To improve resistance to planthoppers and viral diseases, a new rice cultivar named ‘Drimi9ho’ was established. The F₁ population, derived from a cross between ‘Cheongcheong’ and ‘Nagdong’, was subjected to anther culture. Subsequent generations were advanced in the field under high selection pressure for agronomic traits and disease resistance. Ultimately, the line ‘CNDH-AC63-2-2-2-1’ was selected through the pedigree method and was named ‘Drimi9ho’ after undergoing yield trials and local adaptability tests. ‘Drimi9ho’ has a heading date of August 13, which corresponds to 107 days after sowing, making it a mid-late maturing variety that heads 3 d later than ‘Cheongcheong’. The culm length of ‘Drimi9ho’ is 57.3 cm, which is 15 cm shorter than that of ‘Cheongcheong’. This reduced culm length contributes to improved tolerance to field lodging. In addition, ‘Drimi9ho’ exhibits acquired resistance to rice black-streaked dwarf virus through introgression from ‘Nagdong’. Compared to ‘Cheongcheong’, ‘Drimi9ho’ shows lower protein content and higher amylose content, which resulted in a higher score for cooked-rice palatability. ‘Drimi9ho’ shows improved milling performance compared to ‘Cheongcheong’. The 1,000-grain weight of ‘Drimi9ho’ is 22.12±0.8 g, which is heavier than that of ‘Cheongcheong’ (19.42±0.8 g). The milled rice yield of ‘Drimi9ho’ is 546.6±3.8 kg/10a, representing a 4.7% increase compared to ‘Cheongcheong’ (522.2±5.8 kg/10a). However, ‘Drimi9ho’ is resistant only to bacterial leaf blight race K₁; thus, timely disease management is required to control other races such as K₂, K₃, and K_3a (Registration No. 10610).

Soybean is one of the most important crops because of its high protein and oil content. Previous studies have refined protoplast isolation methods for soybeans to enhance transfection efficiency. However, these methods have limitations due to the inconsistent number of viable protoplasts for various applications. In this study, we propose an optimized protoplast isolation method to overcome this challenge. Hypocotyls grown in the dark were selected to ensure rapid growth and a steady supply of plant materials. The hypocotyls were cut to 1–2 cm in length and halved longitudinally to achieve consistent protoplast yields. Our new hypocotyl cutting method demonstrated 1.5 times improved protoplast yield and improved protoplast viability compared to that of previous methods. The isolated protoplasts were purified using the sucrose density gradient purification method to remove residues while stacking viable protoplasts. Fluorescein diacetate (FDA) staining was performed to determine the proportion of healthy protoplasts throughout the process. Consequently, we propose a new protoplast isolation protocol that ensures a higher yield, better viability, and healthier conditions. This enhancement is expected to improve the efficiency of soybean transfection.

Genetically modified (GM) crops have been developed to enhance various agronomic traits and increase the production of functional compounds. In the present study, the major agronomic characteristics of protopanaxadiol (PPD)-enriched GM rice, which was developed by introducing dammarenediol-II synthase (PgDDS) and protopanaxadiol synthase (CYP716A47) genes from Panax ginseng into Oryza sativa cv. Dongjin, were evaluated. The stability of the introduced genes was confirmed using PCR and immunostrip tests, which showed consistent expression across multiple generations (T5-T7). Agronomic traits, including days to heading, culm length, panicle length, tiller number, and grain weight per plant, were compared between GM rice and its non-GM counterpart, Dongjin rice. No significant differences were observed for these traits, indicating that genetic modification did not affect the overall plant growth. However, seed morphology analyses revealed that PPD-enriched GM rice had significantly longer brown rice grains. In contrast, other seed traits remained within the natural range of commercial rice varieties. Furthermore, PPD was consistently detected in GM rice, whereas it was absent in non-GM Dongjin rice. These findings suggest that PPD-enriched GM rice maintains a stable agronomic performance while successfully accumulating PPD, supporting its potential as a functional crop. However, further research is required to evaluate its environmental impact, food safety, and efficacy as a functional food source.

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• Comparative Analysis of Compositional Equivalence in Drought-Tolerant Genetically Modified Soybeans
  Ha-Jung Kang, Hyoun-Min Park, Sung-Dug Oh, Ye-Jin Jang, Jong-Chan Park, Seon-Woo Oh, Sang-Gu Lee, Soo-Yun Park, An-Cheol Chang
  Korean Journal of Breeding Science.2025; 57(4): 445.     CrossRef

Global climate change has intensified droughts and other extreme weather conditions, leading to serious declines in agricultural productivity. Genetically modified (GM) soybeans with drought tolerance have been developed to enhance crop resilience. Prior to commercialization, GM crops must undergo compositional equivalence assessments to confirm that no unintended compositional differences exist compared to their non-GM counterparts. In this study, we evaluated the nutritional and compositional equivalence of two drought-tolerant GM soybean lines (DIAT7 and DIAT15) compared to their non-GM parental line (Williams 82) and three reference cultivars (Kwangan, U13625, and U14511). Soybeans were cultivated under identical field conditions, and proximate components, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, and antinutritional factors were analyzed using standard methods. Although several analytes exhibited statistically significant differences (p<0.05), all compositional values for DIAT7 and DIAT15 were within the natural variation ranges of the reference cultivated with GM, OECD (2012), and the AFSI Crop Composition Database (v10.1). The GM lines showed protein (36-37%), lipid (19-21%), and total dietary fiber (24-27%) contents similar to those of the reference cultivars. Amino acid profiles were dominated by glutamic acid and aspartic acid, whereas linoleic acid (42-51%) and oleic acid (29-36%) were the major fatty acids, consistent with conventional soybeans. The levels of minerals and antinutrients, including raffinose, stachyose, and phytic acid, were also comparable to the reference ranges. These findings demonstrate that the drought-tolerant GM soybeans DIAT7 and DIAT15 are compositionally and nutritionally equivalent to non-GM soybeans, supporting their substantial equivalence and providing a scientific basis for food and environmental safety evaluation.

Male sterility is used to mass-produce F₁ hybrid seeds in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). In particular, the development of genetic male sterility (GMS)-linked molecular markers may play a crucial role in hybrid breeding of pepper. To date, approximately 20 GMS genes have been identified in pepper. Among these, several molecular markers for the ms₃ gene have been developed in previous studies; however, they are not completely linked and thus have limitations for use in selection. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to develop molecular markers for ms₃ selection using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis. Chi-square test was conducted using three F₂ segregating populations, and the results confirmed a 3:1 segregation ratio between male-fertile and male-sterile plants. A total of 128 primer sets were designed by selecting SNPs near the ms₃ gene, and 25 HRM markers were successfully developed. Using 420 individuals from the F₂ segregating population ‘GMS3,’ a high-density genetic linkage map of pepper chromosome 1 was constructed, with eight HRM markers found to be co-segregated with the ms₃ gene. Subsequent experiments using various plant materials validated these eight markers, ultimately identifying two HRM markers, HRM119655681 and HRM135273656, for the final selection. These two markers showed co-segregation between the phenotype and genotype of ms₃ across all plant materials used in the study. The markers developed in this study are expected to be effective for maternal line development and large-scale F₁ hybrid seed production using ms₃ in pepper.

Mung bean (Vigna radiata) is a rich natural source of vitexin and isovitexin—flavonoids known for their potential anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate, through the use of RAW 264.7 macrophages, the anti-inflammatory effects of extracts from mung bean seeds containing vitexin and isovitexin. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to quantify the levels of these compounds in various mung bean cultivars: “Jinhwang,” “Samhwang,” “Seonhwa,” and “Jangan,” as well as “Dahyeon,” and “Sanpo,” two of the most widely cultivated varieties in Korea. Cytotoxicity assays revealed no significant toxicity at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL, allowing further analysis at these levels. In nitric oxide (NO) inhibition assays, “Samhwang” (10.61 µM) and “Seonhwa” (9.7 µM) demonstrated the highest NO-suppressing activity at 50 µg/mL. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were significantly reduced by “Seonhwa” (83.6 pg/mL) and “Jangan” (72.3 pg/mL), with “Jangan” showing the strongest inhibitory effect. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) analysis revealed notable suppression in “Samhwang,” “Seonhwa,” and “Jangan” at 50 µg/mL, with “Samhwang” exhibiting the most potent effect (78.6 pg/mL). These findings suggest that the “Samhwang” cultivar, in particular, possesses significant anti-inflammatory potential and may serve as a valuable candidate for the development of natural anti-inflammatory agents.

The rice cultivar ‘Chamdongjin’ exhibits a distinctively large grain size and excellent eating quality but is weak with regard to pre-harvest sprouting (PHS), requiring genetic improvement. In contrast, the premium-quality rice cultivar ‘Younghojinmi’ exhibits strong PHS tolerance. This study conducted quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis on PHS and low-temperature germinability (LTG) using recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between ‘Chamdongjin’ and ‘Younghojinmi’ to elucidate the genetic factors. Thus, an elite line with improved PHS tolerance was selected. QTL analysis revealed that qPHS3 and qLTG3 were associated with PHS and LTG, respectively, and the candidate gene was identified as qLTG3-1. The loss-of-function allele qltg3-1 in ‘Younghojinmi’ enhanced PHS tolerance compared to the functional allele qLTG3-1 in ‘Chamdongjin,’ but it also showed a trade-off relationship by decreasing LTG. CY_RILs carrying qltg3-1 exhibited lower PHS and LTG rates of 17.9% and 41.6%, respectively, compared to 44.1% and 55.7%, respectively, for CY_RILs with qLTG3-1. The elite line, CY_RIL79, carrying qltg3-1, was selected from CY_RIL. This line was recognized for its PHS tolerance while maintaining the key agricultural traits of ‘Chamdongjin,’ thus designated ‘Jeonju697.’ ‘Jeonju697’ is expected to be utilized as a practical alternative for addressing the issue of enhancing PHS tolerance in ‘Chamdongjin’; however, considering its weak LTG, it is desirable to improve this trait through further breeding efforts.

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• Sukwang1: A Premium-Quality, Mid-late Maturing Rice Cultivar with Improved Resistance to Shattering and Bacterial Blight
  Chang-Min Lee, Hyun-Su Park, Jeonghwan Seo, Songhee Park, Jae-Ryoung Park, O-Young Jeong, Ji-Ung Jeung, Ki-Young Kim, Keon-Mi Lee, Jung-Pil Suh, Su-Keyong Ha, Mina Jin, Hyun-Sook Lee, Kyeongmin Kang, Gileung Lee
  Korean Journal of Breeding Science.2026; 58(3): 321.     CrossRef
• Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis for Quality-Related Traits Using the Recombinant Inbred Lines Derived from a Cross between “Boramchan” and “Pecos” Japonica Rice
  Hyun-Su Park, Chang-Min Lee, Jeonghwan Seo, Songhee Park, Hyeonso Ji, Keon-Mi Lee, Jae-Ryoung Park, O-Young Jeong
  Korean Journal of Breeding Science.2025; 57(4): 373.     CrossRef
• ‘Amissal’: A Region-specific, Mid-late Maturing Long-grain Japonica Rice Cultivar
  Hyun-Su Park, Chang-Min Lee, Ki-Young Kim, O-Young Jeong, Ji-Ung Jeung, Su-Keyong Ha, Sang-Chul Park, Sang-Hyeok Lee, Jung-Pil Suh, Mina Jin, Hyun-Sook Lee, Jeonghwan Seo, Songhee Park, Jae-Ryoung Park, Kyeongmin Kang
  Korean Journal of Breeding Science.2025; 57(4): 547.     CrossRef
• Quantitative Trait Loci Analysis of Quality-Related Traits Using Recombinant Inbred Lines Derived from a Cross between ‘Chamdongjin’ and ‘Younghojinmi’
  Hyun-Su Park, Jeonghwan Seo, Chang-Min Lee, Songhee Park, Keon-Mi Lee, Jae-Ryoung Park, O-Young Jeong
  Korean Journal of Breeding Science.2024; 56(4): 395.     CrossRef

The decrease in seed vigor and grain quality during storage has become an increasingly critical issue due to the extended storage periods resulting from declining rice consumption and climate change in Korea. Despite its importance, few studies have investigated rice seed aging in a large number of Korean rice cultivars. In this study, 53 japonica rice cultivars were evaluated for seed germination, vigor, and grain quality-related traits under accelerated-aging conditions. Seed germination rate was evaluated 7 days after imbibition, following accelerated aging treatments at 42℃ and 95% relative humidity for 8, 12, and 16 days. The average germination rates were 72.9% in the control (0 d), 71.7% after 8 days, 59.0% after 12 days, and 5.6% after 16 days of treatment. Grain quality-related traits, including texture and pasting properties, were also evaluated in rice subjected to the accelerated aging treatment. Adhesiveness and stickiness decreased, whereas hardness and toughness increased, as seed aging progressed. Cluster analysis based on germination rates after accelerated aging identified three distinct clusters, with cultivars in Cluster 3 maintaining a high germination rate of 70.6% even after 12 days of aging, showing clear differences from the other clusters. A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to investigate the relationship between germination rate and grain quality-related traits. The results showed that the germination rate and hardness tended to be negatively associated across all three clusters. These results suggested that cultivars with higher germination rates tend to maintain a softer cooked rice texture after aging. Our results provide insight into the relationship between seed aging and grain quality, highlighting elite cultivars that maintain both germination ability and grain quality during storage as valuable resources for breeding programs.

South America, particularly the Southern Cone region, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, serves as a global hub for soybean production, accounting for more than 56% of global supply. However, this region experiences recurrent and severe drought risks driven by climate variability associated with the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), resulting in significant economic losses. Consequently, biotechnology- based drought-tolerant soybean breeding has emerged as a critical national strategy across these countries. Argentina has positioned itself as a primary technology originator with the development of the HB4 soybean, the world’s first commercial drought-tolerant trait, utilizing the sunflower-derived transcription factor HaHB4. Brazil is advancing beyond single-trait approaches by developing multistacked biotech varieties that integrate drought tolerance with herbicide resistance, insect resistance, and oxidative stress mitigation. Furthermore, Paraguay and Uruguay are rapidly emerging as international hubs for field testing and commercialization, supported by streamlined regulatory frameworks and a “dual-track” strategy for both genetically modified (GM) and genome-edited (GE) crops. This review integrates molecular strategies, national regulatory systems, and commercialization trends in South America and discusses strategic implications for Korea. Despite Korea’s limited domestic experience in large-scale commercial cultivation owing to regulatory constraints, it possesses internationally competitive expertise in transcription factor engineering, CRISPR-based precision breeding, and AI-driven stress phenotyping. We propose a strategic technology export model that leverages Korea’s advanced R&D capabilities as a “technology provider” and “joint developer,” in partnership with South American countries. Such collaborations can foster a climate-resilient agricultural ecosystem and secure Korea’s position in the global biotech seed market.