This study reports the breeding history and main characteristics of a new chestnut (Castanea crenata Siebold & Zucc.) cultivar, ‘EePi No. 2’, developed by the National Institute of Forest Science in Korea. ‘EePi No. 2’ originated from a cross between ‘Riheiguri’ and ‘Ganne’ in 2000, and was first selected in 2007, followed by secondary selection from 2008 to 2011. From 2012 to 2015, a series of stability tests for fruit traits were conducted, confirming its distinct characteristics. The cultivar was used for plant variety protection in November 2015 (Application No. 2015-25) and was officially registered in January 2024 under Registration No. 338. ‘EePi No. 2’ is classified as a mid- to late-maturing cultivar, with a harvest period from late September to early October. The average nut weight is 30.1 g, with a soluble solid content of 12.35%, and the pellicle removal rate was 90.5%. Compared to the control cultivar ‘Daebo,’ ‘EePi No. 2’ produces larger nuts with superior pellicle removability, making it suitable for roasted chestnuts and fresh consumption. These results suggest that ‘EePi No. 2’ is a promising new cultivar that can contribute to the production of high-quality chestnuts and the expansion of consumer markets (Registration No. 338).

The F₁ hybrid rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) exploits heterosis to deliver greater yield, stability, and uniformity than open-pollinated cultivars, making it suitable for large- scale cultivation. In Korea, cultivation is shifting from landscape and apiculture to expanding edible oil production and increasing the demand for paddy field-adapted hybrids. Using Mokpo-CGMS as the female and the pollen parent ‘09003-B-126-2-1-3,’ we developed the breeding line ‘Dangyo 80,’ which, after multi-environment evaluations of yield and oil quality against ‘Sunmang,’ was selected as a new cultivar ‘Areum. ’ ‘Areum’ exhibits growth habit type IV, yellow flowers, and a red seed coat. Its flowering and maturity times are comparable to ‘Sunmang. ’ Major growth indices did not differ significantly among cultivars; however, while ‘Areum’ showed slightly greater lodging susceptibility, it displayed higher resistance to Sclerotinia stem rot. Notably, in paddy fields ‘Areum’ achieved a higher plant density per square meter than ‘Sunmang’ which produced a 31% yield increase. In fatty acid composition, ‘Areum’ had higher oleic acid content (65% vs. 60%) and lower erucic acid (0.95% vs. 1.35%) than ‘Sunmang,’ indicating improved suitability for high-quality edible rapeseed oil production (Registration No. 9755).

Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. (the Korean angelica tree) is a popular wild spring vegetable crop in East Asia. Owing to its ease of cultivation and harvesting from the second year after planting, this species is a promising forest crop for short-term income. However, the presence of prickles on the stems and shoots reduces harvesting efficiency and negatively affects product quality. This study reports the breeding and morphological characteristics of a new prickle-less cultivar, ‘Seochun’, which exhibits strong cold tolerance and early sprouting. Among the 192 native accessions collected across Korea, a superior prickle-less and cold-tolerant clone was selected and evaluated over two years (2019-2020) of field trials. The stems of ‘Seochun’ were completely smooth and prickle-less, with a larger basal diameter (40.0 mm) compared to the control (29.7 mm). The sprouting and harvesting times were approximately seven days earlier than those of the control. As an early harvest and prickle-less cultivar of A. elata, ‘Seochun’ is expected to improve both the shoot productivity and labor efficiency during harvesting and cutback operations (Research support number: 375).

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.

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).

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).

‘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).

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).

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).

A new adzuki bean cultivar, ‘Hongchan’ (Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi & H. Ohashi), with a bright red seed coat and large seed size was developed through a pedigree selection by crossing ‘YA0814’ and ‘Milyang9’ from 2009 to 2022. A promising line, ‘YA0912-B-B-6-1-3-3-1-2,’ was selected and designated as ‘Milyang50. ’ From 2020 to 2022, regional yield trials (RYTs) were conducted in four locations (Miryang, Iksan, Cheongju, and Chuncheon). This line demonstrated stable performance and was released under the name ‘Hongchan.’ It has a semi-determinate growth habit, green embryonic color, green stems, yellow flowers, yellow pods, and a white hilum. It is late-maturing, but flowers early; its flowering and maturing dates were August 10 and October 9, respectively, which were 10 days earlier in flowering and 5 days later in maturity than ‘Arari.’ The stem height, number of pods per plant, and number of seeds per pod were 56, 24, and 6.5, respectively. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in the L^*, a^*, and b^*values of the seeds and pastes of ‘Hongchan’ and ‘Arari.’ The average 100-seed weight of ‘Hongchan’ was 21.3 g, which was 4.9 g heavier than that of ‘Arari.’ The average yield of ‘Hongchan’ was 2.11 ton/ha, which was 6% higher than that of ‘Arari’ in the 3-year regional yield trial. These results indicate that ‘Hongchan’ is an adzuki bean cultivar suitable for mechanical harvesting and paste processing (Registration No. 5573).

‘Ganghan’ is a high-yielding soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) cultivar developed for improved shattering resistance and suitability for mechanized harvesting. It was bred through pedigree selection after an artificial cross between ‘Taeseon’ (female parent) and ‘Cheonga’ (male parent) in 2015. ‘Ganghan’ is a determinate type with an average main stem length of 65 cm and first pod height of 19.6 cm, which is favorable for mechanical harvesting. Compared to the control cultivar ‘Daewonkong,’ it showed stronger lodging tolerance and carried a genetic allele associated with pod shattering resistance. In disease resistance evaluations, it exhibited higher resistance than ‘Daewonkong’ to soybean mosaic virus (G6H), bacterial pustule, and black root rot. Regarding seed quality, it contained 38.8% protein, 17.6% oil, 86.1% unsaturated fatty acids, and 3,124 μg/g total isoflavones. The tofu yield was 232%, with mechanical properties and color comparable to ‘Daewonkong.’ In fermentation processing tests, ‘Ganghan’ recorded a γ-PGA content of 11.4 mg/g and amino nitrogen content of 390 mg%, indicating potential use in traditional fermented soy foods. In regional yield trials (RYT) conducted across 10 locations from 2020 to 2022, ‘Ganghan’ had an average yield of 3.58 tons/ha, 14% higher than that of ‘Daewonkong’. The adoption and expansion of ‘Ganghan’ is expected to contribute to increased domestic soybean productivity, harvest efficiency, and cultivation stability under changing climate conditions, thereby improving the domestic soybean self-sufficiency rate (Registration No. 10459).

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%).

‘EePi No.1’, a new mid-ripening cultivar of chestnut (Castanea crenata Siebold & Zucc.) was developed in 2000 by cross-pollinating two cultivars, viz., ‘Riheiguri’ and ‘Ganne’ at Korea National Institute of Forest Science. Line selection among the seedlings of ‘Riheiguri’ and ‘Ganne’ was carried out in 2007, followed by comprehensive evaluations of fruit morphological traits and tree growth characteristics conducted during 2008-2015. The harvest time of ‘EePi No.1’ was the first week of October. It is characterized by excellent nut quality, suitable for both raw consumption and processing. The average fruit weight was 24.0 g, which is significantly higher than that of the cultivar ‘Daebo’ (20.0 g). Moreover, the soluble solids content was 14.26%, and pellicle removability was 93.5%. This cultivar produces large, firm fruits with high sugar content, making it ideal for consumption. It is also characterized by excellent nut quality, suitable for both raw consumption and processing. Moreover, the easily peelable inner skin makes it ideal for processing and roasting, thereby enhancing its commercial value. These qualities are expected to bolster the diversification of income derived from forest products in the future (Registration No. 337).

‘Saedeul’ is a saddle-patterned seed-coated soybean cultivar developed from a cross between ‘IT224183’ and ‘Daepung (IT214696)’ in 2010. The F1 and F2 generations were grown for 2 years, and promising lines were selected using the pedigree method from F3 to F5 generations. The preliminary yield trials (PYT) and advanced yield trials (AYT) were conducted during 2016-2017, followed by regional yield trials (RYT) across seven regions during 2018-2020. ‘Saedeul’ is a determinate cultivar, having oval-shaped leaflets, purple flowers, and saddle-patterned seeds. The flowering and maturing date were August 11 and October 28, respectively. Considering its quantitative characteristics in comparison to the ‘Cheongja3ho’ cultivar, ‘Saedeul’ has a smaller seed size (27.9 g/100 seeds) and shorter plant height, but a higher first pod height. ‘Saedeul’ showed greater tolerance to both lodging and pod shattering in the RYT field and indoor tests than ‘Cheongja3ho’. It demonstrated resistance to bacterial pustule in field tests but was susceptible to soybean mosaic virus (G6H strain) in inoculation tests. The mean yield of ‘Saedeul’ in the RYT was 261 kg/10a, exceeding that of ‘Cheongja3ho’. ‘Saedeul’ is expected to replace landraces due to its resistance to lodging and bacterial pustule. (Registration number: 9456)

‘Sinbaram’ is a new cultivar developed for soy sprout production at the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS). It was developed using the line breeding method in 2010 by artificially crossing ‘Pungsannamulkong’(IT263156) with the ‘HS1371-49-2-2’ line in 2010. F₁ plants and the F₂ population were developed in 2011 and 2012, respectively, and a promising line was selected using F₃ to F₅ in the pedigree method. It was evaluated for agronomic traits, yield, and soy sprout characteristics in a preliminary (PYT) and an advanced (AYT) yield trial in 2016 and 2017, respectively. ‘Sinbaram’ has purple flowers, a lanceolate leaflet shape, grey pubescence, and small yellow seeds (10.2 g/100 seeds). The flowering and maturing dates were August 4 and October 9, which were 2 and 5 days earlier than ‘Pungsannamulkong.’ Plant height, first pod height, number of nods, number of branches, and number of pods were 46 cm, 10 cm, 14, 3.5, and 82, respectively. The germination rate and sprout characteristics were similar to those of ‘Pungsannamulkong’, and the yield was 83% higher in the sprout test. In the yield test, the yield was 3.58 tons/ha in the 2-year yield trial, which was 1% higher than that of ‘Pungsangnamulkong,’ and 2.71 tons/ha in the 3-year regional yield trial, 8% lower than that of ‘Pungsannamulkong’, with an average of 2.71 tons/ha in the four regions. In addition, the overall score of 6.7 in the processor survey was higher than 6.0 for ‘Pungsannamulkong.’ Therefore, the ‘Sinbaram’ cultivar is expected to be preferred because it has good sprout characteristics. (Registration number: 9460)

ThexTriticosecale Wittmack ‘Shinjoseong’ variety was developed for use as a whole-crop silage obtained from a cross between CTSS93Y00058S-5Y-0Y-0B with early heading, lodging, and resistance to barley yellow mosaic virus and Suwon24 with winter-hardy and lodging-resistance traits by the National Institute of Crop Science (Wanju, Korea) in 2019. Shinjoseong has medium-sized green leaves, slightly short-length spikes with a light-yellow color, and slightly large seeds with a light yellow-brown color. Compared to the comparable cultivar, Shinyoung, Shinjoseong had a heading date of three days earlier (April 22^nd, nationwide), stronger cold and lodging resistances, and the same level of disease resistance. Its average dry matter yield was 17.18 t/ha, 5% higher than that of the comparable cultivar. The crude protein, acid and neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrient contents of Shinjoseong were 6.5%, 34.9%, 58.8%, and 61.3%, respectively, slightly higher than those of the comparable cultivar. However, the silage grade of Shinjoseong was 2, the same as that of the comparable variety. The grain yield of Shinjoseong was 7.36 t/ha, 13% higher than that of Shinyoung (Grant No. 9757).

Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. is a deciduous broad-leaved shrub distributed throughout northeast Asia, including Korea. The new shoots that sprout in early spring in Korea are consumed as a high-quality wild vegetable. As the trees are easy to cultivate and can be harvested from the second year after planting, they have become a popular forest product for short-term income. Conventional cultivars had large and numerous thorns on their stems and shoots, making pruning or collecting shoots difficult. However, some thornless cultivars exhibited poor cold resistance, which limited their cultivation areas. To solve this problem, excellent trees were selected across the country and tested to develop a novel cultivar with no or few thorns, strong cold resistance, and early harvesting times. Based on these results, the cultivar, ‘Yeongchun’, was bred. Although no significant difference in the size of ‘Yeongchun’ shoots was observed when compared to that of the control, its weight per piece was 34.6 g, which was 74% larger than the 19.9 g measured for the control. Moreover, the number and diameter of shoots originating from primordia in the roots of Yeongchun were 6.1 and 55.7 mm, respectively, which were about twice as large as the 2.6 and 29.7 mm measured for the control, resulting in a higher yield. In addition, the harvesting period was more than a week earlier than that of general individuals, showing the characteristics of early production (Grant number 323).

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).

‘Seum’ is a black-seed coated soybean cultivar developed from crossing ‘IT21785’ and ‘Wonkwang (IT218557)’ in 2010. F₁ and F₂ populations were grown for 2 years and promising lines were selected by pedigree method from F₃ to F₅. The preliminary yield trial (PYT) and advanced yield trial (AYT) were conducted from 2016 to 2017, and regional yield trial (RYT) in 7 regions was conducted from 2018 to 2020. ‘Seum’ is determinate, has a lanceolate leaflet shape, purple flowers, green cotyledons, and black spherical seeds. Flowering and maturing dates were Aug. 4 and Oct. 21, respectively. ‘Seum’ has small seed size (11.4 g/100-seed) and shorter plant height than that of ‘Socheongja’. ‘Seum’ was more tolerant to lodging and pod shattering in regional field and indoor trials than that of ‘Socheongja’. ‘Seum’ was resistant to bacterial pustule during field tests and to soybean mosaic virus (G6H strain) during inoculation tests. The mean yield of ‘Seum’ in RYT was 292 kg/10a which was higher than that of ‘Socheongja’. ‘Seum’ is expected to rapidly replace the elite variety ‘Socheongja’ based on its lodging tolerance and high yield potential (Registration No. 9449).

To breed a Gogi Berry cultivar with high quality and high yield, CBP14639-56, as a Gogi Berry line, was selected from the hybrids(F1) of ‘CBP11542-206 (IT345448)’ and ‘CBP07445-64 (IT258918)’in 2015. The preliminary and the advanced yield were conducted to investigate yield characteristics during 2016 to 2017 and the selected line was named Cheongyang No. 34. The regional yield trials of Cheongyang No. 34 were performed at Cheongyang, Yesan and Geumsan areas during 2018 to 2020. As a result, Cheongyang No. 34 was registered as the new variety, ‘Hwaseon’. The specific characteristics of ‘Hwaseon’ are as follows. The type of tree is half opened shape and leaves are green and round-lanceolate. The observed flowering time is June 18, later than the comparative variety ‘Chengmyeong’. The shape of fruits is red, long oval type and a large fruit species. Self-compatibility rate was 71.7%, which was very high compared to 2.8% of the comparative variety, ‘Cheongmyeong’. The resistance against gall mite (Eriophyes spp.) was stronger. The content of betaine, the indicator component, was similar to the comparative variety, and the dried-fruit yield increased by 41% compared to ‘Cheongmyeong’ in the regional yield trials. The Gogi Berry ‘Hwaseon’ is a Self-compatibility variety that does not require mixing of pollinated varieties, and it is expected to help farmers growing Gogi Berry, who are suffering from low fertilization rates due to the recent decrease pollinating insect such as honeybees due to climate change and a decrease in high-temperature activity (Registration No. 9181).

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.

Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus L.) blooms in summer and is widely used as an ornamental tree because of its beautiful flowers and long flowering periods. To develop a new cultivar suitable for pot cultivation, the artificial crossing of H. syriacus cv. Hansŏ, a seed parent, and H. syriacus cv. Hongtanshim, a pollen parent, was established in 2011. Among the 19 artificially bred seedlings that bloomed in 2014, three individuals were selected by the characteristics based on flower shape, flower size, petal color, presence and size of the red eye zone, leaf characteristics, tree form, and growth of the current-year branch. After the second test on its traits for three years, one individual (NFHH05) with a unique flower shape and slow growth was selected. This individual was investigated again for uniformity and stability of trait expression, and was registered as a new cultivar under the name ‘Huiwon’ in 2022. ‘Huiwon’ has bright pink flowers with thick petals and distinct petal veins. The flowers were in full bloom and were shaped like a plate, with the tips of the petals curling outward. It begins to bloom at the beginning of July, and the average flowering period is approximately 63 d. ‘Huiwon’ has a slightly straight tree form and is a slow growing cultivar, which makes it suitable for medium-sized pot cultivation or flower gardening (Grant number 8875).

‘Yuryeo’ is a rapeseed cultivar suitable for rapeseed oil production which was developed by the Bioenergy Crop Research Institute, NICS, RDA, in 2018. ‘Yuryeo,’ characterized by its high oleic acid content and resistance to sclerotinia stem rot and lodging, was developed through gamma-ray irradiation of ‘Hallayuchae’ seeds followed by pedigree breeding. Regional yield trials for ‘Yuryeo’ were conducted in three regions from 2016 to 2019. As a result, the flowering period of ‘Yuryeo’ was observed to be two days later than that of ‘Hallayuchae,’ but both had a similar maturation period. In terms of yield, there was no significant difference between ‘Yuryeo’ and ‘Hallayuchae,’ but ‘Yuryeo’ showed higher resistance to sclerotinia stem rot and lodge. Notably, the oleic acid in ‘Yuryeo’ was 74.2%, marking a 10% increase over ‘Hallayuchae.’ With its enriched oleic acid content and reliable cultivation characteristics, ‘Yuryeo’ can enhance both rapeseed cultivation and the rapeseed oil industry (Registration No. 8753).

The ‘Minihyang’ mandarin is a new hybrid of ‘Kinokuni’בPonkan’ bred at the Citrus Research Institute, National Horticultural and Herbal Science, Korea. It has a small fruit size (30-40 g) and a high sugar content (12-14°Brix). Herein, a chemical characterization of ‘Minihyang’ was conducted. Free sugar, which determines sweetness, is a key component of food taste. Analysis of free sugar showed that the most abundant component was sucrose (8.81±0.45 g/100 g), followed by glucose (1.23±0.11 g/100 g), and fructose (1.23±0.08 g/100 g). Among the 20 free amino acids analyzed, arginine and asparagine accounted for 71% of the total amino acid content, displaying both amino acids at the highest content of 77.14 mg/100 g. The major flavonoids in citrus fruits differ between varieties, showing the differences among cultivars. The flavonoid contents of ‘Minihyang’ were higher in the peel than in the flesh, and hesperidin was identified as the major flavonoid, with 1,133.7 and 689.8 mg/100 g extracted from the peel and flesh, respectively. Furthermore, nobiletin and tangeretin, which are only present in citrus species, were identified in the peel. Volatile component analysis revealed that limonene content, a characteristic component of citrus fruits, was highest in the flesh of ‘Minihyang,’ accounting for approximately 75-80% of all volatile compounds. Notably, the order was fresh limonene>terpinene>terpinolene. Overall, this study revealed many functional compounds in the ‘Minihyang’ mandarin hybrid.

‘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).

‘Gowoo’, a mid-late flowering, high yielding rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar with glabrous leaf and hull and resistant to multiple diseases and insects, was developed for forage use. It was developed for use as a whole crop silage obtained from a cross between ‘Kusahonami’ with high biomass, smooth leaf and hull, lodging resistance and Japonica high yielding line ‘Iksan514,’ which showed resistance to bacterial blight (BB) (race K1, K2, K3) and rice stripe virus (RSV). In the central plain region of Suwon, ‘Gowoo’ cultivar exhibited a growth period of approximately 120 days from seeding to heading, 111 cm culm length, 22 cm panicle length, 12 panicles per hill, 140 spikelets per panicle, and 1,000-grain weight of 23.4 g as brown rice. This hairless forage rice variety was weak in response to cold stresses, similar to ‘Nokyang’. However, it was resistant to lodging in the field and showed a strong response to viviparous germination. In addition, ‘Gowoo’ was resistant to leaf and neck blast, BB, RSV, and small brown planthopper. Its average dry matter yield for three years reached 18.2 MT/ha, which was 21% higher than that of ‘Nokyang’. This glabrous cultivar had 5.3% crude protein and 68.2% total digestible nutrients, a little low compared to ‘Nokyang’. In Korea peninsular, ‘Gowoo’ grows well in central and southern plain and is good to harvest between 15 to 30 days after heading to improve its feeding value and digestion rate of livestock (Grant No. 8681).

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).

‘Cheongja5’ is a black seed coat soybean cultivar developed from crossing ‘Milyang181’ and ‘YS1886 (Cheongdu1/Tanbaguro)’ in 2007. Promising lines were selected using the pedigree method from F₃ to F₅. The preliminary and advanced yield trials were conducted in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Regional yield trials (RYT) were conducted in seven regions from 2015 to 2017. ‘Cheongja5’ has a determinate growth habit, oval leaflet shape, brown pubescence, and white flowers. The seed of ‘Cheongja5’ has a black seed coat color with green cotyledon. Flowering and maturing dates were Aug. 3 and Oct. 24, respectively. Regarding the quantitative characteristics, ‘Cheongja5’ has large seed size (37.0 g/100-seed weight) and more pods than ‘Cheongja3’. ‘Cheongja5’ was tolerant to pod shattering in field and indoor RYT tests. ‘Cheongja5’ was resistant to bacterial pustule in the field and soybean mosaic virus (strains G6H and G7H) in the inoculation test. Although its seed quality-related characteristics were almost similar to those of ‘Cheongja3’, it contained more anthocyanin which is a main functional component of black soybean. The mean yield of ‘Cheongja5’ in the RYTs was 343 kg/10 a which was 30% higher than that of ‘Cheongja3’. ‘Cheongja5’ is expected to be widely cultivated as a material for making soy-food that uses black soybean because of its large seed size and high yield potential (Registration No. 7687).

A black soybean cultivar ‘Gyeongheukcheong’ was developed by Gyeongsangbuk-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services. ‘Gyeongheukcheong’ was selected from a cross between ‘RCS640’ and ‘Geomjeongsaeol’ in 2011. The cultivar was evaluated in multiple performance and yield trials in seven locations from 2017 to 2019. ‘Gyeongheukcheong’ has a gray pubescence, light brown pod, and dark green cotyledon, whereas ‘Cheongja 3’ has a brown pubescence, brown pod, and light green cotyledon. The seed weight and maturity of ‘Gyeongheukcheong’ was similar to that of ‘Chungja 3’. ‘Gyeongheukcheong’ was resistant to soybean mosaic virus (strain G6H), moderately resistant to bacterial pustule (caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines), and resistant to root rot. Total chlorophyll content (sum of chlorophyll a and b) in the green cotyledon of ‘Gyeongheukcheong’ was 48.0 μg/g, which was higher than that of ‘Cheongja 3’ (30.1 μg/g). The regional yield trial showed that ‘Gyeongheukcheong’ had a similar or significantly higher average yield than ‘Chungja 3’ in locations with single (similar) and double (19% higher) cropping systems, respectively. ‘Gyeongheukcheong’ represents a consumer-friendly black soybean with dark green cotyledons and high yield potential (Registration No. 9065).

This study was conducted to reset the transplanting period to produce high-quality rice in the South regions due to the rise in air temperature caused by global warming. From May 15 to June 25, transplants were performed five times every ten days. Quantity and quality were comprehensively reviewed, including watering season, ripened grain rate, head rice rate, head rice yield, protein content, and palatability. In the southern plains, medium-late and medium maturing cultivars yielded the most when transplanted on June 15, while early maturing cultivars yielded the most when transplanted on June 25. Considering the quality and quantity of rice, the optimal transplanting window for medium-late maturing cultivars is June 10-15, for medium maturing cultivars it is June 15-20, and for early maturing cultivars it is June 25. In the middle of the southern region, the highest yield was on June 25 for medium-late maturing and June 15 for medium maturing and early maturing. However, considering the quality, the best time for transplanting is June 10 for medium-late maturing, June 5 for medium maturing, and June 15 for early maturing. As a result of the rise in average temperature, the transplantation period was delayed by at least 4 to 16 days in all varieties and regions relative to the traditional transplantation duration. In summary, it is determined that a suitable transplanting period must be established in response to the increase in average temperature to ensure the production of high-quality rice.