Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) is a major legume crop with a high protein and carbohydrate content. Mungbean sprouts have higher levels of bioactive phenolic compounds than mungbean seeds. In this study, the physical and biochemical characteristics of mungbean sprouts were investigated at the tissue level (cotyledon, hypocotyl, root, and seed coat) using three cultivars (Dahyeon, Samgang, and Sunhwa). Sunhwa was found to have longer hypocotyl, root, and cotyledon lengths and more bioactive compounds (phenols and flavonoids), leading to a higher antioxidant capacity compared to the other cultivars. Among the three cultivars, the hypocotyl had the highest antioxidant activity and bioactive compound content. The flavonoid content of the seed coat was as high as those of the cotyledon and root tissues. Although Dahyeon and Samgang mungbean sprouts are more suitable for consumption based on consumers’ preference for physical traits, they had lower antioxidant capacities than Sunhwa. The results of this study indicate that mungbean cultivars that are consumed as sprouts need to be developed to improve food quality for consumers’ needs.

Temperate japonica is used as the parent for crossing in the breeding of new rice cultivars in Korea, and the grain shape of the developed lines or cultivars is a semi-round and medium-short grain length. To overcome the current low quantity of japonica cultivar germplasm and deterioration in quality caused by climate change, it is necessary to diversify the grain characteristics of japonica. Most of the United States (US) cultivars are classified as medium, long, extra-long, and half spindle- and spindle-shaped grains. The qSW5 allelotype, a major gene involved in grain width, is found in all US cultivars. In addition, the US cultivar ‘Saber’ has both qgl3 and GS3_B alleles, which have low allele frequencies among Korean rice cultivars, and ‘A020’ had gw8, an allele with a reduced grain width. The pasting properties and texture of medium-grain length and half-spindle-shaped cultivars were relatively similar to those of the Korean rice cultivar, but different from those of long-grain and long spindle-shaped cultivars. Therefore, grain shape is associated with pasting properties and texture traits. Among the rice cultivars in the US, tropical japonica belongs to the same japonica as the Korean rice cultivar; however, its grain shape is similar to that of indica. As grain shape is also related to grain quality, US cultivars can be used as a useful genetic resource for diversifying the grain characteristics of Korean japonica cultivars and breeding new cultivars.

The breeding objective for crops changes constantly due to environmental changes, customer requirements, and farming convenience, among other factors. As breeding takes a long time, suitable mating candidates must be obtained from the beginning. In this study, we propose a breeder-friendly system and datasets. We investigated 11 traits that affect adaptation to the cultivation environment in Jeju Island using 27 buckwheat germplasms and selected good germplasms for breeding new cultivars. Data on the various traits of the target crop could assist breeders or researchers in identifying the traits of each genetic resource that will facilitate the development of new cultivars that suit the requirements of customers. Therefore, this study suggests establishing a breeder-friendly system and datasets in GenBank.

Globally, wheat (Triticum aestivum) is a major food crop for humans with no regional restrictions. However, it is still difficult for Korea to achieve self-sufficiency owing to production limitations. Moreover, food security is unstable owing to the unpredictable climate and unstable international economy. Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is among the factors that occurs frequently due to irregular climates, and damages the value of wheat. In this study, RNA-seq was conducted on PHS-treated samples (for Korean representative cultivar ‘keumgang’) and PHS-resistant mutation line ‘Jeonju 377ho’. Gene functional annotation and DEGs analysis were performed using 234,131,980 mapped reads. Associated transcripts were analyzed using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis and were mainly used to search for genes associated with ATP synthesis and starch and sucrose metabolism related to seed germination and seed dormancy. Candidate DEGs were compressed through cluster set analysis, and gene expression was conducted to search for genes related to seed germination and dormancy to explain them in greater detail based on biological and chemical mechanisms.

This study aimed to develop an agarose gel-based multiplex PCR assay using sequence-tagged site (STS) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers that can differentiate Korean wheat cultivars. Forty-nine Korean wheat cultivars were primarily classified based on seed coat color into red (36) and white (13) groups. Red wheat cultivars were further differentiated by three multiplex PCRs using molecular markers for Ppo-A1/Vrn-D1a/Rht-B1b, Glu-A3ac/TaCwi-A1b/Lr34, and Glu-A1ac/Glu-B1b/KWSM003/TaSE96. Similarly, white wheat cultivars were further differentiated using two multiplex PCRs using the molecular markers for Ppo-A1/Vrn-D1a/Pina-D1a and Ppo-B1/Glu-B3h. A multiplex PCR assay using molecular markers for Glu-A1b/Glu-D1d/Wx-B1 was developed to differentiate four Korean wheat cultivars used as government certified seeds: Baekkang, Hwanggeumal, Keumkang, and Saekeumkang. A multiplex PCR assay using molecular markers for Glu-B3h and Pin-D1a was used for colored wheat cultivars, Arijinheuk, Ariheuk, and Chinese colored wheat. The multiplex PCR assays developed in this study can provide useful molecular tools for differentiating Korean wheat cultivars, developing wheat seed management systems, and guaranteeing wheat seeds in Korea.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is an excellent source of protein, oil, carbohydrates, and many other bioactive ingredients. However, its raw mature seeds also contain several antinutritional components. The newly developed soybean cultivar ‘Hayoung’ has large yellow seeds and a low stachyose content, and is free of lipoxygenase, Kunitz trypsin inhibitor (KTI), and 7S α’-subunit proteins. ‘Hayoung’ was selected from the population derived from a cross between the intermediate parent (F4-4) and the breeding line (15G1). It has purple flowers, tawny pubescence, a determinate growth habit, and light-yellow pods at maturity. The seed of the cultivar has a yellow hilum and yellow seed coat color. The dry weight seed protein and oil content were 37.9 and 16.0%, respectively. The stachyose content was 3.1 g/kg, which was much lower than 12.7 g/kg of the check cultivar, ‘Daewon’. ‘Hayoung’ has shown resistance to soybean necrosis, soybean mosaic virus, Cercospora leaf spot and blight, black root rot, pod and stem blight, and bacterial pustule. ‘Hayoung’ matured on 22 October with a plant height of 56 cm and a 100-seed weight of 32.3 g. The average yield of the cultivar was 3.12 (Ton/ha), based on regional yield trials in 2018 at four locations. ‘Hayoung’ has been registered as a soybean cultivar (registration number: 8625, registration date: June 08, 2021) by the Korea Seed & Variety Service, Republic of Korea.

A new black barley variety, ‘Heukdahyang’, was developed from the cross between ‘Keunalbori 1ho’ and ‘Masankwamaek/Mortoni’ at the National Institute of Crop Science, RDA in 2015. ‘Heukdahyang’ had a shorter culm length (76 cm) than that of ‘Olbori’, and had lodging tolerance. The average heading and maturity dates of ‘Heukdahyang’ were April 28 and June 2, respectively, which were later than those of ‘Olbori’. ‘Heukdahyang’ also had a spike length of 5.1 cm, spike density of 534 spikes/m², and 57 grains/spike. The thousand grain weight of ‘Heukdahyang’ (35.9 g) was greater than that of ‘Olbori’. ‘Heukdahyang’ showed moderate resistance to barley yellow mosaic virus. The yield potential of ‘Heukdahyang’ was about 6% higher than that of ‘Olbori’ in upland and paddy fields. Among qualitative characteristics, protein and β-glucan content of ‘Heukdahyang’ were 11.3% and 4.7%, respectively, which were similar to those of ‘Olbori’. However, ‘Heukdahyang’ showed higher polyphenol content (0.162%) and higher DPPH radical scavenging activity than those of the check cultivar (Registration No. 7007).

Bakanae disease is caused by several species of Fusarium and imposes serious limitations to rice production worldwide. The incidence of this disease is increasing in the top rice-growing countries. No rice variety has been found to be completely resistant to this disease. Thus, higher resistance to the disease may be a cost saving solution preferable to the application of fungicides. ‘Anpyeong’ was derived from the cross between ‘YR24982-9-1’ and ‘Saeilmi’ in 2012 and selected as the promising line, ‘YR30389-B-2GH-103’; it was further selected and designated as ‘Milyang 313’ in 2016. The local adaptability test for ‘Milyang 313’ was conducted at five locations from 2016 to 2018 and the cultivar was named ‘Anpyeong’. The heading date for the medium-late maturing cultivar ‘Anpyeong’ was August 13. The ‘Anpyeong’ culm was 77 cm long and had 115 spikelets per panicle. The brown rice 1,000 grain-weight was 22.2 g, which is higher than that of ‘Nampyeong’. This variety is resistant to blast disease and rice stripe virus, but susceptible to bacterial blight and insect pest. The potential ‘Anpyeong’ yield was approximately 562 kg/10 a at ordinary fertilizer level in the local adaptability test and for three years. ‘Anpyeong’ harboring the qBK1 gene derived from a tongil type rice ‘Shingwang’ is moderately resistant to bakanae disease (Registration No. 8135).