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).

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.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• 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

‘Amissal’ is a regionally specialized rice cultivar developed to strengthen the competitiveness of local rice and is characterized by its distinct long-grain japonica type. It was bred through a single backcross between ‘Boramchan’—a high-yielding japonica cultivar with excellent cultivation stability used as the recurrent parent—and ‘HR30198-AC33’ (DGS79), a breeding stock with extra-long and spindle-shaped grains used as the donor parent for japonica grain shape diversification. Population and pedigree breeding methods were used during the breeding process. During the selection stage, molecular marker-assisted selection targeting the major grain shape genes, GS3 and qSW5 was applied, enabling the identification of lines carrying the gs3-qSW5 allele combination associated with long grain shape. ‘Amissal’ was developed through yield trials, local adaptability tests, selection trials addressing regional needs, and on-farm research aimed at developing long-grain japonica rice for export. The heading date of ‘Amissal’ was August 17, two days later than that of ‘Nampyeong’. Compared to ‘Nampyeong’, ‘Amissal’ exhibited greater biomass due to longer culms, more spikelets per panicle but fewer panicles per hill, and a heavier 1,000-grain weight. It demonstrated strong resistance to bacterial blight (races K1, K2, and K3) but was susceptible to viral diseases and insect pests. In terms of yield, it outperformed ‘Nampyeong’. The average brown rice grain length was 6.14 mm, classifying it as long-grain type. The length-to-width ratio was 2.43, corresponding to a semi-spindle shape, which clearly distinguishes it from existing Korean japonica cultivars. While its milling recovery rate was similar to that of ‘Nampyeong’, a high proportion of broken rice due to its long grain shape resulted in a lower head rice. ‘Amissal’ had low protein content and provided the sticky and soft texture typical of japonica rice, with excellent scores in sensory evaluation tests. As a differentiated, regionally specialized rice cultivar featuring a long-grain japonica type and superior eating quality, ‘Amissal’ is expected to contribute to the advancement of the local rice industry, particularly through applications in rice export and the utilization of broken rice and rice straw (Registration No. 10167).

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• 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

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.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major cereal crop grown worldwide, providing approximately 20% calorie and 25% protein intake. Wheat productivity is significantly affected by high temperatures, particularly during the grain-filling period. Heat stress accelerates leaf senescence, impairs photosynthesis, reduces starch accumulation, and alters protein synthesis, ultimately leading to a decrease in grain yield and quality. To mitigate the adverse effects of heat stress, wheat utilizes adaptation mechanisms, including the expression of heat shock proteins, activation of antioxidant defense systems, osmotic regulation, and transcription factor-mediated gene regulation. Stay-green traits also play a role in maintaining photosynthetic efficiency at high temperatures. Breeding strategies such as traditional breeding, marker-assisted selection , genomic selection , and genome editing are being explored to improve heat tolerance. Recent advances in the CRISPR-Cas9 technology enable precise gene editing, thereby enhancing the resilience of wheat to heat stress. Additionally, quantitative trait locus mapping and genome-wide association studies facilitated the identification of genetic regions associated with heat tolerance, thereby accelerating the development of climate-resilient wheat varieties. Future research should focus on integrating genetic and molecular approaches with sustainable agronomic practices and crop modeling strategies to optimize wheat productivity under rising temperatures. The integration of advanced breeding techniques and improved crop management can facilitate the development of wheat varieties that are more resilient to climate change.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• Evaluation of Wheat’s (Triticum aestivum L.) Agronomic and Grain Traits and Protein and Starch Characteristics Under Cultivation Environments in Korea
  Hyeon-Seong Yoo, Hyun-Jin Jung, Na-Yun Lee, Eun-Chae Bae, Eun-Bin Hwang, Eun-Seong Baek, Se-Jin Oh, Yu-Mi Lee, Sang-Cheol Gwak, Moon-Sub Lee, Seong-Woo Cho, Tae-Young Hwang
  Agriculture.2026; 16(11): 1131.     CrossRef

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.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• 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.

A new soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivar, ‘Dadrim,’ was developed by the National Institute of Crop and Food Science (NICS). ‘Dadrim’ is characterized by its superior suitability for tofu processing and high adaptability to mechanized cultivation. This cultivar ‘Milyang374’ was developed using the pedigree method from an artificial cross made in 2012 between ‘Milyang231’ and ‘Chamol.’ Its agronomic characteristics and production stability were verified through regional adaptation trials conducted over three years (2020- 2022). ‘Dadrim’ exhibits a determinate growth habit, white flowers, and spherical seeds with a yellow seed coat and yellow hilum. It is a large-seeded variety with a 100-seed weight of 30.9 g. As a late-maturing variety, it reaches maturity around October 22. Despite a relatively short plant height, it features a high first pod height of 16 cm, making it advantageous for mechanical harvesting. ‘Dadrim’ is resistant to bacterial pustule and soybean mosaic virus and possesses excellent lodging resistance. Notably, ‘Dadrim’ demonstrates a high tofu yield of 283%, which is 67% points higher than ‘Daewonkong’. The resulting tofu has a soft texture, making it suitable for soft and silken tofu. It also received high preference scores for taste and texture in sensory evaluations. ‘Dadrim’ yielded 3.37 tons/ha, an 8% increase compared to ‘Daewonkong.’ This new variety is expected to increase farm income and advance the domestic tofu industry (Registration No. 10461).

In the present study, we conducted a detailed analysis of the genetic diversity and structural organization of 96 domestic Korean rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.) using 2,565 high-resolution TCS-based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. Genetic structural variations were investigated using diversity indices, PCA, genetic similarity, and network analysis. Genetic diversity analysis revealed a significant expansion of the genetic foundation after the 1980s, marked by a sharp increase in the number of alleles (Na) from the 2000s. Despite this, high genetic homogeneity was maintained, with an average similarity of 77.7%. The observed 10% difference among same-cross varieties suggests that critical genetic variations are fixed by strong selection pressures for quality traits. Network analysis (85% similarity threshold) confirmed that the Korean rice breeding population followed a distinct core-periphery model (eight communities). The connected 84 varieties had a centrality range of 0.01 0.39. Core Variety Groups (e.g., ‘Junam’ and ‘Sindongjin’) exhibited the highest centrality (up to 0.39), indicating their extensive use as key breeding parents and their function as the central axis of the genetic network. Bridge Variety Groups (e.g., ‘Hwayeong’ and ‘Samkwang’) played an intermediary role linking clusters. Crucially, 12 ‘isolated accessions’ showed zero centrality (0.00), representing a genetic disconnect from the main pool. This quantitative network-based assessment provides essential fundamental data for breeders to select appropriate germplasms. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the current cultivar naming system, which inadequately reflects genetic relationships, requires reassessment, and that the establishment of objective management standards based on this research is warranted.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  

• QTL Analysis for Heading Date and Yield-Related Traits Using the Recombinant Inbred Lines Derived from a Cross between ‘Koshihikari’ and ‘IS592BB’
  Hyun-Su Park, Jeonghwan Seo, Songhee Park, Jae-Ryoung Park, Keon-Mi Lee, O-Young Jeong
  Korean Journal of Breeding Science.2026; 58(2): 147.     CrossRef
• 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

‘SuperHani’ is a sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) cultivar characterized by high lignan content and a non-shattering trait. It was developed in 2022 through a cross between ‘Suwon195’ and ‘YCS71’. This cultivar has a highly branched triple-capsule growth type, with 117 capsules per plant and a 1,000-seed weight of 2.0 g. Field evaluations revealed non-shattering traits, with seeds not falling even after the capsules were split open, indicating suitability for mechanical harvesting. Seed quality analyses demonstrated a total lignan content of 14.8 mg/g, with total polyphenol and flavonoid contents as well as antioxidant activities being significantly higher than those of the control. In regional adaptability trials, the average yield was 120 kg/10a, approximately 90% that of ‘Geonbaek’, but this difference was not statistically significant. These results suggest that ‘SuperHani’ is a mechanically harvestable cultivar that combines non-shattering traits with high levels of functional compounds. This has the potential to contribute to labor savings and the production of high-value sesame (Registration No.10316).

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.