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).

The sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) variety ‘Noeulchal’ was developed and registered by the Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science, in 2019. This variety was developed from the cross between ‘RTx2907’, with white grain, and ’Sodamchal’, with brown grain and semi-dwarf traits. The yield performance of ‘Noeulchal’ was 3.71 MT/ha in a local adaptability test run for two years. It had a culm length of 93 cm, which is 11 cm longer than that of ‘Sodamchal’, a panicle length of 29 cm, a culm 22 mm thick, and a panicle exsertion of 9 cm. It could reduce the lodging problem experienced with current cultivars, and is also adapted to mechanized cultivation. ‘Noeulchal’ has a waxy endosperm with 3.2% amylose and contained high levels of rapidly digestible starch. The rapidly digestible starch with gluten-free flours could contribute to the development of foods with different properties (Registration No. 9105).

A few inbred grain-sorghum varieties, developed and grown in Korea, have low productivity. Several hybrid cultivars have been demonstrated to be more productive and resistant to unfavorable environmental conditions than pure line varieties. However, very limited studies have been conducted on hybrid sorghum in Korea. Information on combining ability of Korean landraces based on parental materials is of great importance for increasing the productivity of sorghum through hybrid breeding programs. This study was conducted to determine the combining abilities of Korean sorghum landraces and cultivars. Two cytoplasmic male-sterile lines (A.Arg-1 and A03017) were crossed with 13 male-fertile lines to generate 26 experimental grain-sorghum hybrids. The hybrids were evaluated at two locations (Daegu and Miryang) in Korea in 2018. They were planted in three replications and standard agronomic practices were followed at both sites. There were significant (p=0.001) variations among genotypes for yield and secondary traits. For each trait, general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were estimated using the line-tester method. A positive heterosis for grain yield was observed in several hybrids. The A03017×Sodamchal hybrids exhibited considerable heterosis of up to 54.1%. The lines 18AYT-S04 and Sodamchal displayed positive significant GCA effects for grain yield, and A03017×Sodamchal crosses showed the highest positive SCA effects. The crosses, A.Arg-1×18OYT-S17, A.Arg-1×Sodamchal and A.Arg-1×18OYT-S01 had high grain yields with waxy endosperms, and could be recommended for grain-sorghum breeding programs in Korea.

‘Hwawang’ is an early maturing and short statured rice cultivar adaptable to the rice–cash crop rotation system that was developed by the rice breeding team of the Department of Southern Crop, National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), Rural Development Administration (RDA), Korea, in 2012. This cultivar was derived from the cross of YR25867 (Hitomebore//YR21247-B-B-B-49-1/Sasanishiki BL4) and YR25866 (Akidagomachi//YR21247-B-B-B-49-1/Sasanishiki BL4) during the 2005/2006 winter season and was fixed as a homozygous line by a doubled haploid breeding system. In the replicated yield trial in 2009, a promising line (YR26253Acp26-1) showed a good phenotype and high yield potential, and so it was selected and designated as ‘Milyang256’. The local adaptability test of ‘Milyang256’ was carried out at three locations from 2010 to 2012. It was named ‘Hwawang’ and had a high head rice ratio and good eating quality. The culm length of ‘Hwawang’ averaged 62 cm during the yield trials and was 10 cm shorter than that of ‘Keumo’. The number of spikelets per panicle of ‘Hwawang’ was significantly lower than that of ‘Keumo’, but the number of tillers per hill was higher. This variety showed resistance to bacterial blight disease but was moderately susceptible to both leaf and neck blast. The milled rice yield of ‘Hwawang’ was 452 kg/10 a at the late transplanting stage of the local adaptability test. Thus, ‘Hwawang’ is well adapted to the rice–cash crop rotation system in the southern plain area. (Registration No. 5106)

Saemimyeon, a Tongil type, medium-late maturing rice variety, is especially used for preparing rice noodles. Its high amylose content was developed to fit market demands and to be affordable for rice processing industries. One of the high yielding lines, Milyang181 (Hanareum), was used in the final three-way cross of IR50*2/YR18241-B-B-115-1-1 for yield improvement and cultivation stabilization, including disease resistance. YR24235-10-1-3, a high yielding and compact plant type, was selected and named Milyang278 after yield test at NICS (RDA, Miryang) in 2010. It was subjected to regional yield test at six sites in the middle and southern plain areas of South Korea. Saemimyeon heading occurs on August 12 and is a mid-late maturing cultivar, with resistance to leaf blast, rice stripe virus, and bacterial blight (K1-K3a), but it is susceptible to major diseases and insect pest infestation. Saemimyeon showed a high amylose content of 26.7%, with a relatively low KOH digestion value of 3.5, which are key factors in rice noodles and pasta processing. In the local adaptability tests, the yield of Saemimyeon was 7.08 MT/ha—an increase of approximately 106% compared to that of Dasan. Thus, Saemimyeon is suitable for cultivation in the southern and middle plain areas of South Korea.

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.

The amylose contents of rice determine eating quality which is one of the major traits in rice breeding program. To identify the low-amylose gene of the japonica rice cultivar Baegjinju, genetic analysis was conducted using 200 F₂ population derived from a cross between the japonica cultivars, Saeilmi and Baegjinju. Individual F₂ plants were classified as wild type (translucent grain) and mutant type (dull grain) based on the grain appearance of brown rice. Two hundred F₂ plants were segregated into 155 wild type plants and 45 mutant type plants, which fit the 3:1 ratio (x² = 0.667, df = 1, p = 0.414) and this result indicated the low-amylose gene of Baegjinju is a single recessive gene which controls the amylose contents. Linkage analysis was conducted to localize the low-amylose gene of Baegjinju and fine mapped within an 800-kb interval between 17.5 to 18.8Mb on short arm of chromosome 10. Co-segregated SSR marker, RM25648 was developed and it could be useful for marker-assisted selection and determination of the genetic resource related with amylose contents in rice breeding.

Bakanae (foolish seedling) disease caused by Gibberella fujikuroi creates serious problems in the foremost rice growing countries. This study was conducted to identify new resistance genetic sources to Bakanae disease. Bioassay showed that 11 varieties including Gwangmyeongbyeo, Hawn, Wonseadaesoo, Erguailai etc. were resistant to bakanae disease among 254 rice germplasm. Mismatch ratio between phenotype on bakanae disease bioassay and allele type of RM9, a SSR marker closely linked the bakanae disease resistant QTL, qBK1, were 38.3%. These results suggest that RM9 might be used for selecting qBK1, but it cannot be used for wide range of rice germplasm. Resistant germplasm in this study might be have resistant genes different from qBK1. The eleven varieties resistant to selected in this study will be used to identify new resistant alleles or genes to improve bakanae disease resistance in rice.

In chronic renal failure, to reduce the burden on the kidneys, it is necessary to provide patients with therapy based on a low-protein diet. To cope with this situation, low and easy to-digest protein rice variety is helpful. ‘Geongyang2’, low glutelins rice cultivar, was developed by the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), RDA, Miryang, Korea in 2012. ‘Geongyang2’was derived from a cross between ‘Junambyeo’and‘Chugoku 173’ as a source of low glutelin and amylose. The pedigree of ‘Geongyang2’was YR24174-B-B-B-B-46 and designated as the ‘Milyang262’ in 2009. The local adaptability test of ‘Milyang262’ was carried out at six locations from 2010 to 2012. ‘Geongyang2’ is a mid-maturing ecotype with 65cm in culm length and the number of spikelet/panicle and 1,000 grain weight of brown rice were slightly lower compared to those of ‘Nampyeongbyeo’. ‘Geongyang2’ is resistant to bacterial blight and virus disease while susceptible to major insect and pest. The glutelin and amylose contents of ‘Geongyang2’ were 63.1% and 11.5%, respectively. The milled rice yield of ‘Gyeongyang2’ is 4.61MT/ha at the ordinary transplanting of the local adaptability test. This cultivar would be adaptable to the plain paddy field of middle, honam and yeongnam province of Korea under ordinary cropping system.

Nunkeunheugchal (registration No. 01-0001-2014-4), a black waxy giant embryo rice cultivar, was developed by the rice breeding team of National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), RDA in 2012. This cultivar was derived from the cross between ge^t and Josaengheugchal in 2004/2005 winter season, and selected by a promising line, YR25277-B-B-314-2, was selected and designated as the line of Milyang263 in 2009. The local adaptability test of Milyang263 was carried out at four locations from 2010 to 2012 and it was named as Nunkeunheugchal. This variety is a early maturity cultivar. It has 65 cm in culm length and 72 spikelets per panicle, and 1,000 grain-weight of brown rice is 17.8 g which is less than that of Josaengheugchal. This variety is resistant to leaf blast, but susceptible to bacterial blight, neck blast, virus disease and insect pest. The yield potential of Nunkeunheugchal was about 3.54 MT/ha as brown rice at ordinary fertilizer level in local adaptability test for three years. Nunkeunheugchal possesses benefits to rice consumers because of high amounts of GABA, anthocyanin, calcium and iron. This variety would be adaptable to the paddy field of middle and southern plain region of Korea.