Rice landrace germplasms are highly valuable because of their wide genetic variation. Their traits have not been selected by modern breeders but by nature, thus, these traits and the gene associated with them have tremendous potential to improve modern rice cultivars. The first step to utilize this potential is to conduct a thorough evaluation of the target traits to select superior germplasm for a breeding program. Here, with 386 Korean landrace germplasms, we evaluated mesocotyl elongation traits which possibly promote direct seedling cultivation in rice. Mesocotyl length ranged from 0 mm to 28 mm. Among the tested landraces, we selected and reported the top 20 performing landraces whose mesocotyl length were larger than 16 mm. The previously reported agronomic traits for the selected 20 landraces were also listed for breeders to promote the utilization of these germplasms in breeding programs.

Hyowon6, a mid-late maturing, good eating quality rice variety with multi-resistance, was developed by the rice breeding team of Pusan National University in 2013. This variety was derived from a cross between Hwayeong (as a multi-resistant parent) and Koshihikari (as a good eating quality parent). Selection by the pedigree breeding method was carried out until the F₈ generation. A promising line, JS14-12-36-8-5-3-1-1-1, was developed and designated as HY103 in 2013. This variety headed on August 22, which was 11 days later than that of Hwayeong. The culm length and panicle length of Hyowon6 was 85.7 cm and 21.1 cm, respectively. The number of panicles per hill was 14.5 and the number of grains per panicle was 101.7. The ratio of ripened grain was approximately 92% and the 1,000-grain weight was approximately 21.36 g for brown rice, which were similar to those of Hwayeong. Hyowon6 was moderately resistant to lodging and also to neck blast, leaf blight, and stripe virus. The glossiness value of Hyowon6 was 83, which was considerably higher than that of Hwayeong.

Cymbidium goeringii of ‘Arihyang’ was developed for a fragrant Korean Cymbidium variety by Semangeum Bio Center. ‘Arihyang’ was developed from the cross between ‘Daebugui’ as a good fragrant source and ‘SC-005’, a collected Korean Cymbidium collected in 2001, which shows short plant-type and round flower. The selected seed was germinated and cultivated in 2007. Through continuous cultivation and checking the fixed phenotype from 2007 to 2008, the fixed phenotype of none boundary line jade color flower and moderate fragrance was confirmed. In 2010, ‘Arihyang’ was cultivated in field and evaluated the phenotype to be confirmed the fixed phenotype. ‘Arihyang’ has length of 20~25cm plain leaves with dark green color. The flower has a moderate fragrance with jade color. The length and width of flower are 2.5cm, 3cm, respectively.

"Hyowon 5’, a new aromatic rice variety with high yield was derived from a cross between 'Dasan’ as a high yield source and ‘IR841-1-1-2’ as a donor for aroma. A general pedigree breeding method was applied to develop Hyowon 5. In F₈ generation, a promising line, JS14-12-36-8-5-3-1-1-1, was selected and designated as the name of ‘SP 102’ in 2012. This variety headed on Aug. 14 , which is 3 days later than ‘Hwayoung’ in middle plane. The brown rice of this aromatic variety ‘Hyowon 5’ exhibited 51 odor-active volatiles including a pop corn-flavoring 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline which is exclusively detected in aroma rice varieties. The Culm length and panicle length of this variety was 83.2 cm and 26.4 cm, respectively. This variety has about 14.9 tillers per hill and 124.5 spikelet numbers per panicle. The 1000-grain weight was 20.9 g in brown rice. The yield performance of brown rice was 6.27 MT/ha in local adaptability test.

'Hyowon 2’, a new medium-late maturing glutinous rice variety with short clum and lodging tolerance was developed by the rice breeding team of Pusan National University in 2013. This cultivar was derived from a cross between 'Junam’ as a short clum source and ‘Donna’ with a good glutinous properties. During selected by the pedigree breeding method, until F8 generation. As a result, a promising line, JS22-3-24-1-6-2-1-1-1, was advanced and designated as the name of ‘SP 105’ in 2012. This variety headed on Aug. 22 is 9 days later than ‘Dongjinchal’ in middle plane. The Culm length and panicle length of this variety was 65.6 cm and 22.5 cm, respectively. This variety has about 14.4 tillers per hill and 113 spikelet numbers per panicle. The ratio of ripened grain is about 93.0% and 1000-grain weight was 18.4 g in brown rice. This variety has higher α-tocotrienol content compared to that of ‘Hwasunchal’. The yield performance of brown rice was 4.81 MT/ha in local adaptability test.

Cymbidium goeringi of ‘ Julie’ was developed from the cross between the accession of SC-017 and Daeyeophyeran by Semangeum Bio Center in 2004. The harvested seed was germinated and cultivated. During the cultivation, a individual plant showing marginal stripe pattern was selected in 2008. Through continuous cultivation and checking the special patterns in the leaf, the phenotype was fixed in 2009. From field cultivation in 2010, the fixed phenotype of marginal stripe pattern was confirmed. Julie shows clear marginal stripe patterns with yellow-green color. This pattern is more cleared as it grows. The leaf color is dark green with 35 ~ 40 cm length. The flower has fragrance with 4 cm width and 2.7 cm length.

Cymbidium goeringi of ‘Ariul’ was developed from the cross between Daebugui and SC-005 by Semangeum Bio Center in 2001. The harvested seed was germinated and cultivated. During the cultivation, an individual plant showing unique marginal stripe pattern was selected in 2006. Through continuous cultivation and checking the special patterns in the leaf, the phenotype was fixed through 2007 ~ 2008. From field cultivation in 2009, the fixed phenotype of marginal stripe pattern was confirmed. Ariul shows clear marginal stripe patterns with yellow color. The leaf color is dark green with 20 cm ~ 25 cm length. The flower of jade color has fragrance with 3 cm width and 2.5 cm length.