The color and functionality of paprika fruits (Capsicum annuum L.) are important factors that determine consumption preferences. Paprika contains a large amount of functional phytochemicals, such as carotenoids and polyphenols. In this study, the total polyphenol content by total phenol content (TPC) assay, antioxidant activity by 2,2’-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total red pigment content by American spice trade association (ASTA) color were evaluated in a total of 93 commercial cultivars and germplasms of red paprika. In results, the total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity by ABTS and FRAP, and total red pigment content ranged from 6.35-11.84 mg GAE⋅g^-1 dry weight (DW), 19.80-44.84 mg trolox⋅g^-1 DW, 8.82-31.06 mg trolox⋅g^-1 DW, and 5.30-75.03 ASTA value, respectively. For each trait, there were 2, 31, 16, and 44 germplasms, respectively, which were higher than those of the commercial cultivars. The correlation analysis between the total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity (ABTS and FRAP) showed highly positive correlations, with r=0.69 and r=0.75, respectively. In contrast, the ASTA values showed very low negative correlations with ABTS (r=-0.15) and FRAP (r=-0.26). These results imply that the antioxidant activity in paprika was largely affected by the total polyphenol content but was hardly affected by the ASTA value. Accessions 30, 31, and 56 were selected with high red pigment content, and accessions 5, 21, 24, and 26 had high antioxidant activity as well as high polyphenol content. These germplasms will be useful for the development of new paprika varieties with high red pigment content or high antioxidant activity.

Red peppers (Capsicum spp.) are one of the most widely consumed vegetables in Korea; thus, improving the beneficial properties of peppers may have important public health implications. Peppers contain various active phenolic compounds, including capsaicinoids; therefore, developing cultivars with high levels of these and other functional compounds is of major interest. We analyzed and compared the physiological activities and functional compounds on 15 cultivars of red peppers, including 5 commonly consumed cultivars that were collected from markets in Korea, and 10 important breeding cultivars that were registered with the National Agrobiodiversity Center (RDA, Korea). Comparisons of polyphenol content showed that polyphenol levels were higher in the green stages of the 10 registered peppers than in the same stage of ‘Noggwang Gochu’ peppers collected from the market. Based on ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6- sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity, all stages of the 10 registered peppers had higher antioxidative activity than did the green and red stages of ‘Noggwang Gochu.’ Overall, ‘Hongsinho Gochu’ and ‘House Put Gochu’ had the highest antioxidant activity levels and the highest functional content among breeding cultivars. Among landraces, ‘Jeonbuk Wanju’ red peppers had both the highest functional ingredient levels and the highest antioxidant activity levels.

‘Superhongmi’, a reddish brown rice cultivar, was derived from a cross between CG2-3-5-1-6-1 (Heugjinju/Suwon 425) producing blackish purple rice and ‘Daeribbyeo 1’ producing large white grains. A promising line, SR28721-7-5-2-1-2-1, was obtained using the pedigree breeding method from 2003 to 2015 and designated as ‘KNOU6R’. This variety headed on September 5, and its culm length is 94.7 cm. The panicle length of ‘Superhongmi’ is 19.8 cm. The number of panicles per hill and grain per panicle is 5.4 ea and 154.9 ea, respectively. The fertility ratio of ‘Superhongmi’ is approximately 91.0% and 1000-grain weight (TGW) is approximately 26.8 g, which is similar to that of ‘Superjami’; however, the number of panicles per hill is half of that of ‘Superjami’. The content of taxifolin and total polyphenol extracted from whole grains of ‘Superhongmi’ is 67.7 and 248 mg/100g seed weight, respectively (Registration No. 7365).

To fit the market demands for functional rice such as black and red color rice, ‘Sugary’a high free sugar content line was backcrossed to the black rice ‘Milyang152. The pedigree method was adapted in selection and generation advance. A high polyphenol content line, YR19646-3-2-1-1-2-2 showing red pericarp was selected and designed as ‘Milyang234’ followed by variety name ‘Geonganghongmi’ in 2010. Heading date of ‘Geonganghongmi’ was Aug. 19, medium-late maturing cultivar. ‘Geonganghongmi’ showed resistance to leaf blast and rice stripe virus while susceptible to major diseases and insects. The total polyphenol content of ‘Geonganghongmi’ was high as much as 24.2mg/g compare to that of 4.9mg/g of ‘Nampyeongbyeo’ and 17.2mg/g of a red pericarp rice ‘Jeogjinju’ at 70% ethanol extraction conditions. In local adaptability tests, yield of ‘Geonganghongmi’ was 4.5MT/ha about 86% of ‘Nampyeongbyeo’ and 102% of ‘Jeogjinju’, respectively. ‘Geonganghongmi’ is suitable for southern and middle plain area of Korea.