An important objective in wheat breeding is the development of cultivars with reduced allergenicity and enhanced bread-making quality. In this study, we conducted molecular marker analysis using 1,780 F₁₀ recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between the hypo-allergenic cultivar Ofree and the Korean bread wheat cultivar Keumgang, and assessed the genotypes associated with ω-5 gliadin, α-gliadin epitopes, bread-making quality, grain hardness, total gliadin content, and the glutenin/gliadin ratio. A Gli-B1 deletion-based ω-5 gliadin-deficient genotype was detected in 18% of the population, whereas no lines lacking Gli-D1-derived ω-5 gliadin or α-gliadin epitopes were identified. The AX-108761918 marker was found to have segregated into TT and GG genotypes at frequencies of 48% and 52%, respectively. Eleven lines carrying favorable combinations of Glu-D1d, Pinb-D1b, and TaIAA10-6D Hap II were selected as promising bread wheat candidates, and a further nine lines combining the Gli-B1 deletion with Glu-D1d and Pinb-D1b were identified as candidates with both reduced-allergenicity and enhanced bread-making quality genotypes. SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed patterns of storage proteins consistent with the results obtained for marker genotyping. These selected lines may provide valuable breeding material for the development hypo-allergenic wheat cultivars with enhanced bread-making quality in Korea.

Root biomass is an important determinant of seedling vigor that contributes to water and nutrient acquisition in rice (Oryza sativa L.). In this study, we evaluated the total root weight (TRW) of 127 Korean rice cultivars, comprising 110 temperate japonica (TEJ) and 17 Tongil-type cultivars, under hydroponic conditions. Population structure analysis separated the accessions into two major groups corresponding primarily to the TEJ and Tongil-type cultivars. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using the FarmCPU, BLINK, and MLM approaches, all three of which detected a common association signal for TRW on chromosome 7. Further GWAS analysis using only the 110 TEJ cultivars revealed an association signal in the same genomic region, thereby providing evidence of a possible relationship between this region and the variation in TRW within the TEJ cultivars. Additionally, by performing linkage disequilibrium block analysis, we identified a candidate region spanning approximately 369 kb, containing 43 genes. On the basis of gene expression and haplotype analyses, Os07g0517000, Os07g0520400, and Os07g0520900 were selected as putative candidate genes. However, given that the observed haplotype differences were partially associated with the varietal-group composition, their effects should be interpreted with caution. These results will provide genomic information for gaining a better understanding of variations in seedling root biomass and contribute to further validation of genes associated with root development in rice.

In wheat, pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) is the premature germination of seeds in the spike that occurs before harvest under prolonged wet and humid conditions, causing substantial losses in yield and quality. Moreover, climate change may increase the risk of PHS in wheat production in Korea. In this study, using 42 Korean wheat cultivars, we sought to determine whether the activity of α-amylase could serve as a biochemical indicator of PHS. Spikes were harvested 38 days after anthesis and treated to induce PHS, and after 4 days, we determined the rates of PHS and α-amylase activity among the assessed cultivars. The rates of PHS and activity of α-amylase ranged from 0% to 84.17% and 0.52 to 56.40 SD units/10 g, respectively, and we detected a strong positive correlation between the rate of PHS and α-amylase activity (Pearson’s r=0.90, p<0.001). Simple linear regression further revealed that the activity of α-amylase explained 82% of the variation in the rate of PHS (R²=0.82). These finding indicate that the activity of α-amylase can serve as a quantitative index of PHS severity and complement visual assessments. Consequently, the activity of α-amylase could represent a useful selection criterion for screening PHS resistance among Korean wheat cultivars and in breeding programs.

Weed control is among the principal challenges limiting the wider adoption of direct-seeded rice cultivation. Glufosinate is an effective non-selective herbicide, although its use in rice fields is limited by the high sensitivity of cultivated rice to this compound. However, a previously identified OsGS1;1 6-bp insertion allele (GCCTTC) has been established to confer glufosinate tolerance in rice, and in this study, using a dual-pegRNA prime editing strategy, we precisely introduced this allele into the Korean japonica rice cultivar Dongjin. Sanger sequencing of regenerated T0 plants identified the predicted homozygous 6-bp insertion in 14 of the 23 analyzed lines, corresponding to a homozygous precise editing frequency of 61%. Compared with the wild-type plants, when subjected to 2.5 mg/L glufosinate treatment, T₂ plants derived from the homozygous line PE-gs1-1 were characterized by significantly greater shoot and root lengths, whereas only minor differences were observed in the absence of the herbicide. These findings reveal that the 6-bp OsGS1;1 insertion allele confers glufosinate tolerance in Dongjin following prime editing, thereby providing a transgene-free edited genetic resource for weed management and a strategy that is potentially applicable to other Korean rice cultivars.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is a valuable oilseed crop; however, low yields and mechanical harvesting challenges limit its production. To address these issues, a high-yielding and disease-resistant sesame cultivar, ‘YoungWoong’, was developed via mutation breeding using ‘Geonbaek’ seeds irradiated with 300 Gy of γ-ray in 2014. ‘YoungWoong’ is characterized by a few branched plant types with three capsules per axil. The average height of the plants is 167 cm, with 104 capsules per plant and a 1,000-seed weight of 2.9 g. Notably, at maturity, the leaves and capsules turn yellow, which is accompanied by excellent leaf senescence. This effectively decreases plant volume and weight, thereby enhancing mechanical harvesting efficiency. Additionally, ‘YoungWoong’ exhibits enhanced field resistance to Phytophthora blight and Fusarium wilt, thereby ensuring stable production under high disease pressures. In regional adaptation trials, ‘YoungWoong’ achieved an average yield of 158 kg/10a, representing a 28% increase over that of ‘Geonbaek’ and the highest yield potential among previously developed cultivars. Thus, ‘YoungWoong’ has the potential to improve labor efficiency and sesame productivity (Registration No. 10784).

The soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivar ‘Sehwa’ (Grant No. 10017) was developed at Kyungpook National University. It was derived from a cross between ‘Uram’ and an F₁ plant from a cross between the salt-sensitive soybean ‘Hutcheson’ (G. max) and the salt-tolerant wild soybean ‘PI483463’ (G. soja). In salt tolerance bio-assays, ‘Sehwa’ demonstrated high tolerance, with a low leaf scorch score (LSS) of 1.3 under 100 mM NaCl treatment. Contrastingly, ‘Hutcheson’ exhibited severe chlorosis and necrosis (LSS 3.7). Under salt stress, ‘Sehwa’ accumulated markedly fewer toxic ions than did Hutcheson. Compared with that in the control, the Na⁺ content increased by 598% in ‘Sehwa’, which was significantly lower than that in ‘Hutcheson’ (1,503%). Notably, in ‘Sehwa’, the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio increased by 529%, whereas ‘Hutcheson’ revealed a 1,365% increase. In the 2020 yield trial, ‘Sehwa’ exhibited an erect growth habit with an average plant height of 69.0 cm, which was considerably taller than the check cultivar ‘Pungsannamul’ (61.0 cm). Despite being small-seeded cultivar (100-seed weight: 10.0 g) compared with ‘Pungsannamul’ (13.5 g), it shows a reasonable yield potential of 2.3 t/ha, comparable to the 2.8 t/ha of the ‘Pungsannamul’. Therefore, ‘Sehwa’ is a promising soybean cultivar for reclaimed land owing to its salt tolerance and favorable agronomic traits.

Sukwang1 is a premium-quality, mid-late maturing cultivar of japonica rice, which was developed to improve resistance to shattering and bacterial blight while maintaining the relatively high grain and eating quality of Sukwang. Derived from a cross between Sukwang and HR29177-AC70-1, the promising line Jeonju662 was evaluated through local adaptability tests (2021-2023) before release. Its average heading date was August 12, with a milled rice yield of 5.66 MT/ha. Sukwang1 exhibited improved resistance to shattering and all four Korean races (K1-K3a) of bacterial blight. Molecular marker analysis revealed the presence of Xa3 and Xa5 for bacterial blight resistance, qFfR1 for bakanae disease resistance, and a loss-of-function allele of qltg3-1 for reduced preharvest sprouting. Target capture sequencing analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphisms revealed 93.6% genetic similarity to Sukwang, indicating that most of the parental background was retained while key agronomic traits were improved. Featuring excellent grain appearance, high head-rice milling recovery, and relatively high taste, Sukwang1 has been designated as a Premium-Quality Rice cultivar by the RDA in 2025, and is recommended for the Honam and Yeongnam plains and southern coastal regions of Republic of Korea (registration number: 10667).

‘Jou’ is a new wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar developed by the Rural Development Administration for whole-crop forage with early maturity in 2023. To develop an early maturing forage wheat cultivar suitable for double cropping systems in Korea, an artificial cross was made in 2010 using ‘Taejoong,’ a tall cultivar with high biomass production, as the female parent and ‘Keumkang,’ an early maturing cultivar with superior agronomic traits, as the male parent. After bulk cultivation in Iksan, the pedigree was selected in Iksan and Wanju, and the early maturing tall line, IW2010145-B-B-44-1-5-2-5-1, was selected in 2018. ‘Jou’ exhibited favorable agronomic characteristics, including tolerance to lodging and fusarium head blight and high yield of whole-crop dry matter. The heading and harvest dates of ‘Jou’ were April 17 and May 17, respectively, which were similar to those of ‘Cheongwoo.’ ‘Jou’ had lower spike number per m² (752), and higher 1,000-grain weight (48.1 g) than those of ‘Cheongwoo’ (1,025, and 44.5 g, respectively). In the regional yield trial, the average whole-crop dry matter yield in paddy fields was 14.6 MT ha^-1. Although the harvest time of ‘Jou’ is slightly later than that of ‘Cheongwoo,’ it is a tall-type wheat cultivar with relatively early heading among tall cultivars, making it suitable for forage wheat cultivation (Registration No. 10756).

‘Saekso 4’ is a high-yielding, anthocyanin-rich purple corn variety developed by the Gangwon State Agricultural Research and Extension Services for health functional food and processing materials. It was registered for variety protection in 2022. It is bred by crossing the inbred lines ‘HA7’ and ‘HA8’. ‘Saekso 4’ has a silking date of 71 days (2 days earlier than that of ‘Saekso 2’) and exhibits strong lodging resistance with an ear length of 18.6 cm. The grain is a bluish-black semi-flint with purple husks and cobs, making it highly suitable for biomaterial extraction. Notably, its grain yield reaches 832 kg/10a, a 49% increase compared with that of ‘Saekso 2’, exhibiting exceptional high-yielding capacity. Its grain anthocyanin content (170 mg/100 g) and absolute pigment yield were lower than those of ‘Saekso 2’. However, its superior overall productivity ensures a more reliable and consistent material supply for the bio-industry. Adapted to the Gangwon region, this F1 hybrid needs annual seed renewal and proper drainage management to prevent moisture damage. The dissemination of ‘Saekso 4’ is expected to markedly contribute to establishing a stable supply system for domestic green bio-materials and enhancing the incomes of farmers (Registration No. 8985).

‘Betahealth,’ a new high β-glucan covered barley cultivar, was developed from a cross between ‘Betaone’ and ‘Dahyang’ at the National Institute of Crop and Food Science, Rural Development Administration, Korea, in 2023. ‘Betahealth’ was bred to enhance the cultivation stability of the high β-glucan cultivar ‘Betaone’ while maintaining its functional properties. Regional yield trials were conducted at five locations between 2021 and 2023. ‘Betahealth’ is a six-rowed winter barley cultivar with a vernalization type IV growth habit. In the adapted regions, the average heading and maturity dates were April 22 and May 28, respectively. The culm length was 79 cm and the 1,000-grain weight was 32.3 g. ‘Betahealth’ exhibited resistance to Barley yellow mosaic virus and strong lodging tolerance. However, it was susceptible to powdery mildew and cold. Grain quality demonstrated that ‘Betahealth’ had a waxy endosperm with a low amylose content (3.2%) and a high β-glucan content (14.2%), which was higher than those of ‘Hyeyang’ (5.2%) and ‘Betaone’ (12.4%). Additionally, it revealed superior cooking quality with higher water absorption and expansion rates than those of the other cultivars. The estimated glycemic index values of 100% barley and a 20% barley-rice mixture were 41.90 and 42.92, respectively, which were the lowest among the tested cultivars. The average grain yield in the adapted region was 511 kg/10a, which was not significantly different from that of ‘Hyeyang’. Thus, ‘Betahealth’ is expected to be a useful functional barley cultivar due to its high β-glucan content, favorable cooking quality, and stable agronomic performance (Registration No. 10754).

‘Amimyeon’ (Milyang355) is a new Tongil-type rice cultivar developed by NICS, RDA, in 2022, to improve processing suitability and cost competitiveness in the rice noodle industry. Derived from a cross between ‘Milyang288’ and ‘Bukkyeong2012-2,’ it is medium-late maturing ecotype with an average heading date of August 13. It has a culm length of 81 cm, 122 spikelets per panicle, a ripening ratio of 85.2%, and distinct medium-long grains (length-to-width ratio of 2.77). ‘Amimyeon’ exhibits strong resistance to leaf blast and rice stripe virus, with a very low viviparous germination rate (0.2%). Physicochemical analyses revealed high amylose content (26.7%), 8.1% protein content, and a Jasmine85-like aromatic profile. Cooked pasta and noodles made from ‘Amimyeon’ exhibited superior springiness, cohesiveness, and tensile strength compared with commercial products. Its average milled rice yield was 7.24 MT/ha (724 kg/10a), revealing a 4% increase over ‘Dasan’. Thus, ‘Amimyeon’ is highly recommended for plain regions in South Korea as a premium processing material (Registration No. 10644).

‘Geumgang 1’ (Milyang307) is a high-yielding Tongil-type rice cultivar developed by the National Institute of Crop Science, RDA, in 2017 for the rice processing and baking industries. It was derived from a cross between ‘Dasan1’ and ‘Geumgangbyeo’. The cultivar heading date is on August 14 in the southern plain region of Korea and is classified as medium-late maturing. It has a culm length of 74 cm, 13 panicles per hill, 142 spikelets per panicle, a ripened grain ratio of 78.6%, and a 1,000-grain weight of 23.1 g. ‘Geumgang 1’ is resistant to leaf blast, bacterial blight (K1-K3a), and rice stripe virus but susceptible to brown planthopper. In regional adaptability tests (2015-2017) at three locations, it produced an average milled rice yield of 8.17 MT/ha, the highest recorded among Korean rice cultivars and was 23% higher than the yield of ‘Dasan’. With 19.0% amylose and flour properties similar to those of japonica rice, it is well suited as a wheat flour substitute for bakery products and is recommended for single-cropping plains in southern Korea (Registration No. 7686).

‘Pungnong’ is a medium-maturing potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivar developed for single-cropping cultivation. It was bred from a cross between the U.S. cultivar ‘Atlantic’ and the Korean cultivar ‘Gumseo’ in 2007. Superior progenies were selected via generational advancement between 2008 and 2010. The line ‘GWP08-011’ was selected based on stable yield and desirable tuber characteristics in preliminary and advanced yield trials performed during 2011-2012. Regional adaptability trials were conducted at three locations from 2013 to 2015 under the designation ‘Gangwon 1-20’. ‘Pungnong’ produces long-oval tubers with slightly russeted yellow skin, white flesh, and very shallow eyes, leading to excellent tuber appearance. Compared with the standard cultivar ‘Superior’, it exhibited a lower incidence of physiological disorders, whereas its reactions to late blight and potato virus Y were similar. The mean tuber yield was 44.7 t ha^-1, exceeding that of ‘Superior’ (34.3 t ha^-1). Although ‘Pungnong’ has excellent tuber bulking and high yield potential, adequate pre-sprouting under diffused light and proper drainage management are recommended to ensure uniform emergence and stable production. After a growing test by the Korea Seed and Variety Service, the potato variety was registered for variety protection in January 2018 (Variety Protection No. 6923).