Here, we report on the development of a high-quality, bicolor waxy corn, ‘Mihyeonchal’, containing anthocyanin. ‘Mihyeonchal’ was produced by crossing the two inbred lines, HW18 as the seed parent and HW19 as the pollen parent. The hybrid was made in 2016 and has been evaluated for three years in Hongcheon, Yeoncheon, Cheongju, Daegu, Jinju, and Suwon in Korea since 2017. The days to silking of ‘Mihyeonchal’ was 72 days, which was three days earlier than that of the standard variety, ‘Ilmichal’. The number and weight of fresh ears of ‘Mihyeonchal’ were 112% and 96%, respectively, compared to those of ‘Ilmichal’, and the anthocyanin content was 76.8 mg/kg, which was higher than that of ‘Ilmichal’. The lodging index was 1.9, which was weaker than that of ‘Ilmichal’, but its resistance to insects and diseases was stronger than that of ‘Ilmichal’, confirming the cultivation stability of ‘Mihyeonchal’. As a result of regional yield trials that had been conducted for three years, we confirmed that ‘Mihyeonchal’ could be cultivated in all regions in Korea and was an excellence variety. The plant variety protection right of ‘Mihyeonchal’ was registered in April 2024, and its grant number is 10127.

Consumers currently prefer healthy food with antioxidant or anti-diabetic activities. This study was conducted to develop a waxy corn with high carotenoid content. A yellow waxy corn single cross hybrid ‘Goldchal’ was developed by Gangwon Agricultural Research and Extension Services in 2015. The seed parent inbred HW16 was crossed with the pollen parent inbred HW17 in 2010. The number and weight of fresh ears per 10 a for ‘Goldchal’ were 6,385 and 1,339 kg, respectively, comparable to those of ‘Ilmichal’ in regional yield trials from 2013 to 2015. The hybrid contained 15.8 mg/kg carotenoids, which were 15.0 mg/kg higher than that of ‘Ilmichal’. The lodging tolerance of ‘Goldchal’ was superior to that of ‘Ilmichal’ and resistance to disease and insects was similar to those of ‘Ilmichal’. The silking date of the seed parent HW16 was in the pollen dispersal period of the pollen parent HW17, and F₁ seed yield was 186 kg/10a. ‘Goldchal’ could be cultivated throughout Korea. The plant variety protection right of ‘Goldchal’ was registered in June 2017 (Grant Number 6722).

A new waxy corn single cross hybrid ‘Jangsuchal’ was developed by Gangwon Agricultural Research and Extension Services in 2014. The seed parent inbred HW12 was crossed with the pollen parent inbred HW15 in 2009. Days to silking of ‘Jangsuchal’ was three days later than ‘Ilmichal’, a check hybrid. Ear length of the hybrid was 22.2 cm, which was 2.8 cm greater than ‘Ilmichal’. The hybrid had thin pericarp thickness, high amylopectin content, and high value of sensory evaluation compared with ‘Ilmichal’. Resistance to disease and insect and lodging tolerance of ‘Jangsuchal’ were similar to those of ‘Ilmichal’. The number and weight of fresh ears for ‘Jangsuchal’ were greater than those of ‘Ilmichal’ in regional yield trials from 2012 to 2014. Silking date of the seed parent HW12 was in the pollen dispersal period of the pollen parent HW15 and F₁ seed yield was 242 kg/10a. ‘Jangsuchal’ can be planted anywhere in the country. Plant variety protection right of ‘Jangsuchal’ was registered in June 2017 with grant number of 6730.