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.

‘‘Ssagirang’ is a hulled barley cultivar that exhibits high resistance to lodging and cold stress. It demonstrates high yield potential and superior functional properties in barley sprouts. The heading date of ‘Ssagirang’ was April 24, and its maturity date was June 2. The plant height was 80 cm, which was 4 cm shorter than that of ‘Olbori’ (84 cm), and the spike length was 4.9 cm, which was longer than that of ‘Olbori’ (4.3 cm). The number of grains per spike was 56, higher than ‘Olbori’ (49 grains per spike), and the 1,000-grain weight was 35.2 g, heavier than that of ‘Olbori’ (34.6 g). In relation to disease resistance, ‘Ssagirang’ exhibited resistance to barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV), with a disease severity score of 1, and showed similar winter hardiness to ‘Olbori.’ In terms of quality characteristics, protein and β-glucan contents were 10.2% and 4.3%, respectively, similar to those of ‘Olbori’. The potential diastatic power of ‘Ssagirang’ was 107 DP, comparable to that of ‘Olbori’ (99 DP). Polyphenol content of ‘Ssagirang’ was 178 mg/100g, higher than that of ‘Olbori’ (164 mg/100g). The mean grain yield of ‘Ssagirang’ was 557 kg/10a across all regions, which was 21% higher than that of ‘Olbori’ (462 kg/10a). The barley sprout yield of ‘Ssagirang’ was 157 g_dw/m², greater than that of ‘Olbori’ (133 g_dw/m²), and its policosanol content was 448 mg/100g, which was significantly higher than that of ‘Olbori’ (245 mg/100g). On account of its strong cold tolerance, high yield, and excellent processing suitability, it is anticipated that ‘Ssagirang’ will be employed as a raw material for long malt, barley tea, and barley sprouts (Registration No. 9728).

A comprehensive evaluation of 515 Korean wheat germplasms, including cultivars, experimental lines, and landraces, was conducted over 2 years under upland field conditions to characterize major agronomic and grain traits. Allelic variation at 13 key functional loci was assessed using Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) and PCR-based markers. The winter-type vrn-A1 with a single copy (CNV=1; 40.2%) advanced heading by approximately 5 days compared to multiple-copy genotypes, and winter-type vrn-B1 (88.5%) advanced heading by 2 days compared to the spring-type. The photoperiod-insensitive alleles Ppd-B1a (5.6%) and Ppd-D1a (76.3%) advanced heading by 3 and 4 days, respectively, with a combined effect of up to 6 days. Semi-dwarfing alleles Rht-B1b and Rht-D1b showed reduced culm lengths of 2.1 cm and 4.7 cm, respectively, and the Rht-B1a/Rht-D1b genotype was 6 cm shorter than Rht-B1a/Rht-D1a. The Pina-D1a/Pinb-D1a genotype had the lowest kernel hardness value (32.2), whereas Pina-D1b/Pinb-D1a had the highest (60.5). The thousand kernel weight ranged from 36.1 mg to 42.5 mg depending on the allelic combinations of TaCwi-A1, TaGW2-6A, and TaSus2-2B. Cultivars and experimental lines were clearly distinguished from landraces based on phenotype-based clustering, with the majority of cultivars (81.6%) and experimental lines (68.3%) grouped into cluster III. In contrast, landraces were predominantly distributed in clusters I (55.1%) and II (29.2%). Random forest analysis identified four genes, Ppd-D1, Pina-D1, Pinb-D1, and WAPO-A1, as major contributors to cluster classification. Cluster III was highly enriched with alleles favorable for earliness (Ppd-D1a, 98.3%) and grain hardness (Pina-D1b and Pinb-D1b, 57.9%). WAPO-A1b, an allele associated with an increased spikelet number per spike, was more frequently observed in clusters I (94.6%) and II (79.1%) than in cluster III (58.4%).

A new winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar “Joongmo2015” was developed by the NICS (National Institute of Crop Science), RDA (Rural Development Administration) in 2019. Its heading date was April 20 and its maturity date was June 1, which was similar to Keumkang. “Joongmo2015” had a longer culm length (80 cm), similar spike length (7.8 cm) and spikes per m² (804), lower 1,000-grain weight (43.0 g) than “Keumkang” (78 cm, 7.8 cm, 804 g, 46.3 g, respectively). “Joongmo2015” was showed stronger to winter hardiness than “Keumkang”, and susceptible to fusarium head blight and powdery mildew. The average grain yield in the advanced yield trial (AYT) was 4.97 MT/ha, which were 26% more than “Keumkang” and in the regional yield trial (RYT) was 5.75 MT/ha in upland and 5.27 MT/ha in paddy field, which were 16% and 18% higher than those of “Keumkang” (4.95 MT/ha and 4.46 MT/ha, respectively). “Joongmo2015” showed lower protein content (11.7%), SDS-sedimentation volume (42.8 ml), gluten content (9.0%) and flour lightness(90.76) than “Keumkang” (13.6%, 61.8 ml, 11.4% and 91.50, respectively). “Joongmo2015” showed higher lightness (83.10) of noodle dough sheet than “Keumkang” (82.48). “Joongmo2015” exhibited higher hardness (3.92N) and similar springiness and cohesiveness of cooked noodles (0.94 and 0.60) compared to “Keumkang” (3.65N, 0.93, and 0.59, respectively). High molecular weight gluten subunits (HMW-GS) composition are Glu-D1d (5+10), granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) composition are Wx-A1a, Wx-B1a, Wx-D1a and composition of puroindolines are Pina-D1a, Pinb-D1a (Registration No. 9790).

In common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), the protein content and glutenin protein composition are the key quality-determining parameters. Allelic variations, especially in high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs), affect bread quality significantly. The HMW-GS Glu-1 locus consists of two tightly linked genes encoding x- and y-type subunits that exhibit highly variable frequencies. In this study, we evaluated Glu-B1 alleles using allele-specific PCR markers in 44 domestic wheat cultivars. The composition of Glu-1Bx7+Glu-1By8 in the 24 cultivars was either Glu-1Bx7+Glu-1By8, Glu-1Bx7*+ Glu-1By8, or Glu-1Bx7*+Glu-1Bx8*. In addition, the two cultivars initially identified Glu- 1Bx7+Glu-1By8* were corrected to Glu-1Bx7*+Glu-1By8*. Seven cultivars previously classified as having Glu-1Bx7+Glu-1By9 composition contained Glu-1Bx7*+ Glu-1Bx9. The allele composition of the cultivar was identified as Glu-1Bx20+Glu-1By20 instead of Glu-1By20. The HMW-GSs of 21 wheat varieties were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These results will be helpful for evaluating the composition of Glu-B1 alleles in domestic wheat and accurately assessing the quality of domestic wheat flour.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) causes yield reduction, quality deterioration, and mycotoxin contamination in wheat, highlighting the need for resistant wheat varieties. In this study, we evaluated FHB resistance genes and infection rates in 44 domestic wheat varieties. Among them, 42 had the Type I resistance gene Fhb4, 37 had Fhb5, and 35 possessed both. For Type II resistance, 14 had Fhb1, 11 had Fhb2, and five had both. Twenty cultivars had both type I and type II resistance genes, and among them, Chungkye, Dahong, Gobun, Namhae, and Ol had all of the Fhb1, Fhb2, Fhb4, and Fhb5 genes. The average infection rate over three years was 42.6% in cases with both Type I and Type II resistance genes and 44.3% in cases without Type II resistance genes. The infection rate was very high in 2020 and very low in 2021, complicating the analysis of the three-year average. However, when the infection rate was evenly distributed in 2019, there was a tendency for increased resistance among the varieties carrying Type II resistance genes. This suggested that external factors may influence infection rates, emphasizing the need for a precise evaluation system suitable for selecting additional resistance genes. In addition, it is necessary to develop resistant varieties suited to the domestic environment through additional resistance gene selection and integration of resistance genes. This study contributes to understanding FHB resistance genes in domestic wheat varieties and developing resistant domestic wheat varieties.

To stably produce domestic wheat under water-scarce environmental conditions due to climate change, root characteristics with excellent water utilization rates are crucial. In this study, we analyzed the root and grain phenotypes of 37 domestic wheat varieties over a two-year period by combining the results of genetic mutations related to semi-dwarfing and grain size. Root length was positively correlated with maximum root depth (r=0.76**) and total seminal root length (r=0.54**), whereas it was negatively correlated with the number of roots (r=-0.33**) and root angles (r=-0.51**). The thousand-kernel weight was positively correlated with embryo width (r=0.34**) and embryo area (r=0.33**) but was not correlated with other root traits. Embryo length was positively correlated with the number of roots (r=0.34**) and coleoptile length (r=0.42**). Phenotypic analyses of roots and grains, along with genotypic analyses of semi-dwarfing (Rht-B1 and Rht-D1) and grain size (TaCWI-4A, TaCWI-5D, TaGW2-6A, TaSus2-2B) genes, revealed that the Rht-D1b genotype led to reduced root depth, increased root angles, and reduced coleoptile length. TaCwi-A1, TaCWI-5D, TaSus2-2B, and TaGW2-6A, possessing the alleles TaCwi-A1a, Hap-5D-C, Hap-L, and Hap-6A-G associated with a larger grain size, resulted in an increased number of roots and root depth. Domestic wheat varieties were categorized into three clusters based on root, grain, and coleoptile trait characteristics, with 15 varieties in Cluster I, 9 in Cluster II, and 13 in Cluster III. The results of this study can be utilized in basic research to develop varieties that can produce stable domestic wheat by selecting resources with excellent root growth and seed characteristics.

Since iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are essential micronutrients for human immunity and metabolic activities, it is important to biofortify major food crops such as wheat and improve the bioavailability of Fe and Zn. In this review, we focused on analyzing studies conducted to identify and evaluate QTLs, genes, and associated molecular markers related to Fe and Zn content in wheat, their absorption mechanisms, and bioavailability in terms of genetics and breeding. Because bread wheat has a limited Fe and Zn content in its grains, many studies have used wild, synthetic, or mutant wheat resources with high Fe and Zn contents. Many studies have been conducted to characterize related genes, of which Gpc-B1 is the major gene that increases the final content of Fe, Zn, and protein in association with an Gpc-B1 increase in Fe uptake and regulate Zip and YSL expression. Research determining the appropriate phytic acid content and increasing phytase activity to improve bioavailability was also highlighted.

A new winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar “Hwanggeumal” was developed by the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS) Rular Development Administration (RDA) in 2019. Its heading date was April 20, and its maturity date was June 1, which was similar to that of Jokyung. “Hwanggeumal” had a shorter culm length (75 cm) and spike length (7.1 cm). However, it had lower spikes per m² (699) and 1,000-grain weight (44.2 g) than “Jokyung” (78 cm, 8.2 cm, 776, 46.6 g, respectively). “Hwanggeumal” displayed stronger winter hardiness than “Jokyung”, and was susceptible to powdery mildew (PM) and fusarium head blight (FHB). The average grain yield in the advanced yield trial (AYT) was 6.20 MT/ha, which was 11% more than “Jokyung”. In the regional yield trial (RYT) it was 5.13 MT/ha in upland and 4.77 MT/ha in paddy field, which were 16% and 13% less than “Jokyung”, respectively. “Hwanggeumal”s flour yield (71.4%) and flour lightness (91.82) was similar to that of “Jokyung”, while the protein content (14.0%), gluten content (10.3%), and SDS-sedimentation volume (60.3 ml) were higher than that of “Jokyung”. These results display that the “Hwanggeumal” dough strength of flour is stronger than “Jokyung”. High molecular weight gluten subunit (HMW-GS) composition is Glu-D1d (5+10), the granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) composition are Wx-A1a, Wx-B1b, and Wx-D1a, and the composition of puroindolines are Pina-D1a and Pinb-D1b (Registration No. 9173).

Powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) significantly affects wheat yield and flour quality. Plant resistance to powdery mildew has been investigated for decades, and numerous resistance genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for molecular markers have been discovered. In Korea, powdery mildew occurs initially in spring, due to frequent rain and low temperatures, becoming severe during the harvest season. In Korea, systematic monitoring and quantitative and qualitative impact assessments of powdery mildew outbreaks have never been conducted properly. Herein, the lifecycle of powdery mildew, resistance genes, QTLs, and selection markers in wheat were examined to elucidate powdery mildew resistance, develop resistant varieties, and genetic markers suitable for the domestic environment.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a severe disease of wheat, mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum, which greatly reduces wheat production and directly affects human and animal health due to the mycotoxins produced in wheat grains. To develop high-quality, stable yields, and mycotoxin-free crop, it is essential to first understand the genetic basis of wheat FHB-resistance, and to design molecular markers facilitating the selection of FHB-resistant varieties. However, despite extensive global research efforts, genetic research and marker development for the selection of FHB-resistant varieties, in Korea, are insufficient. Here, we summarize recent studies on FHB-resistance genes, resistance resources, quantitative trait locus analysis, and genome-wide association studies to enhance our understanding of FHB and the breeding of FHB-resistant domestic wheat cultivars.

‘Baeksoojeongchal’, a new naked waxy barley cultivar was developed from a cross between ‘Jinmichapssal’ and ‘Radiant’ at the National Institute of Crop Science, RDA in 2019. ‘Baeksoojeongchal’ is a white, waxy naked barley cultivar with a low browning reaction owing to the low levels of proanthocyanidin. Regional yield trials were conducted for ‘Baeksoojeongchal’ as the breeding line, ‘Jeonju135’ at four different regions between 2017 and 2019. The average heading date of ‘Baeksoojeongchal’ in the paddy field was April 20, which was a day later than that of ‘Saechal’. Maturing date of ‘Baeksoojeongchal’ in the paddy field was May 26, which was 2 days later than that of ‘Saechal’. It has a short culm length of 75 cm and a short spike length of 4.3 cm, with 48 grains per spike and a 1,000-grain weight of 29.5 g. Compared to ‘Saechal’, ‘Baeksoojeongchal’ shows weaker winter withering and has better tolerance to lodging. The incidence of BaYMV (Barley yellow mosaic virus) in ‘Baeksoojeongchal’ was similar to that in ‘Saechal’; in addition, it was susceptible to powdery mildew. The grain quality characteristics of ‘Baeksoojeongchal’ indicated a similar protein content (9.6%) and a lower proanthocyanidin content (0.011%) and whiteness (42.0) compared to that in ‘Saechal’. The average yield was 505 kg/10a in the paddy field, which was 7% higher than that of ‘Saechal’. ‘Baeksoojeongchal’ is the naked waxy barley cultivar with the most whiteness and low proanthocyanidin content; therefore this could contribute to the promotion of barley consumption, by avoiding reduction in consumer preference (Registration No. 9194).

A new covered barley cultivar ‘Hangang’ with resistance to barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV) and tolerance to cold was developed by crossing ‘Samkwangchal/Radiant’ at the National Institute of Crop Science, RDA in 2018. The regional yield trials were conducted for ‘Hangang’ as a breeding line ‘Jeonju498’ in five different regions from 2016 to 2018. The average heading date of ‘Hangang’ was April 22, which was one day earlier than that of ‘Olbori’. The maturing date of ‘Hangang’ was May 30, which was similar to that of ‘Olbori’. The culm length was 81 cm, which was shorter than that of ‘Olbori’, showing tolerance to lodging stress. ‘Hangang’ showed the spike length of 4.6 cm with 669 spikes per m², 54 grains per spike, and a weight of 33.5 g for 1,000 grains. Compared with ‘Olbori’, ‘Hangang’ showed stronger withering in winter (winter hardiness) and resistance to BaYMV. Among quality characteristics, ‘Hangang’ showed similar levels as those of ‘Olbori’ with respect to protein, β-glucan and amylose (10.7%, 4.6%, and 18.8%, respectively). However, ‘Hangang’ showed higher polyphenol content (1.69 mg/g) than the check cultivar. The yield of ‘Hangang’ in the regional yield trial was 611 kg/10a in upland, 502 kg/10a in paddy field, and an overall average of 567 kg/10a, which was 15%, 16% and 16% higher than that of the check cultivar, respectively. Therefore, ‘Hangang’ will be suitable cultivar when sowed in cold regions (Registration No. 8773).

The
objective
of this study is to assess the impacts of additional N fertilization on agricultural traits, flour characteristics, and noodle quality of O-free, a variety known for reduced allergy effects. With increasing fertilization rates, both culm length and spike length showed an increase, accompanied by a rise in grain nitrogen removal due to higher protein content in the grains. The leaf area index (LAI) reached its peak during the booting stage, while the canopy LAI peaked at 21 days after flowering (21-DAF). Although LAI of plant was higher in the treatments with additional nitrogen (N1 and N2) compared to the control (N0), there was no significant difference observed in canopy LAI. Chlorophyll fluorescence values were highest at 21-DAF and lowest at 35-DAF, regardless of the fertilizer rate. The dry weight of leaves and stems was highest at 7-DAF in N0 and N1 treatments, but at 21-DAF in N2 treatment. During grain filling, the nitrogen content decreased in leaves and stems, while it increased in the grains. With higher fertilization rates, there was an increase in the moisture content, flour color value, protein content, and sedimentation value of flour, whereas the particle size of flour decreased. Dough extensibility, mixing time, and protein strength showed an increase as the fertilizer rate increased, but dough stability decreased. The control exhibited the highest starch gel stability and aging, while N1 had the lowest starch swelling. Cooked noodles demonstrated increased brightness, thickness, and hardness with increasing fertilizer rate, but elasticity and viscosity showed no significant changes.

‘Dian’ was developed by crossing ‘Milyang85/Suwon335’, which has tolerance to lodging and high yield, and ‘Milyang122’, which has good brewing qualities, in 2003. The regional yield trials were conducted for ‘Dian’ as a breeding line ‘Iksan168’ in four different regions of Korea from 2012 to 2014. The heading and maturing dates of ‘Dian’ in paddy and upland fields were similar to ‘Hopum’. ‘Dian’ had a shorter culm length than ‘Hopum’ in paddy and upland fields, showing tolerance to lodging stress. The yield potential of ‘Dian’ was approximately 18% higher than that of ‘Hopum’ in the paddy fields, but there were no significant differences in the upland fields. ‘Dian’ had rym1 and rym5 genes and showed resistance to barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV), but was susceptible to powdery mildew. It also had good quality for brewing and was similar to ‘Hopum’. ‘Dian’ had a higher assortment ratio (94%) than ‘Hopum’ (89%). Regarding grain quality, ‘Dian’ was similar to ‘Hopum’ in protein content, β-glucan content, and husk rate. Concerning malt quality, ‘Dian’ showed a 71.6% extraction rate, 3.6% soluble protein content, and 33.0% Kolbach index, which are similar to the values of ‘Hopum’. Other malt qualities of ‘Dian’ include 185 WK (Windisch-Kolbach) diastatic power and 81.4% friability, which were lower than those of ‘Hopum’. Therefore, ‘Dian’ with high yield, tolerance to lodging, and resistance to BaYMV is considered to be stable for cultivation (Registration No. 8241).

‘Heugho’, a new cultivar developed in 2014, is a two-rowed hulled barley with black grains that was selected among doubled haploid lines produced by anther culture from a backcross between two cultivars. Black barley, which has black grains, was used as the donor parent and ‘Hopum’, which has an elite genotype, was used as the recurrent parent. Agricultural characteristics of the new cultivar such as heading date, lodging and disease resistance were similar to those of ‘Hopum’. The yield was approximately 3.8 ton/ha, which was also comparable to that of ‘Hopum’. In terms of grain quality, the thousand grain weights of ‘Heugho’ and ‘Hopum’ were similar at 44.9 g and 41.4 g, respectively. The malt quality of both cultivars, which was mainly determined by extract, diastatic power, Kolbach index, and soluble protein content, were also similar. The total polyphenol contents of ‘Heugho’ and ‘Hopum’ malts were 0.274% and 0.244%, and the anthocyanin contents were 37.1 µg/g and 16.5 µg/g, respectively. After malting, ‘Heugho’ had high antioxidant capacity, making it a functional food source for beer as well as tea. We expect that ‘Heugho’ will contribute to farmer’s income and regional economic activation associated with the barley processing industry(Registration No. 8239).

Gluten proteins in wheat grains are generally considered one of the most important factors in determining dough properties and bread quality. In this study, wheat protein quality characteristics were investigated in 607 varieties collected from seven countries grown in a South Korean wheat breeding field for two years. The average protein content was 12.2±1.86%, and the sodium dodecyl sulfate-sediment volume (SDSS) was 46.9±8.39 mL. HI-LINE had the highest protein content (18.3±0.35%) and SDSS (76.7±1.98 mL), while both NE 84557 and Iksan 374 showed small deviations in protein content and SDSS. Protein content and SDSS values were higher in Ax2*+By8 and By9+Dy10 combinations at Glu-A, Glu-B1, and Glu-D1 loci of high molecular weight gluten subunit (HMW-GS) than in other combinations. However, no difference in Glu-A3 and Glu-B3 loci in LMW-GS was observed. Furthermore, in HMW-GS, the composition of Glu-D1 Dy10 and Dy12 had a greater effect on protein quality than Glu-B1 By8 and By9 when the allele of Glu-A1 had Ax2*. Significant differences were found between Dy10 and Dy12 genes of the HMW-GS Glu-D1 and between protein content and SDSS, but not among others. These results suggest that Glu-D1 is extremely important for improving protein quality in HMW-GSs. As a result of this study, HMW-GS allele selection using functional markers, protein content, and SDSS investigation are expected to enable the development of varieties with high protein quality that are stable amid various environmental changes.

Low-temperature damage at the seedling stage is one of the most significant natural obstacles to wheat’s growth. In domestic wheat breeding programs, the selection of cold-tolerant varieties is crucial for the development of superior wheat varieties. Traditionally, the extent of damage caused by freezing wheat is estimated through visual observation. In this study, we compared the RGB image analysis method with conventional visual evaluation and chlorophyll content analysis methods to determine if this method could accurately quantify the cold tolerance discrimination of wheat in the field. First, single-leaf-level RGB image analysis revealed a pattern similar to dead leaf ratio and chlorophyll content in three grades of freezing injury. Next, we compared the significance of plant-level RGB image analysis. The greenness index by RGB image analysis showed a higher correlation with dead leaf ratio by visual evaluation. Finally, 40 wheat varieties were planted in the field and wheat canopy images were collected at the seedling stage after wintering. There was a high correlation between the greenness index and the visual evaluation. However, there was no correlation between dead leaf ratio and visual evaluation or greenness index as determined by RGB image analysis. These findings suggest that using RGB image analysis rather than visual evaluation can be useful in assessing freeze damage in wheat fields.

A new black barley variety, ‘Heukdahyang’, was developed from the cross between ‘Keunalbori 1ho’ and ‘Masankwamaek/Mortoni’ at the National Institute of Crop Science, RDA in 2015. ‘Heukdahyang’ had a shorter culm length (76 cm) than that of ‘Olbori’, and had lodging tolerance. The average heading and maturity dates of ‘Heukdahyang’ were April 28 and June 2, respectively, which were later than those of ‘Olbori’. ‘Heukdahyang’ also had a spike length of 5.1 cm, spike density of 534 spikes/m², and 57 grains/spike. The thousand grain weight of ‘Heukdahyang’ (35.9 g) was greater than that of ‘Olbori’. ‘Heukdahyang’ showed moderate resistance to barley yellow mosaic virus. The yield potential of ‘Heukdahyang’ was about 6% higher than that of ‘Olbori’ in upland and paddy fields. Among qualitative characteristics, protein and β-glucan content of ‘Heukdahyang’ were 11.3% and 4.7%, respectively, which were similar to those of ‘Olbori’. However, ‘Heukdahyang’ showed higher polyphenol content (0.162%) and higher DPPH radical scavenging activity than those of the check cultivar (Registration No. 7007).

A new malting barley variety, ‘Baegrok’, was developed in 2016 at the National Institute of Crop Science, RDA: Rural development administration by crossing the high-yield ‘Milyang130’ variety with ‘Myoginijo’, which has lodging tolerance and resistance to barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV). ‘Baegrok’ is suitable for use in brewing, similar to ‘Hopum’, and has resistance to powdery mildew and tolerance to lodging. From 2014 to 2016, regional yield trials were conducted in four different regions, with ‘Baegrok’ as a breeding line of ‘Iksan176’. The heading dates of ‘Baegrok’ in paddy and upland fields were April 6 and April 11, respectively, 2 days earlier than those of ‘Hopum’. Maturing dates of ‘Baegrok’ in paddy and upland fields were May 16 and May 21, respectively, similar to those of ‘Hopum’. The yield potential of ‘Baegrok’ was approximately 14% and 6% higher than that of ‘Hopum’ in upland and paddy fields. ‘Baegrok’ had a shorter culm length than ‘Hopum’ showing tolerance to lodging. Screening for powdery mildew resistance in the greenhouse showed that ‘Baegrok’ had resistance to powdery mildew, unlike ‘Hopum’ which was susceptible. It also is suitable for use in brewing, similar to Hopum. ‘Baegrok’ showed good grain quality in terms of β-glucan content (3.4%), starch (61.0%), and husk rate (12.7%). Regarding malt quality, ‘Baegrok’ exhibited 75.1% acrospire length, 70.8% friability, 4.4% soluble protein, and 345.8 WK (Windisch-Kolbach) diastatic power, superior to the malt quality of ‘Hopum’. Thus, ‘Baegrok’ is resistant to powdery mildew, tolerant to lodging, and more suitable for brewing. (Registration No. 8399)

A malting barley variety, ‘Nurimaeg’, was developed with resistance to barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV), tolerance to lodging stress, and good brewing quality. ‘Nurimaeg’ was developed by crossing Milyang127 and Miharu gold in 2004. Regional yield trials were conducted for ‘Nurimaeg’ as a breeding line ‘Iksan175’ in four different regions from 2014-2016. It has a type I growth habit, and its average heading and maturity dates were April 12 and May 20, respectively-which were 1 day later than the maturity date of ‘Hopum’ variety. As ‘Nurimaeg’ has a shorter culm length (77 cm) than that of ‘Hopum’, it showed tolerance to lodging stress. This variety possesses the rym5 gene and is resistant to BaYMV. It showed a 42.9 g 1000-grain weight and 90% assortment ratio. The yield potential of ‘Nurimaeg’ was 408 kg/10a, which is approximately 18% higher than that of ‘Hopum’. Analysis of grain quality for malting showed that ‘Nurimaeg’ has high quality of low protein and β-glucan content. Malt quality analysis revealed that it has 72.8% extract, 4.2% soluble protein, 38.9% kolbach index, and 243 WK diastatic power, which all were similar to those of ‘Hopum’. ‘Nurimaeg’ would be suitable for cultivation in the areas of Korea that have a daily minimum temperature of -4℃ in the month of January (Registration No. 7960).

Hordeum vulgare ‘Heukbochal’, a naked waxy barley cultivar with a high anthocyanin content and black lemma has been developed from a cross between ‘Ginssalbori/Changyongjaelae’ and ‘Ginssalbori’ by the National Institute of Crop Science, RDA. It is a winter-type barley with a vernalization degree of Ⅳ, lax panicle with loose-type spike density, and long awn type. The average heading date of ‘Heukbochal’ is April 19^th, which is the same as that of the control cultivar ‘Saechalssalbori’. It has a long culm of 79 cm and a long spike length of 7.0 cm, with 54 grains per spike and a 1000-grain weight of 30.4 g. Although compared with ‘Saechalssalbori’, ‘Heukbochal’ shows weaker winter hardiness, it is characterized by better resistance to barley yellow mosaic virus. The grains of ‘Heukbochal’ showed a similar protein content (10.4%) to ‘Saechalssalbori’ but a lower beta-glucan content (5%) than that of ‘Saechalssalbori’. Furthermore, the grains of ‘Heukbochal’ have an anthocyanin content of 0.116±0.005 mg/bran g, which is 1.9 times higher than that of ‘Heuknuri’ (0.062±0.007 mg/bran g), another non-waxy naked barley cultivar with a black lemma. Additionally, its average grain yield is 4.02 ton/ha in paddy fields, which is 5% lower than that of ‘Saechalssalbori’. ‘Heukbochal’ is the first developed naked waxy barley cultivar with a high anthocyanin content and black lemma; therefore, we anticipate its cultivation in Korea (Registration No. 8194).

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of starch properties on the texture of cooked noodles from Korean wheat. The genetic composition of GBSS I (granule bound starch synthase I, called waxy protein) and puroindoline, which affect the amylose content and kernel hardness, was also evaluated. Waxy wheats carrying Wx-1 null alleles showed clearly different starch properties, high swelling power, pasting viscosity, breakdown and paste clarity, unsuitable texture of cooked noodles, and low hardness and springiness. Two partial waxy soft wheats carrying single or double null alleles at the Wx-1 locus gene, and Pina-D1a and Pinb-D1a alleles exhibited a softer and higher elasticity texture of the cooked noodles than Korean wheats carrying wild-type Wx-1 null alleles. There were no significant differences in the starch properties and texture of cooked noodles according to the puroindoline composition. A principal component analysis showed a strong negative relationship between the amylose content and starch swelling power, and these traits also improved the springiness and cohesiveness of the cooked noodles prepared from non-waxy Korean wheat. Joongmo2012, a double null partial waxy wheat, showed higher starch swelling power and springiness of the cooked noodles than other non-waxy Korean wheats.

A new winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar ‘Baekkang’ was developed by the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS) and Rular Development Administration (RDA) in 2015. Its heading date was April 23, and its maturity date was June 3, similar to that of ‘Keumkang’. ‘Baekkang’ had a shorter culm length (75 cm), longer spike length (8.0 cm), more spikes per m² (703), and more 1,000-grain weight (47.5 g) than those of ‘Keumkang’, which were 76 cm, 7.6 cm, 631, 46.4 g, respectively. ‘Baekkang’ was not a winter hardy crop and is susceptible to powdery mildew. However, it has moderate resistance to fusarium head blight. The average grain yield in the advanced yield trial was 5.5 MT/ha, 20% more than ‘Keumkang’. In the regional yield trial, this average yield was 5.1 MT/ha upland and 5.2 MT/ha in the paddy field, which were 10% and 18% more than that of ‘Keumkang’, respectively. Baekkang’s flour yield (71.2%) and flour lightness (92.40) showed similarities to those of ‘Jokyung’. ‘Baekkang’ also showed a higher protein content (12.4%), gluten content (10.1%), and SDS-sedimentation volume (60.0 ml). These results showed that the ‘Baekkang’ flour’s dough strength was greater than that of ‘Jokyung’. Baekkang’s high molecular weight gluten subunits composition was Glu-D1 (5+10), granule-bound starch synthase composition was Wx-A1 (a), Wx-B1 (a), and Wx-D1 (a), and puroindoline composition was Pina-D1(a) and Pinb-D1(b) (Registration No. 6966).

The National Agrobiodiversity Center of the RDA, Korea, has more than 22,700 accessions of global wheat genetic resources, including Korean wheat cultivars and landraces. Despite the numerous efforts to develop high-quality, hard winter wheat, the employment of new genetic resources into Korean wheat breeding programs is still hampered by the different growing environments. To overcome this limitation, 200 germplasms that were screened using the Genebank Management System (GMS) were evaluated in three different regions in Korea. In the 2018–2019 trial, 55 lines that showed superior field performance and high protein content were selected from among the 200 germplasms. These lines were re-evaluated in the 2019–2020 trial, and 24 lines that had suitable traits for growth, grain yield, and grain protein content in three locations were finally selected. These winter wheat germplasms also showed high yield stability throughout the three different environments in Korea. Preliminary screening using GMS information, consecutive regional tests, and quality tests could be effective procedures for the development of hard winter wheat in Korea. Therefore, introduction breeding could be a favorable breeding method aiming to improve quality, where useful genetic resources are limited.

A new six-rowed covered barley cultivar ‘Hohyang’ with spring sowing adaptability, lodging tolerance, and high yield was developed from the cross between ‘Saegangbori’ and ‘Durubori’ by the National Institute of Crop Science, RDA, Korea, in 2016. It has a compact spike and long awn, and its growth habit (vernalization requirement) was classified as group II. The averaged heading date was April 21, which was 1 day earlier than that of the control varietal, ‘Olbori’. The culm length was 78 cm, which was similar to that of ‘Olbori’; however, ‘Hohyang’ has a stronger lodging tolerance. Its spike length was 4.7 cm, 655 spikes/m², 55 grains/spike, and 31.9 g for 1,000 grains. It also showed similar winter hardiness and a superior resistance to barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV) compared to that of ‘Olbori’. ‘Hohyang’ was well adapted to spring sowing conditions from March 6 to April 3. Regarding quality, ‘Hohyang’ had the same protein and β-glucan content as ‘Olbori’, but higher polyphenol content than the control cultivar. The yield of ‘Hohyang’ in the regional yield trial was 6.68 ton/ha in upland zones, and 5.06 ton/ha in paddy fields, which were 6% and 15% higher than those of the control cultivar, respectively. If there is rain during the fall planting season, ‘Hohyang’ is suitable for sowing and cultivation in spring (Registration No. 7374).

We developed a malting barley, ‘Dapum’, with stable yield and enhanced quality for brewing. ‘Dapum’ was developed in 2015, by crossing Hopum, which has high brewing quality, and ‘GobDH96’, which has steady yield. The regional yield trials were conducted for ‘Dapum’ as a breeding line ‘Iksan173’ in four different regions from 2013 to 2015. It has a type I growth habit, and the average heading and maturing date in paddy fields were April 20 and May 26, respectively, which were 1 day earlier than those of ‘Hopum’. The yield potential of ‘Dapum’ was 411 kg/ha, which is approximately 10% higher than those of ‘Hopum’ under paddy field condition. ‘Dapum’ possesses the rym5 gene and is resistant to barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV), although susceptible to powdery mildew and lodging tolerance. It is similar to ‘Hopum’ in terms of enhanced brewing quality. ‘Dapum’ had a higher 1,000-grain weight (46.1 g) and assortment ratio (92%) than those of ‘Hopum,’ at 43.8 g and 90%, respectively. Analysis of grain quality for malting showed that ‘Dapum’ has high quality protein content, β-glucan content, and water sensitivity. Malt quality analysis revealed that ‘Dapum’ has 73.3% extraction rate, 3.7% soluble protein content, 32.6% Kolbach index, 244 WK (Windisch-Kolbach) diastatic power, and 80.2% friability, which were similar to those of ‘Hopum’. It would be suitable for cultivation in the zones of Korea that have a daily minimum temperature of -4℃ in January (Registration No. 7512).

This study was performed to evaluate the characteristics of wheat flour and sourdough bread quality of five Korean bread wheat cultivars, hard red winter wheat (HRW), and T55 (a French commercial wheat flour). Among the cultivars assessed, the protein and gluten contents and SDS-sedimentation values of Joongmo2008 were the highest, Keumkang were similar to those of HRW, and those of the Baekkang, Jokyung, and Hwanggeum were similar to those of T55. Joongmo 2008 and Keumkang had glutenin contents similar to those of HRW and T55, whereas Baekkang and Hwanggeum had higher HMW-GS (high molecular weight-glutenin subunit) and lower LMW-GS (low molecular weight-glutenin subunit) contents than HRW and T55. The α+β gliadin contents of Jungmo2008 and Keumkang were higher than those of other varieties and similar to those of HRW, whereas the γ- and ω-gliadin contents of Baekkang and Hwanggeum were similar to those of T55. Mixolab analysis revealed that Joongmo2008 and Keumkang had water absorption and kneading characteristics similar to those of HRW, and that Baekkang, Hwanngeum, and Jokyung showed characteristics similar to those of T55. Campagne and baguettes prepared using Korean wheat flour were similar in appearance to those prepared using T55 or HRW, the bread volume of campagne bread was smaller than that of T55, and the volume of baguettes were similar to that of T55. Joongmo2008 showed a higher bread volume than other Korean wheat cultivars, which was similar to that of HRW. The quality of sourdough bread prepared from Korean wheat flour was similar to that made with commercial flour, although the bread prepared using Joongmo2008 was found to be superior to that prepared using the flour of other Korean wheat cultivars.

The regeneration rate of plantlets cultivated via tissue culture is an important factor for wheat transformation. Similar to other monocotyledons, the most efficient tissue culture materials for wheat are immature embryos. However, stable year-round production of immature embryos is not possible in the field where various stress factors co-exist. In this study, we investigated the generation and subsequent plantlet incident rates of callus induced from immature embryos obtained from different sowing times in 2020 and compared these among wheat cultivars. We found that the rates of regeneration and plantlet incidence obtained using immature embryos of the Ariheuk cultivar were higher than those of other domestic cultivars, and that the tissue culture efficiency was similar to that of Bobwhite, which has been established as a cultivar with excellent transformation efficiency. Furthermore, the Baekkang cultivar showed high tissue culture efficiency only when sown from early to mid-March, whereas Keumkang showed higher tissue cultivation efficiency only by sowing in mid- and late February. Among the five cultivars assessed in this study, Jopum showed the lowest tissue culture efficiency. It is anticipated that the findings of this study will contribute to enhancing the transformation efficiency of domestic wheat varieties.

Kernel weight is a vital trait for selecting high-yielding wheat in breeding programs. We evaluated the thousand-kernel weight (TKW), test weight (TW), grain length (GL), grain width (GW), grain thickness (GT), and grain roundness (GR) of 41 Korean winter wheat cultivars over a period of 4 years. Correlation analyses revealed that TKW was positively correlated with GL (r=0.76***), GW (r=0.85***), and GT (r=0.84***), whereas TW was negatively correlated with GL (r=-0.38*) and GT (r=-0.31*). Allelic variation was analyzed for 13 kernel weight-related genes/loci (TaCwi-A1, TaCWI-4A, TaCWI-5D, TaGW2-6A, TaTGW6-A1, TaTGW-7A, TaGS1a, TaSus1-7A, TaSus1-7B, TaSus2-2B, TaCKX6-D1, TaCKX6a02-D1, and TaSnRk2.3). Significant associations between the allelic variation and kernel traits were identified in TaCWI-4A (TW, GL, and GR), TaCWI-5D (TKW), TaGW2-6A (TKW, GL, GW, and GT), TaSus2-2B (TKW, GL, GW, and GT), and TaGS1a (TW). In contrast, we detected no significant association between the allelic variation of TaCwi-A1, TaTGW6-A1, TaSus1-7A, and TaSus1-7B and variations in kernel traits. Also, TaTGW-7A, TaCKX6-D1, TaCKX6a02-D1, and TaSnRK2.3 were found to be monomorphic. The four loci TaCWI-4A, TaCWI-5D, TaGW2-6A, and TaSus2-2B showed significant phenotypic differences, a totalof 10 different haplotypes (AC1-AC10) were observed at four loci among the Korean wheat cultivars. Cultivars with the AC1 haplotype exhibited significantly higher TKW than those with the AC8 haplotype, which comprises alleles for high TKW at all four loci, indicating that additional loci controlling kernel weight might be present in the high TKW cultivars.