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).

This study aimed to develop an agarose gel-based multiplex PCR assay using sequence-tagged site (STS) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers that can differentiate Korean wheat cultivars. Forty-nine Korean wheat cultivars were primarily classified based on seed coat color into red (36) and white (13) groups. Red wheat cultivars were further differentiated by three multiplex PCRs using molecular markers for Ppo-A1/Vrn-D1a/Rht-B1b, Glu-A3ac/TaCwi-A1b/Lr34, and Glu-A1ac/Glu-B1b/KWSM003/TaSE96. Similarly, white wheat cultivars were further differentiated using two multiplex PCRs using the molecular markers for Ppo-A1/Vrn-D1a/Pina-D1a and Ppo-B1/Glu-B3h. A multiplex PCR assay using molecular markers for Glu-A1b/Glu-D1d/Wx-B1 was developed to differentiate four Korean wheat cultivars used as government certified seeds: Baekkang, Hwanggeumal, Keumkang, and Saekeumkang. A multiplex PCR assay using molecular markers for Glu-B3h and Pin-D1a was used for colored wheat cultivars, Arijinheuk, Ariheuk, and Chinese colored wheat. The multiplex PCR assays developed in this study can provide useful molecular tools for differentiating Korean wheat cultivars, developing wheat seed management systems, and guaranteeing wheat seeds in Korea.

‘Hwanggeummatchal’, a yellow waxy corn hybrid obtained by crossing inbred ‘KY37’ and ‘KY29’, was developed by the maize breeding team at the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), RDA, Korea, in 2017. The number of days to silking of ‘Hwanggeummatchal’ was 69 days after planting, 2 days earlier than ‘Ilmichal’ (a control variety). Plant height of ‘Hwanggeummatchal’ was 205 cm, lower than that of the control, and ear height ratio was 49%, which was lower than that of ‘Ilmichal’. Lodging resistance of ‘Hwanggeummatchal’ was similar to ‘Ilmichal’. The fresh ear yields were 6,389 ears in 10 a. The carotenoid content of ‘Hwanggeummatchal’ was 16.4 μg 100 g^-1 fresh weight, which was much higher than that of ‘Ilmichal’. The pericarp thickness was 41 μm. The sensory evaluation value was 5.7, and the flavor was excellent. The flowering period of its parental lines was well matched, and seed production was best at a planting ratio of maternal and paternal lines, 3:1. ‘Hwanggeummatchal’ is suitable to the whole country, except for Jeju-do. Seeds of ‘Hwanggeummatchal’ must be renewed annually because it is a single cross hybrid. If this hybrid is cultivated under high-density conditions, the ear size and the ratio of kernel set length to ear length will be lower than that of standard cultivation. Pest control should be performed for this hybrid because it is susceptible to corn borer (Registration No. 8136).

The 24 potato cultivars grown in three regions with different cultivation environments were investigated genotype and environment interaction (GEI) using the Additive Main Effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI), and Genotype main effect and genotype by environment interaction (GGE) biplot model analysis. Potato yield was highly related to environment and GEI factors but the number of tubers and dry matter content were related to the genotype factor. Potato yield was the highest in ‘Seohong’ in Gangneung, ‘Dejima’ in Jinbu area, and ‘Saebong’ in Daegwallyeong area. As a result of analysis of GEI effect between genotypes and environment, ‘Seohong’ in yield, ‘Daejima in tuber, and ‘Goun’ in dry matter content were superior and were stable. The ‘Seohong’, which has the highest yield and stability, showed promising results and can substitute the ‘Superior’ variety. The ‘Goun’ was selected as a chip potato processing grade to replace ‘Dejima’, which currently is the major processing grade. Therefore, as a result of analysis of AMMI and GGE biplot models of agricultural traits of potatoes showed that the cultivation environment has greatest influence on the yield. Therefore, proper site selection for the desired cultivar is necessary for best results. Though it is also important to select the best genotype with a high dry matter content.

In this study, we compared disease incidence rate and phyllosphere microbial community between drought resistance transgenic rice (Agb0103) and non-transgenic Ilmi (NGM) during 2011-2014 to examine an environmental risk assessment of drought resistance transgenic rice (Agb0103). As the results, major diseases such as sheath blight, brown spot, leaf blast and false smut were occurred, however, there were no significant disease incidence rate between Agb0103 and NGM. As the results of counting bacterial and fungal viable cell, the colonies were increased or decreased which affected by environmental conditions, however there were no differences between Agb0103 and NGM. Also unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averaging (UPGMA) analysis based on polymerase chain reaction with denaturing gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) revealed that DGGE band pattern of bacterial and fungal communities were clustered by each month and there were no differences between Agb0103 and NGM. Furthermore, isolated casual agents causing sheath blight and brown spot were collected from Agb0103 and NGM, and they revealed that each of pathogens were no differences in morphology and pathogenicity. Therefore, our results suggested that Agb0103 showed no differences in disease incidence rate, characteristic of pathogens and phyllosphere community with NGM. In this way, it can be assumed that transgenic rice Agb0103 could not influence phyllosphere microorganism community and environmental conditions.