Wheat, in conjunction with rice and maize, constitutes one of the three most significant staple crops worldwide, sustaining over 40% of the global population. In Korea, the annual per capita wheat consumption exceeds 30 kg, totaling approximately 4 million tons nationwide. However, more than 95% of this demand is met through imports, resulting in a meager self-sufficiency rate of approximately 0.7%, raising concerns regarding supply stability and price fluctuations. Enhancing wheat self-sufficiency in Korea requires addressing yield reductions caused by abiotic stressors, including elevated temperatures, drought, cold damage and pre-harvest sprouting induced by climate change, as well as biotic stressors such as Fusarium head blight. The development of high-quality wheat varieties with superior processing characteristics that satisfy consumer demands is crucial. This study provides critical insights for future research on the development of novel wheat cultivars in Korea. It reviews the current state of wheat cultivation and production, environmental and biological factors affecting growth, compositional elements influencing quality, domestic cultivars developed through conventional crossbreeding currently in commercial distribution, and contemporary breeding trends, with particular emphasis on novel breeding technologies, such as biotechnology.

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• Effects of Wheat Bran‐Derived Arabinoxylan Oligosaccharides on Dough and Noodle‐Making Properties
  Yunseo Kim, Meera Kweon
  Cereal Chemistry.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
• Quantitative Trait Loci for Grain Protein Content in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
  Min-Ju Kim, Myoung-Goo Choi, Go-Eun Lee, Chon-Sik Kang, Chang-Hyun Choi, Jun-Seok Choi, Myoung-Hui Lee, Jae-Han Son
  Korean Journal of Breeding Science.2026; 58(2): 109.     CrossRef
• Stability and Yield Performance of Durum Wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) Genotypes Across Environments in Southern Peru
  Alexandra Pacheco-Andrade, María Elena Torres, Hector Cántaro-Segura, Luis Díaz-Morales, Daniel Matsusaka
  International Journal of Plant Biology.2025; 16(4): 127.     CrossRef

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.

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• 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

This study aimed to develop a novel tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivar enriched in phytoene and phytofluene, colorless carotenoids known for their health-promoting properties. Parental lines with diverse fruit colors and morphological traits were selected and crossbred to generate three F₁ hybrids: ‘Rubybell’, ‘INDIGO-G’, and ‘BLACK-B’. The phytoene and phytofluene contents of the hybrids were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. Among them, ‘Rubybell’ exhibited the highest concentrations of phytoene (0.105 mg/g) and total phytofluene (0.118 mg/g), representing increases of 51% and 29% compared to the maternal line APR-52-MU, and 14% and 1% compared to the paternal line CAPP1745, respectively. Compared to commercial tomato cultivars, ‘Rubybell’ exhibited 76- and 23-fold higher levels of phytoene and phytofluene, respectively. Furthermore, ‘Rubybell’ accumulated higher levels of these functional compounds when cultivated in March and October, underscoring the influence of the planting season on carotenoid biosynthesis. These findings offer valuable insights into the breeding of high-value functional tomatoes and support their potential use in health-promoting food applications (Registration number: 10514).

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).

The composition of high-molecular-weight-glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) is a key determinant of wheat baking properties. These subunits are encoded by the GLU-A1, GLU-B1, and GLU-D1 loci on the long arm of chromosome 1 and consist of x- and y-type subunits. Allelic variations in composition are a major factor influencing bakery quality. Unlike sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) or ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC), which often fail to resolve closely related allelic variants, PCR-based markers allow for clear and definitive discrimination at the DNA level. Building on the results of a previous study that determined the GLU-B1 allele composition, we aimed to confirm—through the use of PCR markers—the allele compositions of GLU-A1 and GLU-D1 in 44 domestic wheat varieties. The results showed that “Jonong” and “Sinmichal1” contained the Glu-A1b (A1x2*) allele rather than Glu-A1a (A1x1) or Glu-A1c (A1x-null). Additionally, “Jonong” and “Sinmichal1” exhibited the allelic composition Glu-D1a (D1x2+D1y12), rather than Glu-D1d (D1x5+D1y10) or Glu-D1f (D1x2.2+D1y12). These results were compared with those obtained by SDS-PAGE and UPLC. The PCR-based markers used to identify GLU-A1 and GLU-D1 alleles in this study will be valuable for determining the allelic composition at the GLU-A1 and GLU-D1 loci in domestic wheat varieties. Furthermore, the re-evaluated genetic composition is expected to improve the precision of assessments related to the baking quality of domestic wheat.

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• 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

Plant-based production of recombinant proteins has emerged as an efficient and cost-effective alternative to microbial fermentation and mammalian cell culture systems. Chloroplasts harbor high plasmid copy numbers and can be stably transformed, making them efficient platforms for protein production. In the present study, we used green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter to compare the three major chloroplast promoters (rrn, psbA, and rbcL) involved in protein production in Nicotiana tabacum cv. “Petit Havana.” Three chloroplast transformation vectors were constructed, each regulated by a different promoter, and the transformation was performed via biolistic particle bombardment. Transformants were selected based on spectinomycin resistance and were confirmed by PCR. Among the three promoters, psbA showed the highest transformation efficiency and protein expression levels. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR showed that the mRNA levels (relative to Actin) for psbA (218.21±19.64) were nearly twice that of rbcL (126.60±8.78), and five times that of rrn (43.27±1.57). This transcriptional hierarchy was also observed at protein level. Immunoblotting showed the GFP levels (relative to psbA) were: psbA (1.00), rbcL (0.87), and rrn (0.77), whereas quantification through ELISA revealed relative GFP concentrations of: 616.2±28.7 ng/g LFW for psbA, 510.3±32.4 ng/g LFW for rbcL, and 338.9±100.2 ng/g ng/g LFW for rrn. These quantitative results demonstrate the importance of promoter selection for efficient expression of recombinant proteins in chloroplasts and show that the psbA promoter is suitable for high-efficiency chloroplast expression systems, providing a foundation for advancing plant-based molecular farming.

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.

Climate change caused by global warming, is predicted to have severe consequences for ecosystems and economic sectors. In the agricultural industry, it is predicted that there will be decreased crop yields resulting from shifting planting seasons, as well as higher temperature and water stress which significantly reduce crop productivity. Kimchi cabbage, a cold-loving plant, is particularly vulnerable to high-temperature stress which can lead to stunted growth, increased susceptibility to pests like soft rot, reduced yield, and lower quality that will negatively impact the Kimchi cabbage market. Kimchi cabbage can be cultivated in highland regions with low summer temperatures and reduced pest occurrence, but rising temperatures and water stress are expected to increase pest pressure, resulting in a rapid decrease in the potential cultivation area of Kimchi cabbage. Currently, research is being conducted around the world to identify physiological mechanisms of heat tolerance at the molecular level, selection of heat-tolerant material, and studies on cellular responses of plants under high-temperature conditions. Despite numerous studies on physiological and biochemical responses of Brassica crops to high temperatures, there is a need to develop heat-tolerant Kimchi cabbage cultivars that can adapt to rapidly changing climates, new strategies for pest control under high-temperature conditions, and mitigation measures to ensure stable cultivation and production.

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• Effect of Micro-Sprinkler Irrigation and Cooling Mulch Film on The Microclimate and Productivity of Kimchi Cabbage During High-Temperature Periods
  Hyo In Yoon, Jin Yu, Seung Hwan Wi, Tae Cheol Seo, Hye Jin Lee, Jin-Hyoung Lee, Me Hea Park, Su-Hyun Choi, Gyu-Hyeon Park
  Journal of Bio-Environment Control.2025; 34(4): 526.     CrossRef
• Projections of cultivation area for summer Kimchi cabbage in South Korea under different global warming levels
  Su-Jeong Kang, Hyun Min Sung, Jin-Uk Kim, Jae-Hee Lee, Chu-Yong Chung, Kyung-On Boo
  Journal of Climate Change Research.2025; 16(5-1): 919.     CrossRef
• Optimizing fertilizer use efficiency for Kimchi cabbage production in Highland Agriculture: Comparing slow and fast release fertilizers on varying slopes
  Mavis Badu Brempong, Yang-Min Kim, Gye-Ryeong Bak, Jeomsoon Kim, Sumi Kim, Jeong-Tae Lee
  Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer.2025; 58(2): 177.     CrossRef

‘Eunhyang’ is a new strawberry cultivar developed in 2021 by the Strawberry Research Institute of the Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services for forcing culture. The cultivar was bred to diversify the domestic market dominated by the single cultivar ‘Sulhyang’ and to improve fruit quality, including sweetness, firmness, and flavor. ‘Daewang,’ characterized by excellent flavor, aroma, and high firmness was used as the female parent, while ‘Durihyang,’ bred by the same institute with large fruit size, strong vigor, and good taste, was used as the male parent. Artificial crossing was conducted in 2017, followed by seedling selection, evaluation of characteristics, and productivity testing from 2018 to 2020. The selected line, initially designated ‘Nonsan 16,’ was officially named ‘Eunhyang’ in 2021. ‘Eunhyang’ exhibits semi-spreading growth, strong plant vigor, and elliptic leaves. Its flowering date is slightly earlier than that of ‘Sulhyang,’ and it shows excellent continuous flowering ability. The first harvest date was similar to that of ‘Sulhyang.’ The fruits are conical and bright light red. The first flower cluster has 8.6 flowers, fewer than ‘Sulhyang’ (16.8), reducing labor for flower thinning. It demonstrates higher soluble solids content (11.0 °Brix), stronger fruit firmness (14.1 g/mm²), and a higher sugar-to-acid ratio (19.0) than ‘Sulhyang.’ The average fruit weight is 17.7 g, which is heavier than ‘Sulhyang’ (15.4 g). Total yield is 3,945 kg/10a, which is 93% of ‘Sulhyang’ (4,236 kg/10a). ‘Eunhyang’ is relatively susceptible to anthracnose, powdery mildew, and two-spotted spider mites. ‘Eunhyang’ was registered for plant variety protection in 2023 (Registration No. 9751).

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).

The triploid seedless grape cultivar ‘Heukarong’ was developed in 2002 through artificial hybridization between ‘Black Olympia’ and ‘Campbell Early’ From 2003 to 2013, field trials were conducted under conventional cultivation practices in Chuncheon, Gangwon State, confirming that ‘Heukarong’ possesses strong resistance to both diseases and frost without the need for special protective measures, thereby demonstrating high tolerance to both environmental and biotic stresses. Based on these findings, an intensive three-year comparative evaluation of growth and fruit characteristics between ‘Heukarong’ and the triploid cultivar ‘Sweet Dream’ was conducted beginning in 2014. The results showed that ‘Heukarong’ consistently produced fruit with commercially valuable traits, leading to its final selection in late 2016 for varietal registration. Under standard cultivation, ‘Heukarong’ can produce high-quality fruits averaging 436 g in weight with a soluble solid content of 19.4 °Brix through a single application of gibberellin at full bloom, making it highly competitive in the market. Furthermore, ‘Heukarong’ exhibits strong resistance to frost damage and berry cracking, indicating excellent adaptability and stable productivity even under suboptimal growing conditions (Cultivar Registration No. 7766).

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.

Flower color is one of the key trait that determines the marketability of chrysanthemums. However, genetic research on chrysanthemum remains limited because of numerous environmental factors and the complexity of the chrysanthemum genome. To gain a deeper understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying flower color in chrysanthemum, this study conducted genotyping analysis on 94 F₁ progenies derived from a cross between two wild chrysanthemum parents, ‘CWT2’ and ‘CWT8,’ which exhibit distinct flower colors. Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was used for SNP identification, resulting in 79,002 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). After stringent filtering, 2,548 SNP markers were selected to construct a GBS-SNP linkage map, which was subsequently used to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with flower color. Four QTL were identified, encompassing genes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis, carotenoid degradation, and the methylerythritol phosphate pathway. Among the 16 candidate genes analyzed for their potential role in flower color determination, three genes (VDE, CYP707A4, and CYP707A2) were ultimately selected for molecular marker development. The findings of this study provide a valuable foundation for understanding the genetic basis of carotenoid degradation in chrysanthemums. Future in-depth research is expected to facilitate the development of new chrysanthemum varieties for breeding programs through marker-assisted selection in breeding programs.

Salt stress is a major abiotic factor that limits wheat production worldwide. However, this threat is increasing significantly because soil salinity affects approximately 20% of the irrigated agricultural land globally, leading to significant yield losses by impairing plant growth and photosynthetic efficiency. This study aimed to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with salt tolerance in wheat core collections during the heading stage under saline stress conditions. Chlorophyll content, a physiological indicator of salt tolerance at heading, and soil electrical conductivity (EC) were measured in 609 accessions and a Salt Tolerance Index (STI) was subsequently constructed. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed using a 35 K SNP chip to identify significant marker-trait associations. Three models (MLM, FarmCPU, and BLINK) were employed for the GWAS, with FarmCPU and BLINK demonstrating superior power over the MLM in controlling false positives. GWAS results revealed four significant SNPs (AX-94929101, AX- 94615611, AX-94510535, and AX-94411611) located on chromosomes 3D, 5D, and 7D. AX-94510535 exhibited significant phenotypic differences based on SNP genotype, suggesting its potential as a marker for STI. Furthermore, the identified candidate genes, TraesCS3D02G218100, TraesCS5D02G059500, and TraesCS5D02G175000, were implicated in biological processes such as DNA replication, cell death, and photosynthesis.

In this study, we aimed to develop a method for the rapid and nondestructive prediction of wheat seed viability using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS). Thirteen wheat cultivars were used to establish and validate an NIRS calibration model. The seed samples were divided into a calibration set (n=1,360) and a validation set (n=1,000), representing a wide range of germination rates created through the accelerated aging treatment (98±2% relative humidity, 40°C, 0-10 days). Spectral data were collected within the wavelength range of 400-2,500 nm. Among the three regression models tested, the Modified Partial Least Squares (MPLS) model exhibited the best performance for predicting seed viability, achieving the highest coefficient of determination (R²=0.936) and lowest standard error of calibration (SEC=7.514). The results of this study highlight the utility of NIRS-based models for the rapid, nondestructive assessment of seed viability in wheat. Additionally, this is the first study to apply NIRS for the nondestructive evaluation of wheat seed viability, providing a substantial advancement in seed quality assessment.