New Breeding Technology (NBT) refers to gene editing technologies that are used to develop crop plants with beneficial traits, from biotic/abiotic resistance to nutritional enhancement, including zinc finger nucleases (ZFN), transcription activator-like effector nucleases, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9, meganucleases, and oligo directed mutagenesis. A total of 1,119 valid NBT patents were analyzed in this study to examine global trends in the patent and market expansion strategies for major patent applicants. Based on the claims specified, valid patents in each patent office were analyzed through the applicant’s country of origin, field of technology, and plant/crop species. Patents claiming applications of CRISPR-based technology to major crop plants, including rice, corn, wheat, tomato, and canola, have rapidly increased in the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) since 2013. The patent family size (PFS) can be used as an indicator of intellectual property (IP)-based market expansion strategies and target markets of interests of patent applicants. Many university- and research-oriented institution Chinese applicants showed low PFS (2.1) because they filed patents mostly in CNIPA. In contrast, high PFS of US and German (DE) applicants such as Corteva Agriscience (US), KWS SAAT AG (DE), Cellectics (FR), and Syngenta Participations AG (CH) represented their active strategies for global gene-edited crop market expansion. Corteva Agriscience (US, 238 patents) was the global leader in patents using NBT, ranging from ZFN to CRISPR-based technologies applied to most major crops, including corn, soybean, and wheat.
A total of 285 Korean rice cultivars were used for amylose content and genetic analyses using KASP markers related to the amylose content. We used three polymorphic KASP markers targeting the
Interspecific hybridization is a valuable approach to generate genetic variation and to introgress desirable genes. The objective of the current study was to estimate the heritability and correlation coefficient of several fruit traits for three years (from 2016 to 2018) using a set of 178 interspecific F1 populations developed from a cross between ‘Manpungbae’ (
Plants grown under stress conditions generate excessive reactive oxygen species resulting in cell death. Therefore, plants activate the protection mechanism via antioxidant accumulation. Anthocyanins are flavonoid-derived secondary metabolites with high antioxidant properties. In this study, we analyzed and characterized the promoter region of
Interspecific and intersubspecific crosses have been an important strategy for rice breeding programs to obtain useful characters by expanding genetic diversity. However, the wide cross routinely causes undesirable characters in rice, such as spikelet sterility and poor quality. In this study, we developed near-isogenic lines of
Fusarium wilt is a serious disease that causes damping-off, serious wilt symptoms, or death in melon. The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance of melon germplasm to Fusarium wilt and select promising disease-resistant accessions for further applications. Resistance to Fusarium wilt was examined in 216 melon germplasms by the root-dipping inoculation method with
In this study, composition and agronomic traits, including yield-related traits, were investigated and compared among 35 Korean landrace germplasm for two years (2019 and 2020). The contents of 12 isoflavones were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography, and agronomic trait data were collected according to the Rural Development Administration criteria. Comparing isoflavone composition between the two years, all isoflavones, except glycitein, were generally higher in 2019. The values of yield-related and major agronomic traits decreased in most accessions in 2020. ANOVA showed highly significant differences (
Root development at the seedling stage is an important trait for the early growth of rice. In this study, the root length and weight of 211 Korean landrace rice at the seedling stage were evaluated, and the average root length and weight were 6.94 cm and 48.18 mg, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) of 211 accessions based on 70,849 SNPs presented three subgroups. Two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with root length were detected on chromosomes 3 and 6 using genome-wide association study (GWAS). Four haplotypes were identified using associated SNPs for the two root length QTLs. The average root length of Hap2 and Hap 3 was 7.32 cm and 6.56 cm, respectively, and were significantly different. Gene expression analysis in the candidate regions of QTLs for root length at the seedling stage showed that several genes were expressed in the root. QTLs associated with root length at the seedling stage identified in this study may be applied to improve the root length trait and detect candidate genes.
In this study, genotype analysis was conducted using the Fluidigm system with 13 SNP markers related to anthracnose, powdery mildew,
Fast and accurate selection is essential for breeding to cope with rapid climate changes and a steeply increasing population. Consequently, technologies for high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) are emerging. These technologies, unlike conventional phenotyping methods, enable us to evaluate agronomic traits in a fast and massive manner. Thus, the HTP facility was built to acquire and analyze crop images using RGB sensors at the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Republic of Korea. By testing various conditions to acquire images, we determined the conditions for phenotyping using the RGB sensor as follows: exposure 30,000 ms, gamma 75, and gain 100 using LED lights in a blue background. Based on this condition, images from 96 individual plants of rice Dongjin cultivar were obtained every week to measure plant height and shoot area, which are directly associated with yield. The results obtained from the image analysis were compared with the manually collected results. The r2 value between the projected plant height obtained from image analysis and the plant height obtained from manual measurement was 0.989. Furthermore, the r2 value between the projected shoot area obtained from image analysis and the shoot area obtained from manual measurement was 0.981. These results show that image analysis is highly reliable and can be used for crop phenotyping. Therefore, we expect that the new method we developed will be used for breeding in the near future.
The ‘Halla Green 7’ cultivar is a hybrid of
This superior zoysiagrass line was selected from the zoysiagrass genetic resources collected in the Republic of Korea. Inflorescences of
‘Sunmyoung’ is a high-yielding variety that is resistant to damage from lodging and high temperatures. Out of the 30 lines collected from a farmhouse in Yeoju in 2001, individual plants of ‘Sunmyoung’ were selected from a testing plot with artificial high-temperature stress and were further bred using the pure line separation breeding method. Preliminary and advanced yield trials were conducted in Suwon and Yeoju from 2005-2013, and regional adaptability trials were conducted in Yeoju and Anseong from 2014-2016. The rates of high-temperature stress for two- and three-year old ‘Sunmyoung’ were lower than those of the ‘Sunil’ variety by 46.2% and 34.1%, respectively. The length of the stem and small leaflets of Sunmyoung were 6.2 cm and 5.1 cm shorter than those of Sunil, and the width of the leaflets was shorter than that of Sunil by 3.9 cm-indicating a higher resistance of ‘Sunmyoung’ against lodging damage. In the regional adaptability test, the yield of Sunmyoung was 523 kg/10a, which was 5% higher than that of ‘Sunil’ (498 kg/10a). The content of ginsenoside in ‘Sunmyoung’ was 19.2 mg/g, which was lower than that of ‘Sunil’ (22.38 mg/g). Since ‘Sunmyoung’ is more resistant to high temperature stress (than ‘Sunil’), lodging stress
In 2018, a new potato variety, ‘Arirang-2’, was released by the Highland Agriculture Research Institute in Pyeongchang, Korea. To create new varieties with better tuber formation at high temperature under long day, a cross was performed between high-temperature tolerant ‘Eigenheimer’ and drought tolerant ‘Daegwan 1-116’ in 2011. The shoot (57.9 cm) of ‘Arirang-2’ was taller than ‘Superior’ and ‘Sante’, and its tuber skin and flesh were red and light-yellow colored, respectively. Average number of tubers per plant of ‘Arirang-2’ was 9.1 while ‘Superior’ and ‘Sante’ had 5.4 and 14.1 tubers, respectively. Average weight of tuber of ‘Arirang-2’ was 98.1 g, which was slightly heavier than that of ‘Superior’ (90.0 g), and much heavier than that of ‘Sante’ (38.9 g). Total weight of tuber per plant of ‘Arirang-2’ was 892 g, which was remarkably higher than that of ‘Superior’ (486 g) and ‘Sante’ (549 g). Total yield (TY) of ‘Arirang-2’ measured in Gangwon-Do, Korea was around 5,022 kg/10a while that of ‘Superior’ was 3,036 kg/10a. In Kazahstan, total yield of ‘Arirang-2’ was 4,657 kg/10a and that of ‘Sante’ was 4,155 kg/10a. Marketable tuber yield (MTY) of ‘Arirang-2’ was 3,119 kg/10a in Gangwon-Do, Korea while that of ‘Superior’ was only 2,147 kg/10a. In Kazahstan, MTY of ‘Arirang-2’ was 3,162 kg/10a, which was 60% higher than that of ‘Sante’ (1,974 kg/10a). ‘Arirang-2’ is resistant to early blight (
In 2008, a new adzuki bean (
In 2005, a new persimmon (
‘Hae-Ol’ (Arachis hypogaea ssp. Hypogaea) -a high-oleate peanut variety-was developed at the Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science in 2018. This variety was selected from the pedigree line crossed between short stem Virginia-type ‘HP825’ and high-oleate elite line ‘YG316’. The crude fat content of ‘Hae-Ol’ was 50.8%, and its oleic acid composition was 83.0% showing high-oleate property compared to that of ‘Daekwang’ variety (57.3%). The ratio of oleic acid to linoleic acid, which represents the oxidative stability, was 12 times higher in ‘Hae-Ol’ than in ‘Daekwang’. The increments in acid value and peroxide value were relatively slower in ‘Hae-Ol’, under the condition of accelerated oxidation. Over the three years of regional adaptation test (2016-2018) conducted at four regions, ‘Hae-Ol’ showed significantly higher grain yield (4.88 MT⋅ha-1), which was 16% more improved than that of ‘Daekwang’ (4.20 MT⋅ha-1). The seed of ‘Hae-Ol’ is brown in color and long-ellipse in shape and its 100-seed weight was 96 g. On field, ‘Hae-Ol’ demonstrated more resistance to late leaf spot (
In 2013, a strawberry variety ‘Altaking’ was derived as an artificial cross between ‘12-S-4’ (with high firmness) and ‘Ssanta’ (with high sugar content). Seedling and line selections were conducted from 2013-2015. Preliminary and advanced yield trials of ‘13-S-6-3,’ which was the final selected line, were conducted from 2015-2017. The general characteristics of ‘Altaking’ include upright growth habit, elliptical leaves, and strong vigorous growth. The fruit is long, conical, and light-red in color. The average number of flowers per flower cluster was 12.1, which could reduce the labor required for fruit thinning. This variety is suitable in forcing culture because of its early flower-bud differentiation (September 1), early first harvest (mid of November), and continuous formation of the next flower cluster. ‘Altaking’ has adequate characteristics for exportation because the sugar content rises in the early stages of color development. Although ‘Altaking’ and ‘Seolhyang’ have similar sugar content, the former is less sour, thus making it taste sweeter. ‘Altaking’ has a unique flavor and it smells like peach. The fruit weighs approximately 35.1 g, and it should be harvested at 80% coloration to intensify its deep flavor. In 2019, ‘Altaking’ was registered with the Korea Seed and Variety Service (KSVS) for plant variety protection (Registration No. 7854).
‘Keunpum’ is a mid-late maturing, high yielding, giant embryo rice (
‘Saebong’ is a double cropping potato variety bred by the Highland Agriculture Research Institute, NICS, RDA, in 2010. Although the major double-cropped potato cultivar of Korea, cv. Dejima, with a dormancy period of 50-60 days after harvest was introduced in 1978, it is susceptible to physiological disorders, such as abnormal tubers and cracking, and common scab. The ‘Chubaek’ variety matures very early and has a dormancy period similar to that of cv. Dejima, yet it is highly susceptible to potato virus Y and has a low dry matter content. ‘Saebong’ was obtained by crossing ‘Daegwan2-8’ with ‘DH9-231’ in 2002. Seedling and line selections were performed from 2003-2004, and yield trials were carried out from 2005-2006 in Gangneung and Pyeongchang. Regional yield trials were conducted in spring and autumn in Namhae, Jeju, and Gangneung from 2007-2008 and in Muan, Jeju, and Gangneung in 2009. This variety produces many white flowers and berries, narrow green leaflets and petioles, and round tubers with beige-colored skin and white-colored flesh. Its dormancy period, when stored at 20℃, was 50-60 days after harvest in spring, similar to cv. Dejima and Chubaek. The average tuber yields in spring and autumn regional trials were 40.4 and 30.5 ton⋅ha-1, respectively. It is susceptible to common scab but highly resistant to potato leafroll virus and potato virus Y. Its dry matter content was 21.56% and 20.60% in spring and autumn, respectively (similar to those of cv. Atlantic and cv. Goun). It produces brighter colored potatoes and can be used to process potato chips and table stock after autumn cultivation in the potato double cropping area of Korea (Registration No. 4873).
A new anthocyanin-rich hybrid variety, ‘Saekso 1’, is developed which is characterized by yellow grains, and purple husks and cobs. This variety was produced by crossing two inbred lines, ‘HA1’ (as the seed parent) and ‘HA2’ (as the pollen parent). It was made in 2008/2009 and evaluated in Hongcheon for two years. After evaluation, the selected variety was named ‘Saekso 1’ and was approved for a variety registration in 2014. The anthocyanin content of ‘Saekso 1’ in husk was 10.39±0.09 g/100 g, which was much higher than that of Kangilok (0 mg/100 g). Since regional tests were conducted only in Gangwon province, this variety is recommended only in that region for commercial cultivation. ‘Saekso 1’ is a health food resource for bioactive materials (Registration No. 4967).
A malting barley variety, ‘Nurimaeg’, was developed with resistance to barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV), tolerance to lodging stress, and good brewing quality. ‘Nurimaeg’ was developed by crossing Milyang127 and Miharu gold in 2004. Regional yield trials were conducted for ‘Nurimaeg’ as a breeding line ‘Iksan175’ in four different regions from 2014-2016. It has a type I growth habit, and its average heading and maturity dates were April 12 and May 20, respectively-which were 1 day later than the maturity date of ‘Hopum’ variety. As ‘Nurimaeg’ has a shorter culm length (77 cm) than that of ‘Hopum’, it showed tolerance to lodging stress. This variety possesses the