‘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).

In this study, we constructed a reference transcriptome database for the special crops Codonopsis lanceolata (known as “deodeok” in Korean) and Ixeridium dentata (known as “sseumbagwi” in Korean). The reference transcriptome sequence based on PacBio Iso-Seq technology was rapidly analyzed using various programs on a supercomputer at the Rural Development Administration to determine homologous gene searches, domain searches, and metabolic pathway-related information. Transcriptome information was organized into a single file database (DB) with a simple user interface using Microsoft Access, enabling efficient access and management of transcriptome sequences and functional prediction information. The deodeok reference transcriptome DB included 49,677 transcriptome sequences, whereas the sseumbagwi reference transcriptome DB included 73,757 transcriptome sequences. These reference transcriptome DBs can be utilized for various genomic analyses, such as gene discovery, gene expression analysis, inter-and intraspecies comparisons, and marker development, with particular potential for use in secondary metabolite research. The reference transcriptome DBs constructed in this study are expected to contribute to enhancing the agricultural value and industrial applicability of deodeok and sseumbagwi.

‘Yeseumi’, a new sweetpotato variety resistant to fusarium wilt, was developed for table use by Bioenergy Crop Research Institute, National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), Rural Development Administration (RDA) in 2013. ‘Yeseumi’ was derived from the cross between ‘Mokpo34’ and ‘Singeonmi’ resistant to fusarium wilt in 2005. The seedling and line selections were conducted from 2006 to 2008. Preliminary and advanced yield trials were carried out from 2009 to 2010. The regional yield trials were performed at five locations from 2011 to 2013. ‘Yeseumi’ has three-lobed leaf, and its leaves, stems, petioles, and nodes are green. Storage root of ‘Yeseumi’ has an elliptical shape, red skin, and light orange flesh. ‘Yeseumi’ was highly resistant to fusarium wilt and susceptible to root-knot nematode. Dry matter content was 25.4%, and texture of steamed storage root was intermediate. Total sugar contents of raw and steamed storage root of ‘Yeseumi’ were higher than those of ‘Yulmi’. β-carotene content of ‘Yeseumi’ was 15.7 mg/100 g DW. Yield of marketable storage root over 50 g of ‘Yeseumi’ was 32.5 MT/ha under the early season culture, which was 97% higher than that of ‘Yulmi’. The number of marketable storage roots per plant was 2.8 and the average weight of marketable storage root was 143 g under the normal and late season culture. Marketable storage root yield of ‘Yeseumi’ was 23.9 MT/ha under the normal and late season culture, which was 42% higher than that of ‘Yulmi’. (Registration No. 5848).