Seedlessness is the most important characteristic of citrus and one of its breeding purposes. Triploids are the most reliable way to secure seedlessness and can be developed through crosses between tetraploids and diploids or between diploids and diploids. We evaluated the characteristics of seed formation and recovery frequency of triploids in interploid crosses in this study. Normal seed formation was the highest (85.0%) in crosses of 2x×2x, followed by crosses 4x×2x and 2x×4x. Partially developed seeds were obtained at the highest rate (35.3%) from crosses of 4x×2x with 0.7 seeds per fruit, followed by 2x×2x and 2x×4x with 0.2 and 0.1 seeds per fruit, respectively. The number of undeveloped seeds per fruit was 1.1, 1.0, and 0.3 from the 4x×2x, 2x×4x, and 2x×2x crosses, respectively, and the lowest frequency was recorded in the 2x×2x cross. Diploid plants were mostly obtained in the 2x×2x cross (98.8%), while 73.0% triploids and 27.0% tetraploids were obtained with 4x×2x, and 14.3% diploids, 57.1% triploids, and 28.6% tetraploids were achieved with the 2x×4x cross. Diploid plants were mostly obtained from normal seeds, while ad triploid and tetraploid plants were mostly obtained from partially developed and undeveloped seeds. The results indicated that crosses of 4x×2x were the most efficient and that in vitro culture should be applied to rescue plants from partially developed and undeveloped seeds in triploid breeding programs.

This study used perilla seeds produced in 2019, 2020, and 2021 to determine the year of production using multivariate statistical analysis of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectral data of perilla leaves. Spectral analysis based on multivariate statistical analysis of whole-cell extracts was used to distinguish the perilla leaves at the metabolic level. FT-IR spectral data of the leaves were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). The FTIR spectrum identified spectral differences between the frequency regions of 1,700 to 1,500, 1,500 to 1,300, and 1,100 to 950 cm^-1. This spectral region reflects quantitative and qualitative changes in amides I, II in amino acids and proteins (1,700–1,500 cm^-1), phosphodiester groups from nucleic acids and phospholipids (1,500–1,300 cm^-1), and carbohydrate compounds (1,100–950 cm^-1). PCA revealed separate clusters corresponding to production traceability relationships. Therefore, PCA can be used to distinguish between production in 2019, 2020, and 2021 based on different metabolite contents. PLS-DA showed a similar production traceability classification for the perilla seeds. In addition, this metabolic identification system can be used to rapidly select and classify useful perilla seed varieties.

The global seed distribution market is rapidly transforming into a high-value-added seed market, with the production and distribution of processed seeds expanding, led by multinational seed companies. However, domestic seed companies still lack investment in seed processing, and the level of technology for processing distributed seeds is relatively low. The proportion of seeds processed and produced by seed companies must be increased to transform the domestic seed industry into an internationally competitive export industry. According to the results of a survey of 2,679 domestic companies by the National Seed and Variety Service (2021), the main business field of seed companies is seed production (1,192 companies), followed by seed sales (1,041 companies), nurseries (328 companies), and seed processing (35 companies). In conclusion, few companies conduct business in the field of seed processing. Accordingly, the government plans to build seed-processing facilities for joint utilization by seed companies to expand the supply of high-quality seeds from domestic seed companies. To this end, we investigated the seed- processing status of major seed companies and conducted a demand survey for facilities and equipment in the seed-processing field. Details and operational plans for the establishment of a tentatively named ‘Seed Enterprise Joint Utilization Seed Processing Center,’ based on domestic companies' processing status and demands, are presented in this paper.

‘Chamdongjin’ is a near-isogenic line with enhanced disease resistance compared to ‘Sindongjin,’ a mega-cultivar in Korea. ‘Younghojinmi’ is the rice cultivar with the highest taste quality among the premium cultivars. This study conducted quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis on yield-related traits using the recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between ‘Chamdongjin’ and ‘Younghojinmi’ to elucidate genetic interaction. We utilized KASP markers and a target-capture sequencing SNP genotyping platform to address the insufficient genetic diversity of the population using Korean japonica cultivars. A QTL associated with heading date (HD), qHd8, was detected, and the candidate gene Hd18 was identified. The hd18 allele delayed HD by 3 days and reduced the brown/rough rice ratio (BRR) by 0.3%. QTLs associated with culm length (CL), panicle length (PL), and yield (g/plant), namely qCL1, qPL1_2023, and qYield1_2023, respectively, were detected, and the candidate gene SD1 was identified. The sd1 allele shortened CL and PL by 11 and 0.8 cm, respectively, and reduced the yield by 2.3 g. It also reduced the number of spikelets per panicle (NS) by 10 and decreased the ratio of ripened grains (RRG) by 2.6 %. QTLs associated with 1,000-grain weight (TGW), NS, and BRR, namely qTGW3, qNS3, and qBRR3_ 2023, respectively, were detected, and the candidate gene GS3 was identified. The gs3 allele increased TGW and BRR by 3.8 g and 0.4%, respectively, and reduced NS by 12. It also reduced RRG content by 1.9% and increased the yield by 1.7 g. The QTL associated with the number of panicles per hill (PN), qTN3, and the candidate gene, OsTB1, were identified. The OsTB1^TGTG allele reduced PN by 1.3 and affected the increase in NS and RRG by 10 and 1.4%, respectively. The allele combinations of SD1, GS3, and OsTB1 were analyzed to assess their effects on yield-related traits. NS and RRG were influenced by trait variations, depending on the combination background of other alleles during allele substitution. ‘Jeonju 697,’ an elite breeding line exhibiting improved lodging resistance with shortened CL, was selected by substituting SD1 with sd1 while maintaining the Hd18-gs3-OsTB1^TGTG allele combination of ‘Chamdongjin.’ This is expected to be a practical alternative for addressing the lodging problem in ‘Chamdongjin.’

‘Yuryeo’ is a rapeseed cultivar suitable for rapeseed oil production which was developed by the Bioenergy Crop Research Institute, NICS, RDA, in 2018. ‘Yuryeo,’ characterized by its high oleic acid content and resistance to sclerotinia stem rot and lodging, was developed through gamma-ray irradiation of ‘Hallayuchae’ seeds followed by pedigree breeding. Regional yield trials for ‘Yuryeo’ were conducted in three regions from 2016 to 2019. As a result, the flowering period of ‘Yuryeo’ was observed to be two days later than that of ‘Hallayuchae,’ but both had a similar maturation period. In terms of yield, there was no significant difference between ‘Yuryeo’ and ‘Hallayuchae,’ but ‘Yuryeo’ showed higher resistance to sclerotinia stem rot and lodge. Notably, the oleic acid in ‘Yuryeo’ was 74.2%, marking a 10% increase over ‘Hallayuchae.’ With its enriched oleic acid content and reliable cultivation characteristics, ‘Yuryeo’ can enhance both rapeseed cultivation and the rapeseed oil industry (Registration No. 8753).

The rice cultivar ‘Baekokhyang,’ a high-quality late maturing aromatic rice developed by Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, was developed to cope with rising temperatures due to global warming and the market demand for various rice cultivars. ‘Baekokhyang’ was derived from a cross between ‘Ungwang,’ a multi-disease-resistant early-maturing rice cultivar as the maternal parent, and ‘Okhyangheugchal,’ an aromatic black rice as the paternal parent. Subsequently, a pedigree breeding method was used and yield trials were conducted from 2017 to 2018, followed by local adaptability tests from 2018 to 2019. ‘Baekokhyang’ is a late-maturing rice cultivar with the heading date of August 25th, demonstrating a slower maturation tendency compared to other medium-maturing cultivars, and this trait enables it to be ripened at an appropriate temperature after the heading date. ‘Baekokhyang’ exhibited tolerance to lodging, indicating high cultivation stability and more grains per panicle than ‘Samgwang. ’ Yield of milled rice was approximately 6.42 MT/ha under normal fertilizer levels in the local adaptability tests, which was 0.38 MT/ha higher than that of ‘Samgwang’. Additionally, the weight of 1,000 brown grains was 26 g which was 4.4 g heavier than that of ‘Samgwang’. The width/length ratio was 1.97, indicating the characteristic of long grains.The new rice cultivar ‘Baekokhyang’ is expected to enhance the competitiveness of rice production in Chungnam Province by diversifying the rice market which is currently dominated by non-glutinous and short-grain rice (Registration No. 8608).

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus L.) blooms in summer and is widely used as an ornamental tree because of its beautiful flowers and long flowering periods. To develop a new cultivar suitable for pot cultivation, the artificial crossing of H. syriacus cv. Hansŏ, a seed parent, and H. syriacus cv. Hongtanshim, a pollen parent, was established in 2011. Among the 19 artificially bred seedlings that bloomed in 2014, three individuals were selected by the characteristics based on flower shape, flower size, petal color, presence and size of the red eye zone, leaf characteristics, tree form, and growth of the current-year branch. After the second test on its traits for three years, one individual (NFHH05) with a unique flower shape and slow growth was selected. This individual was investigated again for uniformity and stability of trait expression, and was registered as a new cultivar under the name ‘Huiwon’ in 2022. ‘Huiwon’ has bright pink flowers with thick petals and distinct petal veins. The flowers were in full bloom and were shaped like a plate, with the tips of the petals curling outward. It begins to bloom at the beginning of July, and the average flowering period is approximately 63 d. ‘Huiwon’ has a slightly straight tree form and is a slow growing cultivar, which makes it suitable for medium-sized pot cultivation or flower gardening (Grant number 8875).