Perilla has a long history of cultivation and consumption in Korea. Its cultivar ‘Sodam’, which is used for its oil and powder, was developed from a cross between two parents ‘K015926’ and ‘Miryang27’. The parents were crossed in 2004, and their progenies were selected from F₃ to F₅ generations through pedigree method. Regional yield trials (RYTs) were conducted in four regions from 2012 to 2014. ‘Sodam’ is a light gray and small spherical-seeded cultivar. It matures earlier (October 2) than ‘Saeyeopsildeulkkae’, a standard cultivar, and the number of flower clusters per plant as well as the number of ears per cluster is higher in ‘Sodam’ than in the standard cultivar. Its seeds contain approximately 46.4% crude fat, and the oil is rich (about 65.0%) in alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid. ‘Sodam’ is characterized by upright plant growth with narrow branch angles. The average yield of this cultivar was 1.23 ton/ha in adaptable regions. ‘Sodam’ is expected to be a potential cultivar source for production of good quality perilla oil (Registration No. 6729).

Perilla cultivar ‘Deulsaem’ was developed for perilla oil and powder. ‘YPL139’ and ‘Daesildeulkkae’ crossed in 2003 and selected from F₃ to F₅ by pedigree method. The selected pedigree is ‘YPS142-B-28-1-3-2-2’ and named as Miryang No. 57. The regional yield trial (RYT) in five regions was conducted from 2011 to 2013. In RYT, ‘Deulsaem’ was a high yield and quality. ‘Deulsaem’ is determinate, white flower and brown spherical seed. Maturity date was Oct. 8, similar to ‘Saeyeopsildeulkkae’(standard cultivar). However, ‘Deulsaem’ has higher number of flower cluster and ear per cluster than ‘Saeyeopsildeulkkae’. The yield of oil content and linolenic acid of ‘Deulsaem’ was 39.4% and 61.0%, respectively. The yield in adaptable regions was 1.42 ton/ha (5% increase compared to ‘Saeyeopsildeulkkae’) and ‘Deulsaem’ is expected to be cultivated and used widely for good quality perilla oil. (Registration No. 6246)

An interspecific cross between P. citriodora and P. hirtella constitutes ideal material for a linkage map construction in genome project of Perilla. The chromosomes of the species are same with n=10 and progenies of the cross are normal in growth and seed set. The phenotype of F2 population of the cross are normally distributed and this is a proof of high affinity of the chromosomes during their sexual reproduction. Rosmarinic acid, Luteolin and Apigenin contents of F2 plants were distributed in similar range with tetraploid perilla cultivars. Luteolin and Apigenin are positively correlated with correlation coefficient of 0.762. 21 QTLs were detected in agronomic traits and Rosmarinic acid, Luteolin and Apigenin contents. Even though Luteolin and Apigenin are positively correlated, QTLs were located in different position. Purple leaf color related QTL was mapped in Chromosome 3 with LOD of 14.3, PVE of 50.4%. Three anthocyanin biosynthesis transcription factor like sequences, WD40 repeat-like superfamily protein, myb domain protein 43 and basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) DNA-binding superfamily protein, were detected near from the QTL.