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.

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.

To diversify the grain quality characteristics of Korean varieties of japonica rice (Oryza sativa japonica), recombinant inbred lines were developed from a cross between the Korean cultivar “Boramchan” and the tropical japonica cultivar “Pecos” from the United States. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was performed to investigate the traits related to grain quality. Sixteen traits were evaluated, including five related to grain appearance, six associated with pasting properties and glossiness of cooked rice, and four related to eating texture. QTLs were detected on chromosomes 3, 5, 6, and 10, and candidate genes, including Hd1, qLTG3-1, GW5, and qGS10 were identified. The heading date-related gene Hd1 was associated with the following traits: head rice (HR), opaque rice (OR), damaged rice, pasting temperature, peak viscosity (PV), breakdown viscosity (BD), and glossiness. Most quality-related traits were influenced by allelic variation at Hd1, and the Hd1⁺ allele from “Boramchan”, which delays heading, positively affected both grain appearance and eating quality. The low-temperature germinability gene qLTG3-1 was identified as a candidate gene for broken rice and several pasting properties, including trough, final, and breakdown viscosities, and was shown to influence pasting characteristics depending on allelic variation. The grain shape gene GW5 was a candidate gene for HR and whiteness, whereas qGS10 was associated with OR, PV, BD, and setback viscosity. The GW5⁺ and qGS10^P alleles, derived from the slender grain shape of “Pecos,” contributed positively to both grain appearance and eating quality, indicating their potential as favorable alleles for improving grain shape and diversifying quality traits in Korean japonica rice. The results of this study demonstrate that key agronomic trait-related genes, such as heading and grain shape, significantly affect various quality-related traits, highlighting the potential of introducing and combining novel alleles to enhance grain quality in Korean japonica rice.

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.

Early selection of grain quality traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.), is essential to improve the yield and quality of this staple crop. We analyzed four key traits—protein content, grain filling rate, height, and panicle length—in 85 Korean cultivars. Through whole- genome resequencing we identified 12,718,879 raw single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs); after PLINK-based quality control (bi-allelic selection, call rate≥0.90, MAF≥0.03), ~2.20 million high-quality SNPs remained for machine-learning (ML) pre-screening. To rank the features (without marker-level inference), we applied a liberal univariate PLINK case-control scan using the top and bottom 30% per trait. We also analyzed associations with a linear mixed model (GCTA v1.93.2, MLMA; fixed covariates: ecotype, PC1, PC2; random effect: GRM) to verify calibration under population structure; with n=85, no genome-wide significant hits were detected, and QQ-plots indicated adequate calibration (per-trait effective tests m≈1.54-1.57 million under stricter filters). The random forest feature importance prioritized 26, 51, 19, and 20 core SNPs for the four traits, respectively. Across the algorithms, the best models achieved mean accuracies of 81.8% (protein content), 81.0% (grain filling rate), 73.1% (height), and 94.0% (panicle length). All selected SNPs met the Fluidigm array design requirements, supporting its deployment as a compact, genotype-based panel for early selection and a practical step toward digital breeding in rice.

Tofu, a widely consumed soy-based product, has seen increasing consumer demand, driven by health and dietary trends. Enhancing the processing suitability of soybeans requires analysis of the genetics associated with tofu quality traits. In this study, five key traits, namely water absorption (WA%), Brix of soymilk (°BS), soymilk yield (YM%), tofu residue (TR%), and tofu yield (YT%), were evaluated in two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations: 81 lines of “Daepung”דSaedanbaek” and 122 lines of “Daepung”דGalchae”. Most traits exhibited normal distributions and transgressive segregation. Trait correlations revealed strong associations between WA and TR, and between YM and YT, with population-specific variation. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping identified eight loci in each population linked to WA, °BS, YM, TR, and YT across multiple chromosomes. Notably, co-localized QTL were detected for WA% and TR% (chromosomes 1 and 6) and for WA%, YM%, °Brix, and TR% (chromosome 8), indicating pleiotropic regulation. Candidate genes included Glyma.06g173500, associated with β-glucan biosynthesis, and Glyma.03g132700, encoding β-glucanase, both implicated in seed coat permeability and tofu yield. These results provide novel genetic insights into seed coat properties and processing quality, and the identified QTLs and candidate genes represent valuable targets for marker-assisted selection in soybean breeding programs optimized for tofu production in Korea.

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.

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.

Pears (Pyrus spp.) are economically important fruit trees grown extensively world-wide. To identify QTLs related to key agronomically important fruit traits, we conducted QTL analysis using an interspecific 178 F₁ populations derived from a cross between ‘Manpungbae’ and ‘Oharabeni’. Phenotyping data, including fruit weight, fruit length and diameter, fruit shape index (FSI), soluble sugar content, fruit firmness (FF), and titratable acidity (TA) were investigated from 2016 to 2018. Using the previously constructed genetic linkage map together with the three-year phenotypic dataset, we detected 14 significant QTLs associated with the control of fruit weight, fruit length and diameter, FSI, FF, and TA on linkage groups 3, 10, 11, 12, and 13. These findings provide a useful resource for advancing genetic and genomic studies in pears and will aid breeding efforts to improve major fruit traits.

‘K-Ol2’ is a high-oil, high-oleic acid peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) variety developed by the National Institute of Crop and Food Science and released in 2022. This variety was derived through pedigree selection from a single cross between the variety ‘Jaseon’ and the high-oleate elite line ‘YG377’. High-oleate lines were selected in the F₃ generation using Near-Infrared Spectrophotometry and gas chromatography. ‘K-Ol2’ exhibits a relatively short plant height with main stem and branch lengths of 29 cm and 36 cm, respectively, which are less than those of the check variety ‘Akwang’. The seeds had a brown testa and an elliptical kernel shape, with a 100-seed weight of 87 g and an average of 54 mature pods per plant. Seed composition analysis revealed an average protein content of 29.3% and a high crude fat content of 54.5%. The oleic acid (C18:1) content reached 82.8%, with an oleic to linoleic acid ratio of 28.5:1, significantly higher than that of ‘Akwang’ (2.2:1). In oxidative stability evaluations under accelerated oxidizing conditions, ‘K-Ol2’ exhibited an extended induction time to reach maximum conductivity increase, indicating improved resistance to lipid oxidation. Regional yield trials conducted from 2020 to 2022 demonstrated that ‘K-Ol2’ produced an average yield of 4.60 MT⋅ha^-1, representing a 10% increase over ‘Akwang’. Due to its high oil content and improved oxidative stability, ‘K-Ol2’ is expected to play a valuable role in the peanut processing industry (Registration No. 10358).

‘KM7’, a maize hybrid for grain production, was developed for the Southeast Asian seed market by the maize breeding team of the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), Rural Development Administration (RDA) in 2020. The hybrid, ‘KM7’, was bred by crossing two inbred lines, CL32 and 14K23. After a one-year yield trial in Dong Trieu, Vietnam, country adaptability trials were performed three times in three different countries (Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia) in both 2019 and 2020. The seed type was flint-like and suitable for both food and feed. ‘KM7’ adapted well to conditions in northern Vietnam, northwestern Cambodia, and Central Java in Indonesia. The silking date of ‘KM7’ in Vietnam was 62 d, which was 1 d earler than that of LCH9, a leading cultivar in Vietnam. ‘KM7’ is an early maturing, high-grain yielding F1 hybrid that is also resistant to downy mildew. ‘KM7’ produced a grain yield of 842, 831, and 950 kg/10a in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, respectively. This demonstrated a higher yield than that of the leading cultivars in each respective country. ‘KM7’ produced 26% more grain in Vietnam, 28% more in Cambodia, and 56% more in Indonesia than the respective control varieties (Registration No. 10034).

The goji berry (Lycium chinense Mill.) line CBP17749-20 was selected from F1 hybrids of ‘CBP02261-1’ and ‘CBP11542-206’ in 2017 to establish a cultivar suitable for shoot and leaf production. Preliminary and advanced yield trials were conducted in 2019 and 2020 to investigate yield characteristics, and the selected line was named ‘Gugisoon 2.’ After regional adaptability tests from 2021 to 2022, it was officially registered as the cultivar ‘Cheongsoon.’ The cultivar Unk ‘Cheongsoon’ is characterized by vigorous growth, strong sprouting ability, and an upright growth habit. Its leaves are broadly oval with a higher chlorophyll content than those of the control cultivar ‘Gugisoon 1’ and both leaves and stems are thicker and heavier. It also exhibits excellent resistance to gall mites (Eriophyes spp.), which cause purplish galls on leaf surfaces. Compared to ‘Gugisoon 1,’ ‘Cheongsoon’ has a higher rutin content and a lower quercetin content, and its shoot production index is 224% greater. This cultivar is highly suitable for shoot and leaf production and can be grown in open fields; however, greenhouse cultivation produces tender shoots (Registration No. 10170).

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).

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).

‘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).

‘Godangok 2’, a yellow sweet corn hybrid obtained by crossing inbred KSE14 (female) and KSE23 (male) varieties harboring the sugary enhancer (se) gene, was developed by the maize breeding team at the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), Rural Development Administration, Korea, in 2020. Days to silking of ‘Godangok 2’ (65 days) was 3 days later than ‘Danok 3’ (check hybrid, 62 days). The ear length of ‘Godangok 2’ (18.9 cm) was similar to that of ‘Danok 3’, but it exhibited a higher kernel filling rate (97%). In addition, the lodging tolerance of ‘Godangok2’ was greater than that of ‘Danok3’. The number of ears per 10a in Godangok2 (6,177) was 4% higher than that in ‘Danok 3’, whereas ear weights (1,075 kg) were 4% lower. ‘Godangok 2’ had a high sugar content of 23.4° Brix, a thin pericarp thickness of 21.4 μm, and a light 100-kernel weight of 25.4 g compared to that of the check hybrid. ‘Godangok 2’ showed the highest seed yield of 270 kg/10a at a 4 (female):1 (male) planting ratio. Because ‘Godangok 2’ carries the recessive se gene, its unique qualities may be compromised by cross-pollination with other corn varieties (e.g., sh2, bt, wx types). Therefore, to maintain sweet corn quality, corn should be grown and harvested separately in time and space (Registration No. 10059).

‘Alchanheukchal’ is a single-cross hybrid waxy corn cultivar developed by using the inbred line ‘KBW16’ as the seed parent and ‘KBW23’ as the pollen parent. Yield trials were conducted in 2013 and 2015 followed by regional adaptability tests at six locations over three years (2018-2020). Recognized for its superior performance, it was designated as a new variety by the NICS in 2020. ‘Alchanheukchal’ contains 32.9 μg 100 g^-1 of anthocyanins, resulting in black-colored ears and exhibiting an intermediate ear shape. Its silking period was 74 days, equivalent to that of the standard variety ‘Ilmichal’. The ear length was 19.3 cm, similar to ‘Ilmichal’, while the kernel set rate was 94%, which was lower than that of ‘Ilmichal’. In terms of disease and pest resistance, including southern rust, northern corn leaf blight, and corn borer, as well as lodging resistance, ‘Alchanheukchal’ was comparable to ‘Ilmichal’. The number of ears and ear weight per 10a were 6,336 ears and 1,136 kg, respectively, which indicates a higher ear number but lower ear weight than ‘Ilmichal’. The 100-kernel weight was 27.7 g, smaller than that of ‘Ilmichal’. In sensory evaluation tests, the overall acceptability score was 4.7, which was lower than that of ‘Ilmichal’. The highest seed production efficiency was observed when the planting ratio of the seed parent to pollen parent was 2:1. However, because the silking date of the pollen parent occurred later, it was considered necessary to perform staggered sowing (Registration No. 10033).

A new northern-type garlic cultivar, ‘Gichan’, was developed by the Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services to improve adaptability and productivity in the Chungnam region Korea. ‘Gichan’ originated from a cross between fertile garlic lines K24 (♀) and 9209 (♂) in 2013, and a superior line was selected and tested from 2014 to 2020. Compared with the local cultivar ‘Taeanjong’, exhibited earlier emergence, clove differentiation, and harvest maturity and was thus classified as an early maturing type. Its bulbs were larger and heavier with an average yield of 1,617 kg per 10a, representing a 59% increase over ‘Taeanjong. Mineral contents such as Ca, Fe, and Zn were higher, and the alliin content was 51% greater, indicating improved functional quality. ‘Gichan’ exhibited resistance to leaf blight but was relatively susceptible to root mite damage. These results suggest that ‘Gichan’ is a high-yielding, early-maturing, and functional garlic cultivar suitable for the Chungnam climate and is expected to enhance farm income (Registration No. 9813).

‘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).

Red skin coloration in pears is caused by anthocyanin accumulation, which contributes to antioxidant activity and enhances consumer preference because of its attractive appearance. However, anthocyanin levels are strongly affected by light, making it difficult to maintain stable coloration under bagging practices commonly used in Korea. In this study, we developed the first red-skinned pear cultivar in Korea, ‘Jungmojeoksaek1ho’ (Pyrus pyrifolia×(P. pyrifolia×P. communis)), and examined changes in anthocyanin content according to the timing of bagging. ‘Jungmojeoksaek1ho’ originated from a cross between ‘Manpungbae’ (P. pyrifolia) and ‘Oharabeni’ (P. pyrifolia×P. communis) in 2003 and was registered as a new cultivar in 2025 (Registration No. 10597). The trees were vigorous, with a spreading growth habit. The mean fruit weight was 291.5 g, lower than that of the control cultivar ‘Wonhwang’ (P. pyrifolia), with soluble solids content of 12.8° Brix and titratable acidity of 0.31%. Anthocyanin content analysis of the peel revealed that ‘Jungmojeoksaek1ho’ maintained high levels until 80 days after full bloom (DAFB), followed by a sharp decline. Bagging at 60 or 80 DAFB reduced anthocyanin accumulation, whereas bagging after 100 DAFB maintained relatively high levels in the later stages. These results suggested that bagging after 100 DAFB was optimal for achieving stable red coloration (Registration No. 10597).