korean oat germplasms were in the distinguished group compared to Chinese and Japanese germplasms. Oat germplasm had a wider range of main ingredients compared to that of Korean domestic oat cultivars. However, Chinese germplasms had a significantly higher β-glucan content, while Korean germplasms had significantly higher crude protein, crude lipid, and crude fiber contents, than did other germplasms from other origins. Dietary fiber contents showed no significant differences between origins. IT129802 (China), IT166594 (Korea), IT166584 (Korea), IT151108 (Korea), and IT129798 (China) showed the highest β-glucan, protein, lipid, fiber, and dietary fiber contents, respectively. These selected oat germplasms can be superior breeding materials for various functional and agronomic purposes.

The flour physiochemical properties and end-use quality of wheat were evaluated to identify the effect of high temperature (HT) during grain maturation. HT caused a decrease in the width and thickness of grains. However, HT did not affect the grain weight, volume, length, test weight and 1,000-kernel weight in Korean wheat cultivars. Although HT marginally affected the general flour physiochemical properties and gluten composition, the effects were not significant. Based on the results of the evaluation of end-use quality, the effect of HT on the end-use quality was not significant. Nevertheless, the allelic composition was related to the quantity and quality of grain under HT conditions. In Korean wheat cultivars containing Glu-D1d and -D1f alleles, the 1,000-kernel weight was decreased by HT. In addition, Glu-D1f was more sensitive to HT than was Glu-D1d. The proportion of the y-type high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs) was decreased by HT in Korean wheat cultivars containing the Glu-A1ab allele, and was increased in cultivars containing the Glu-B3d allele. Furthermore, the proportions of gliadin and low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GSs) were decreased by HT in Korean wheat cultivars containing Glu-A1ab or Glu-B3ahi alleles.

‘Jungmo1033’, a japonica rice variety, was developed by the rice breeding team at the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS) in 1992. It is derived from a cross between a native variety ‘Jagwangdo’, which has translucent milled rice and medium maturity; and ‘Hwayeong’, which is an elite line with bacterial blight resistance and mid-late maturity. The heading date of ‘Jungmo1033’ was August 10 in the middle plain area of Korea, which was two days later than that of ‘Hwaseong’. ‘Jungmo1033’ has a culm length of 79 cm, which was 5 cm shorter than that of ‘Hwaseong’, and 105 spikelets per panicle. ‘Jungmo1033’ showed resistance to bacterial blight (K1, K2, and K3 races) and stripe virus, but susceptibility to the K3a race of bacterial blight, dwarf and black-streaked dwarf viruses, and planthoppers. The milled rice of this variety exhibited translucency and a medium short grain shape. It had an excellent appearance and lower amylose content (19.1%) than that of ‘Hwaseong’. The characteristics related to grain milling were better than those of ‘Hwaseong’, especially head rice milling recovery ratio and head rice ratio (94.8%). ‘Jungmo1033’ showed a milled rice productivity of 5.38 MT/ha at 11 sites under ordinary cultivation conditions. (Registration No. 5723)

‘Jinkwang’, a japonica rice variety, was developed by a cross between ‘Hopum’ (IT23527) and the F1 hybrid of ‘Unkwang’ (IT217814) and ‘Koshihikari’ (IT157335) by the rice breeding team at NICS in 2016. ‘Unkwang’ shows an early maturity and high yield and ‘Koshihikari’ is a high-quality variety. The growth duration of ‘Jinkwang’ in the paddy field was 114 days in the middle plain region in Korea, which was six days later than that of ‘Jopyeong’. The culm length of ‘Jinkwang’ was 62 cm, which was 13 cm shorter than that of ‘Jopyeong’. The panicle of ‘Jinkwang’ was composed of 100 spikelets. The viviparous germination rate of ‘Jinkwang’ was 28.3%. ‘Jinkwang’ showed resistance to blast and bacterial blight (K1, K2, and K3 races); however, it was susceptible to stripe virus, dwarf and black-streaked dwarf viruses, and plant hoppers. The milled rice grains of ‘Jinkwang’ showed an excellent palatability index (0.42) and lower protein content (6.2%) than that of ‘Jopyeong’. The grain milling characteristics were better than those of ‘Jopyeong’, especially in terms of brown/rough rice ratio and milled/rough rice ratio (75.9%). ‘Jinkwang’ showed a milled rice productivity of 5.91 MT/ha at eight sites under ordinary cultivation conditions. (Registration No. 7318).

The radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is one of the major vegetables of Korea and is consumed as the main ingredient of kimchi. To improve the texture of radish kimchi, herbs, and soup, we attempted to develop a cultivar with a hard texture. Using species native to Jeju Island, we bred ‘Wonkyo10045ho’ which produces short, elliptically shaped roots with a hard texture. Generation progress was made via the self-fertilization method using bud pollination. We selected individuals with good horticultural characteristics from each of five generations grown from 2006 to 2010. Finally, in 2015, the line was named ‘Wonkyo10045ho’, and the granting of plant variety rights (Grant number 6527) was certified in 2017 following an application for the protection of new plant varieties (application number 2015-398). The root characteristics of ‘Wonkyo10045ho,’ include an oval shape, mixed white and green root skin, and a white inner root color. ‘Wonkyo10045ho’ had a sugar content of 4.9 Brix, with excellent sweetness, good taste, and strong pithiness. The average number of seeds per plant obtained via pollination by bees in a small net house was 609.1, suggesting that the strength of its self-incompatibility was not strong and male sterility might be advantageous. Therefore, it is expected that this variety will be useful as a material for improving the competitiveness of domestic farmers and for stable radish exports.

To satisfy the health needs of consumers and enhance the yields of producers, a grain crop ‘Cheongpungchal’ (Panicum miliaceum L.) with many common names, including proso millet, was collected from a landrace in Danyang, Chungbuk province and developed using a pure-line selection method. ‘Cheongpungchal’, which has a brown seed coat, has characteristics of a medium-maturing variety, requiring 102 days from sowing to harvesting. The variable growth characteristics included a stem length of 155 cm on average and length of ears 38.4 cm on average. As for the yield-related characteristics, the average number of spikes per plant was 3.8, the ear weight per plant was 11.8 g, and the rough millet thousand-grain weight averaged 5.17 g. The results of a regional adaptation test in 5 regions of Korea for three years revealed the yield of ‘Cheongpungcha’l to be 38% higher than that of the ‘Hwanggeumgijang’ variety, representing the best yield from among existing varieties. The total polyphenolic content of ‘Cheongpungchal’ was 32% higher than that of the ‘Hwanggeumgijang’ variety, and the antioxidant activity was 63% greater than that of ‘Hwanggeumgijang’. As a result of this research, ‘Cheongpungchal’ has been registered as a variety (grant number No. 6964) with the Korea Seed and Varieties Service in 2018 following filing for breed protection in 2016.

‘Hyowon 3’, a medium-maturing glutinous rice variety was developed by the rice breeding team of Pusan National University in 2013. This cultivar was developed from a cross between ‘Hongna’ which is a landrace from the Korean peninsula showing good glutinous properties, and ‘Junam’, which has stable productivity. During the F₃–F₈ generations, breeding lines were selected using a pedigree breeding method. As a result, the promising line (JS24-6-95-11-5-2-1-1-1-B) with good glutinous properties was advanced and designated as ‘SP 107’. This variety headed on Aug. 16, which is 3 days later than ‘Dongjinchal’ in the middle plane. The average culm length and panicle length of this variety were 80.7 cm and 20.1 cm, respectively. This variety yielded approximately 14.1 tillers per hill and 104 spikelets per panicle. The ratio of ripened grain was about 93.0%, and the 1,000-grain weight was 19.30 g in brown rice. The yield performance was 492 kg/10a in a local adaptability test.