A white sesame variety, ‘Haniall’ (Sesamum indicum L.), exhibiting shattering resistance and early maturity, was developed in 2021. ‘Haniall’ originated from a cross between ‘Suwon195’ and ‘Early Russian’ in 2014. ‘Haniall’ features a plant type characterized many branches and single capsule per node. Notably, the ‘Haniall’ exhibited resistance to seed shattering. The yield of Haniall was about 104 kg/10 a, which is 20% higher than that of ‘Ansan.’ ‘Haniall’ showed crude fat content of 54%, a lignan content of 6.4 mg/g. This variety is expected to contribute to the increased sesame production in Korea through large-scale mechanical cultivation (Registration No. 10320).

Perilla is a traditional oilseed crop cultivated in Korea. The ‘Nulsaemi’ cultivar was developed for oil use because of its large seed size and high functional compound content. It originated from a cross between ‘Daesil’ (IT274265), with high crude fat content and a soft seed coat, and ‘Milyang16’ (K015415), with large, brown seeds and a hard seed coat. The cross was created in 2008, and promising lines were selected through pedigree breeding up to the F₆ generation. Advanced yield trials were conducted in 2016 and regional yield trials were conducted at four sites (Milyang, Suwon, Cheongju, and Iksan) from 2017 to 2019. ‘Nulsaemi’ matures around October 8, which is slightly later than the standard cultivar ‘Dayu’. It also has a 1,000-seed weight of 5.2 g, which is 1.4 g heavier than ‘Dayu’. The seed hardness was low, making it suitable for processing. The average yield was 125 kg/10a, about 3% higher than that of ‘Dayu’. The seeds contained approximately 45.1% crude fat and 63.4% alpha-linolenic acid, similar to those of the standard cultivar. However, rosmarinic acid content was significantly higher at 2,130.6 μg/g, about 18% more than ‘Dayu’. In sensory evaluation, oil extracted from ‘Nulsaemi’ showed better appearance, aroma, taste, and overall preference compared to the control, in both cold-pressed and roasted oil types. ‘Nulsaemi’ is expected to be a high-quality oilseed cultivar suitable for premium perilla oil production (Registration No. 8792).

A new soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivar, ‘Dadrim,’ was developed by the National Institute of Crop and Food Science (NICS). ‘Dadrim’ is characterized by its superior suitability for tofu processing and high adaptability to mechanized cultivation. This cultivar ‘Milyang374’ was developed using the pedigree method from an artificial cross made in 2012 between ‘Milyang231’ and ‘Chamol.’ Its agronomic characteristics and production stability were verified through regional adaptation trials conducted over three years (2020- 2022). ‘Dadrim’ exhibits a determinate growth habit, white flowers, and spherical seeds with a yellow seed coat and yellow hilum. It is a large-seeded variety with a 100-seed weight of 30.9 g. As a late-maturing variety, it reaches maturity around October 22. Despite a relatively short plant height, it features a high first pod height of 16 cm, making it advantageous for mechanical harvesting. ‘Dadrim’ is resistant to bacterial pustule and soybean mosaic virus and possesses excellent lodging resistance. Notably, ‘Dadrim’ demonstrates a high tofu yield of 283%, which is 67% points higher than ‘Daewonkong’. The resulting tofu has a soft texture, making it suitable for soft and silken tofu. It also received high preference scores for taste and texture in sensory evaluations. ‘Dadrim’ yielded 3.37 tons/ha, an 8% increase compared to ‘Daewonkong.’ This new variety is expected to increase farm income and advance the domestic tofu industry (Registration No. 10461).

‘Amissal’ is a regionally specialized rice cultivar developed to strengthen the competitiveness of local rice and is characterized by its distinct long-grain japonica type. It was bred through a single backcross between ‘Boramchan’—a high-yielding japonica cultivar with excellent cultivation stability used as the recurrent parent—and ‘HR30198-AC33’ (DGS79), a breeding stock with extra-long and spindle-shaped grains used as the donor parent for japonica grain shape diversification. Population and pedigree breeding methods were used during the breeding process. During the selection stage, molecular marker-assisted selection targeting the major grain shape genes, GS3 and qSW5 was applied, enabling the identification of lines carrying the gs3-qSW5 allele combination associated with long grain shape. ‘Amissal’ was developed through yield trials, local adaptability tests, selection trials addressing regional needs, and on-farm research aimed at developing long-grain japonica rice for export. The heading date of ‘Amissal’ was August 17, two days later than that of ‘Nampyeong’. Compared to ‘Nampyeong’, ‘Amissal’ exhibited greater biomass due to longer culms, more spikelets per panicle but fewer panicles per hill, and a heavier 1,000-grain weight. It demonstrated strong resistance to bacterial blight (races K1, K2, and K3) but was susceptible to viral diseases and insect pests. In terms of yield, it outperformed ‘Nampyeong’. The average brown rice grain length was 6.14 mm, classifying it as long-grain type. The length-to-width ratio was 2.43, corresponding to a semi-spindle shape, which clearly distinguishes it from existing Korean japonica cultivars. While its milling recovery rate was similar to that of ‘Nampyeong’, a high proportion of broken rice due to its long grain shape resulted in a lower head rice. ‘Amissal’ had low protein content and provided the sticky and soft texture typical of japonica rice, with excellent scores in sensory evaluation tests. As a differentiated, regionally specialized rice cultivar featuring a long-grain japonica type and superior eating quality, ‘Amissal’ is expected to contribute to the advancement of the local rice industry, particularly through applications in rice export and the utilization of broken rice and rice straw (Registration No. 10167).

‘SuperHani’ is a sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) cultivar characterized by high lignan content and a non-shattering trait. It was developed in 2022 through a cross between ‘Suwon195’ and ‘YCS71’. This cultivar has a highly branched triple-capsule growth type, with 117 capsules per plant and a 1,000-seed weight of 2.0 g. Field evaluations revealed non-shattering traits, with seeds not falling even after the capsules were split open, indicating suitability for mechanical harvesting. Seed quality analyses demonstrated a total lignan content of 14.8 mg/g, with total polyphenol and flavonoid contents as well as antioxidant activities being significantly higher than those of the control. In regional adaptability trials, the average yield was 120 kg/10a, approximately 90% that of ‘Geonbaek’, but this difference was not statistically significant. These results suggest that ‘SuperHani’ is a mechanically harvestable cultivar that combines non-shattering traits with high levels of functional compounds. This has the potential to contribute to labor savings and the production of high-value sesame (Registration No.10316).

‘KM7’, a maize hybrid for grain production, was developed for the Southeast Asian seed market by the maize breeding team of the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), Rural Development Administration (RDA) in 2020. The hybrid, ‘KM7’, was bred by crossing two inbred lines, CL32 and 14K23. After a one-year yield trial in Dong Trieu, Vietnam, country adaptability trials were performed three times in three different countries (Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia) in both 2019 and 2020. The seed type was flint-like and suitable for both food and feed. ‘KM7’ adapted well to conditions in northern Vietnam, northwestern Cambodia, and Central Java in Indonesia. The silking date of ‘KM7’ in Vietnam was 62 d, which was 1 d earler than that of LCH9, a leading cultivar in Vietnam. ‘KM7’ is an early maturing, high-grain yielding F1 hybrid that is also resistant to downy mildew. ‘KM7’ produced a grain yield of 842, 831, and 950 kg/10a in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, respectively. This demonstrated a higher yield than that of the leading cultivars in each respective country. ‘KM7’ produced 26% more grain in Vietnam, 28% more in Cambodia, and 56% more in Indonesia than the respective control varieties (Registration No. 10034).

‘K-Ol2’ is a high-oil, high-oleic acid peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) variety developed by the National Institute of Crop and Food Science and released in 2022. This variety was derived through pedigree selection from a single cross between the variety ‘Jaseon’ and the high-oleate elite line ‘YG377’. High-oleate lines were selected in the F₃ generation using Near-Infrared Spectrophotometry and gas chromatography. ‘K-Ol2’ exhibits a relatively short plant height with main stem and branch lengths of 29 cm and 36 cm, respectively, which are less than those of the check variety ‘Akwang’. The seeds had a brown testa and an elliptical kernel shape, with a 100-seed weight of 87 g and an average of 54 mature pods per plant. Seed composition analysis revealed an average protein content of 29.3% and a high crude fat content of 54.5%. The oleic acid (C18:1) content reached 82.8%, with an oleic to linoleic acid ratio of 28.5:1, significantly higher than that of ‘Akwang’ (2.2:1). In oxidative stability evaluations under accelerated oxidizing conditions, ‘K-Ol2’ exhibited an extended induction time to reach maximum conductivity increase, indicating improved resistance to lipid oxidation. Regional yield trials conducted from 2020 to 2022 demonstrated that ‘K-Ol2’ produced an average yield of 4.60 MT⋅ha^-1, representing a 10% increase over ‘Akwang’. Due to its high oil content and improved oxidative stability, ‘K-Ol2’ is expected to play a valuable role in the peanut processing industry (Registration No. 10358).

Mung bean (Vigna radiata) is a rich natural source of vitexin and isovitexin—flavonoids known for their potential anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate, through the use of RAW 264.7 macrophages, the anti-inflammatory effects of extracts from mung bean seeds containing vitexin and isovitexin. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to quantify the levels of these compounds in various mung bean cultivars: “Jinhwang,” “Samhwang,” “Seonhwa,” and “Jangan,” as well as “Dahyeon,” and “Sanpo,” two of the most widely cultivated varieties in Korea. Cytotoxicity assays revealed no significant toxicity at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 µg/mL, allowing further analysis at these levels. In nitric oxide (NO) inhibition assays, “Samhwang” (10.61 µM) and “Seonhwa” (9.7 µM) demonstrated the highest NO-suppressing activity at 50 µg/mL. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were significantly reduced by “Seonhwa” (83.6 pg/mL) and “Jangan” (72.3 pg/mL), with “Jangan” showing the strongest inhibitory effect. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) analysis revealed notable suppression in “Samhwang,” “Seonhwa,” and “Jangan” at 50 µg/mL, with “Samhwang” exhibiting the most potent effect (78.6 pg/mL). These findings suggest that the “Samhwang” cultivar, in particular, possesses significant anti-inflammatory potential and may serve as a valuable candidate for the development of natural anti-inflammatory agents.

‘Saebom’ is a new vegetable perilla (Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton) variety developed at the National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration, in 2020, following a cross made in 2011 between YPL54-2B-36-1-1-1-2-2 and YPL83-2B-5-2-5. It was developed using a pedigree breeding method. YPL156-2B-9-2-1-3-2 was selected and named ‘Milyang 83.’ Subsequently, summer and winter productivity tests were conducted. ‘Saebom’ has small, round-shaped leaves and its maximum leaf length is 13.1 cm, which allows for the distribution of leaf harvesting labor. In addition, the leaves are thick, which is beneficial for storage, and the ratio of the apical leaf length/leaf length is 55.8% (‘Namcheon’ 37.2%). This value is considered high and makes ‘Saebom’ highly marketable. Its leaf yield and leaf number were 10% and 8% higher than those of ‘Namcheon,’ respectively, and its antioxidant activity was also higher. In December 2020, the variety was named ‘Saebom’ by the new variety selection committee for its excellence, and its variety protection rights were registered in 2023 (Registration No. 9305).

‘Saedeul’ is a saddle-patterned seed-coated soybean cultivar developed from a cross between ‘IT224183’ and ‘Daepung (IT214696)’ in 2010. The F1 and F2 generations were grown for 2 years, and promising lines were selected using the pedigree method from F3 to F5 generations. The preliminary yield trials (PYT) and advanced yield trials (AYT) were conducted during 2016-2017, followed by regional yield trials (RYT) across seven regions during 2018-2020. ‘Saedeul’ is a determinate cultivar, having oval-shaped leaflets, purple flowers, and saddle-patterned seeds. The flowering and maturing date were August 11 and October 28, respectively. Considering its quantitative characteristics in comparison to the ‘Cheongja3ho’ cultivar, ‘Saedeul’ has a smaller seed size (27.9 g/100 seeds) and shorter plant height, but a higher first pod height. ‘Saedeul’ showed greater tolerance to both lodging and pod shattering in the RYT field and indoor tests than ‘Cheongja3ho’. It demonstrated resistance to bacterial pustule in field tests but was susceptible to soybean mosaic virus (G6H strain) in inoculation tests. The mean yield of ‘Saedeul’ in the RYT was 261 kg/10a, exceeding that of ‘Cheongja3ho’. ‘Saedeul’ is expected to replace landraces due to its resistance to lodging and bacterial pustule. (Registration number: 9456)

“Jeongdami” is a specialized rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety developed to enhance the competitiveness of regional branded rice through its distinct characteristics, setting it apart from those from other regions. It is an early-maturing, semi-dwarf variety with strong resistance to rice blast and features intermediate stickiness with a low amylose content (11.6%), using “Wolbaek” as the maternal parent. The paternal parent is an F₁ hybrid created by crossing the large-grain, intermediate-maturity glutinous rice variety “Nunbora,” which is resistant to bacterial blight (K1, K2, and K3), with “Boramchan,” a high-yield, medium-late Japonica variety that is resistant to bacterial blight (K1, K2, and K3) and stripe virus. The breeding process culminated in 2020, resulting in “Jeongdami.”. Key agricultural characteristics include an average heading date of August 15, which is 6 days earlier than “Baekjinju”, an important low amylose mid-late cultivar, making it a medium-late variety when grown in the four plains regions in the central plains of Korea. Its culm length is moderately short at 77 cm, with an average of 16 panicles per hill and 96 spikelets per panicle. The 1,000-grain weight of brown rice is 20.0 g, similar to that of “Baekjinju.” There was no premature heading, leaf senescence at maturity was moderate, and the pre-harvest germination rate was 1.7%, lower than that of “Baekjinju” (7.5%). The overall cold tolerance rating was 7, indicating weak tolerance similar to “Baekjinju;” however, the variety showed strong lodging resistance in the field. “Jeongdami” exhibited strong resistance to bacterial blight (K1, K2, and K3) and moderate resistance to leaf blast but showed susceptibility to stripe virus, brown planthopper, and white-backed planthopper. The average polished rice yield was 547 kg per 10a, a 16% increase compared to that of “Baekjinju” (472 kg). The grain shape, with a paddy grain length-to-width ratio of 2.2 and a brown rice length-to-width ratio of 1.8, was similar to that of “Baekjinju,” maintaining a short and round shape. The endosperm is clearer than that of “Baekjinju,” providing superior visual quality. The protein content was 6.2%, and the amylose content was 11.5%, indicating intermediate stickiness, which was attributed to the Wx-mq gene. Due to its soft texture and stable cultivation, “Jeongdami” will contribute to increasing rice consumption by enhancing the competitiveness of regionally branded rice with its excellent eating quality and cultivation stability. (Grant No. 9168).

Leaf size is closely related to photosynthesis and greatly affects rice productivity. Therefore, the search for quantitative trait Locus (QTL) that regulates leaf size is important for improving productivity through rice breeding. The F₉ recombinant inbred line (RIL) population from the cross between ‘Unbong 40’ (large leaves) and ‘Odae’ (ordinary size leaves) was grown in a test field, and the size traits of the flag leaves and 2nd leaves, along with stem and panicle length, were measured. Through QTL analysis of these traits, we detected 20 QTLs on chromosomes 1, 3, 6, 9, 11, and 12. In particular, the flag leaf length QTL qFLL3, the flag leaf area QTL qFLA3, the 2nd leaf length QTL q2LL3-2, and the 2nd leaf area QTL q2LA3 were clustered in the 149.0-161.6 cM region of chromosome 3, indicating that one QTL gene in this region may have pleiotropic effects that regulate the flag leaf length, flag leaf area, 2nd leaf length, and 2nd leaf area. In addition, the flag leaf width QTL qFLW9 and 2nd leaf width QTL q2LW9 were clustered in the 2.1-22.86 cM region on chromosome 9, which suggests that one QTL gene in this region may have pleiotropic effects that regulate both the flag leaf width and 2nd leaf width. These results serve as a valuable reference for breeding programs aiming to increase photosynthesis and yield by identifying QTLs for leaf size traits in Korean japonica rice.

‘Gowon1’ is a large-sized and high-yielding peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. ssp. hypogaea var. hypogaea), which was developed at the Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), Miryang, and approved for release in 2019. For the harvest of vegetable peanuts, a large-sized pod and comparatively early maturation with high fresh-pod yield are required. ‘Gowon1’ was developed through pedigree selection from a single cross between the large-grain, short-stem variety ‘Pungsan’ and ‘Miryang47’, the early-maturing elite line. ‘Gowon1’ has 11 branches with the main stem and branch lengths of 43 cm and 49 cm, respectively. Each pod contains two seeds with a brown testa and a long ellipse-shape. ‘Gowon1’ exhibits 42 pods per plant, a 100-seed weight of 98 g and 80% mature pod ratio. Seed composition includes 30.2% protein, 47.0% crude fat, and 45% oleic acid, among other fatty acids. In regional yield trials conducted at four locations (2016-2018), ‘Gowon1’ demonstrated enhanced productivity, with an average fresh pod yield of 12.25 MT per hectare, which was 28% higher than the reference variety, ‘Palkwang’. It also exhibited higher resistance to early and late leaf spot and lodging compared to the reference variety in trials (Registration No. 9196).

The rice cultivar ‘JJ644wx’ was developed to improve disease resistance and lodging tolerance of Korean japonica glutinous rice cultivars. ‘JJ644wx’ was derived from a cross between ‘HR27814-B-47-1-1’ (‘Sinjinbaek’), a multiple disease-resistant mid-late maturing elite line, and ‘HR29676-AC29’, a medium-maturing glutinous line with lodging tolerance. To shorten the breeding period, an anther culture method was applied to F₁ plants. ‘JJ644wx’ was selected through the pedigree method, yield trials, and local adaptability tests, with high selection pressure for disease resistance and lodging tolerance. The heading date of ‘JJ644wx’ was August 11th, four days later than that of ‘Sinseonchal’. ‘JJ644wx’ exhibited strong tolerance to lodging with a short culm length. The 1,000-grain weight of brown rice of ‘JJ644wx’ was heavier than that of ‘Sinseonchal’, and its yield was 553 kg/10a, which was 10% higher than that of ‘Sinseonchal’. ‘JJ644wx’ had a higher milling performance than ‘Sinseonchal’, but a lower head rice ratio due to a higher percentage of broken rice. ‘JJ644wx’ tended to be situated between ‘Sinseonchal’ and ‘Dongjinchal’ in terms of pasting and texture characteristics. ‘JJ644wx’ is the only Korean japonica glutinous rice cultivar resistant to the most virulent bacterial blight race, K3a; it also showed resistance to rice blast and stripe virus. ‘JJ644wx’ is expected to be a valuable resource that could contribute to improving the cultivation stability of Korean japonica glutinous rice in response to climate change (Registration No. 9606).

‘KM3’ is an F1 hybrid maize developed by the maize breeding team at the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), Rural Development Administration (RDA), for the Southeast Asian seed market. This hybrid was obtained by crossbreeding two inbred lines—14K26 and 15VL027. The hybrid was evaluated in a crop-year yield trial in Cambodia, followed by country adaptability trials in Cambodia and Indonesia in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The flint-like seed type of ‘KM3’ makes it suitable for both food and feed, demonstrating its adaptability to Southeast Asia. ‘KM3’ exhibited early maturity, high grain yield as an F1 hybrid, and resistance to downy mildew. The silking date of ‘KM3’ was two days earlier than that of the leading cultivar ‘CP888’ in Cambodia, with a grain yield of 913 kg/10a, outperforming ‘CP888’ by 26% (Registration No. 9319).

‘KM5,’ a high grain yielding maize hybrid, was developed for the Southeast Asian seed market in 2018 by the maize breeding team of the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), Rural Development Administration (RDA). ‘KM5’ was bred by crossing two inbred lines—14K23 and CL59. After a 1-crop year yield trial in Dong Trieu and Vietnam, country adaptability trials were performed in 2017 and 2018 in three different countries—Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia. The seed type is flint-like and suitable for both food and feed. ‘KM5’ adapted well to northern Vietnam, northwestern Cambodia, and Central Java in Indonesia. It is an early maturing, high grain yield F1 hybrid that is also resistant to downy mildew. The silking date of ‘KM5’ in Vietnam is 74 days, which is the same as that of LCH9—a leading cultivar in Vietnam. ‘KM5’ produced a grain yield of 695, 764, and 678 kg/10a in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, respectively, thus demonstrating a higher yield than the leading cultivar in each country. ‘KM5’ produced 2%, 27%, and 8% more grain than the respective control varieties in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, respectively (Registration No. 8947).

As the rural farming population decreases and ages, there is a gradual decrease in watermelon cultivation. Although the production of small- and medium-sized watermelons is increasing, typical large-sized watermelons are still, which culminates in their cultivation being a burdensome task for elderly farmers. To address this issue, we developed a watermelon variety, namely, ‘Soonzero,’ that does not require pruning, as its secondary lateral branches do not occur in primary lateral branches after the growing point it cut. ‘Soonzero’ is a diploid and broad, elliptical watermelon; its uniqueness lies in its green skin and pinkish-red flesh. The conspicuousness of veining on the skin is weak, and the width of the fruit's stripes is similar to that of ‘Sambokggul.’ In terms of variable characteristics, in this study, this variety produced 452 seeds, a yield similar to that of ‘Sambokggul,’ with the length and width of the resultant fruit being 25.5 and 24.2 cm, respectively. Additionally, the pericarp of ‘Soonzero’ had a thickness of 1.0 cm and a total soluble solid content of 11.8 °Bx. The yield of ‘Soonzero’ was found to be 6,150 kg per 10 acres, similar to that of ‘Sambokggul.’ However, ‘Soonzero’ differs from the control in terms of the following traits: fruit stripe width, flower spot shape, and the conspicuousness of veining on the fruit. In conclusion, the secondary lateral branchless varieties developed at the Watermelon Research Institute are expected to be quickly distributed to farmers with excellent quality by making up for their shortcomings by transferring technology to breeding companies and giving consumers the opportunity to choose according to their purchasing preferences. Above all, since it can reduce the labor required to remove lateral branches, it will help farmers grow watermelons more easily by solving aging and labor issues, which are chronic problems in rural areas (Grant number 8807).

The rice cultivar ‘Namchan’ was developed to achieve high yields under low-nitrogen fertilizer conditions and enhance cultivation stability. ‘Namchan’ was derived from a cross between ‘Nikomaru’, a Japanese rice cultivar known for its excellent ripening ability in high-temperature conditions, and ‘Saenuri’, a Korean mega rice cultivar renowned for its high cultivation stability. To shorten the breeding period, anther culture was applied to F1 plants. ‘Namchan’ was selected through the pedigree method, yield trials, and local adaptability tests, with high selection pressure for ripening ability and cultivation stability. The heading date of ‘Namchan’ was August 16, four days later than that of ‘Nampyeong’. ‘Namchan’ exhibited strong tolerance to lodging and preharvest sprouting, indicating high cultivation stability. Despite having more grains and panicles compared to that in ‘Nampyeong’, ‘Namchan’ exhibited excellent ripening ability, presumed to be inherited from ‘Nikomaru’. ‘Namchan’ showed intermediate resistance to rice blast and resistance to bacterial blight and rice stripe virus. ‘Namchan’ had excellent grain appearance, improved milling performance, and superior taste compared to ‘Nampyeong’. ‘Namchan’ exhibited a yield of 6.34 MT/ha under normal nitrogen fertilizer conditions, and its index at 115%, when compared to that of ‘Nampyeong’, is the highest among Korean japonica rice varieties. It exhibited a high yield of 5.45 MT/ha even under low-nitrogen fertilizer conditions. ‘Namchan’ is promising as an outstanding cultivar that can contribute to carbon neutrality through the reduction of nitrogen fertilizers and greenhouse gases (Registration No. 8134).

The white sesame variety, ‘Kangyou’ (Sesamum indicum L.) with disease resistance and high yield was developed in 2019. It was developed through a cross between ‘China Black’ and ‘SI982849’, in 2006. The ‘Kangyou’ variety has a few branches and triple capsules per node. ‘Kangyou’ exhibited resistance to Phytophthora blight and Fusarium wilt disease in the field. The yield from ‘Kangyou’ was about 1.37 ton per hectare, 13% higher than that of ‘Goenbaek’. ‘Kangyou’ showed a crude fat content of 53% and a lignan content of 4.8 mg/g. This variety will contribute to the increase in sesame production in Korea and will be used in sesame breeding programs.

The rice cultivar ‘Chamdongjin’ was developed to enhance the disease resistance of ‘Sindongjin’. ‘Sindongjin’, developed by the RDA in 1999, is a mega-variety with a unique grain size and excellent taste, and has been cultivated in the largest area in Korea since 2018. As ‘Sindongjin’ has been cultivated in a large area recently, problems such as pest damage are increasing, and the necessity to develop alternative cultivars is emerging. Accordingly, the multiple disease-resistant, mid-late maturing rice cultivar ‘Chamdongjin’, carrying the bacterial blight resistance gene Xa21 into the genetic background of ‘Sindongjin’, was developed. ‘Chamdongjin’ was developed by the backcrossing method using the donor parent ‘HR27195-59-3-5-5’, harboring the bacterial blight resistance genes Xa3+Xa21 and the recurrent parent ‘Sindongjin’. ‘Chamdongjin’ was selected through the pedigree method, yield trials, and local adaptability tests, with a high selection pressure for agronomic trait similarities with ‘Sindongjin’. In order to effectively improve the disease resistance, marker-assisted selection for disease resistance genes and bioassays for bacterial blight, blast, and stripe virus were performed in parallel. ‘Chamdongjin’ was confirmed to have three disease-resistance genes, Xa3+Xa21+Stvb-i. Most of agronomic traits of ‘Chamdongjin’ were similar to ‘Sindongjin’, while ‘Chamdongjin’ showed enhanced disease resistance against bacterial blight and panicle blast compared to ‘Sindongjin’. ‘Chamdongjin’, like ‘Sindongjin’, possessed a grain size-related gene, the gs3 allele, and exhibited larger grains than general Korean japonica cultivars. In addition, ‘Chamdongjin’ showed a similar or higher level of palatability compared to ‘Sindognjin’, indicating the excellent quality characteristics. In the genetic background analysis using 787 KASP markers, ‘Chamdongjin’ showed 96.3% homozygosity with ‘Sindongjin’, indicating that it had a more similar genetic background to ‘Sindongjin’ than to other existing cultivars. ‘Chamgdongjin’ is expected to be widely cultivated as an alternative to ‘Sindongjin’, which could maintain the brand value while preventing the disease damage caused to ‘Sindongjin’ (Registration No. 9310).

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).

‘Heukchan’ (Arachis hypogaea L.) is a medium-sized grain and black-skin peanut variety that was developed at the Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science in 2019. ‘Heukchan’ was developed from a single cross between black-skin accession ‘Heukhwasaeng’ and Virginia-type elite line ‘HP825’. ‘Heukchan’ has short ellipse-shaped grains and a dark-purple seed coat. It also has a shorter main stem and branch length (39 cm and 44 cm, respectively) than those of ‘Daekwang’ (50 cm and 61 cm, respectively) which resulted in higher tolerance to lodging. On average, the number of matured pods per plant of ‘Heukchan’ was 61 and its shelling ratio was 74%. The 100-seed weight of ‘Heukchan’ was 64 g which was lower than that of ‘Daekwang’ (85 g). In the regional adaptation test (from 2017 to 2019), the average grain yield of ‘Heukchan’ was 4.56 tons⋅ha^-1 showing a 5% higher yield than ‘Daekwang’. The seed coat of ‘Heukchan’ contains two types of anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-sophoroside and cyanidin 3-sambubioside, which are not found in ‘Daekwang’. We analyzed the chemical properties of cooked rice containing ‘Heukchan’ with an increasing substitution ratio (5, 10, 20, and 40%); minerals and antioxidative activity as well as protein and unsaturated fatty acids were found to be significantly increased in the rice mixed with ‘Heukchan’. This new variety highlights the novel use of black-skin peanuts for mixing with rice to enhance nutrition and functionality (Registration No. 9195).

Many studies concerning breeding maize varieties are in progress in Korea and other countries. Double haploid technology is widely used for the development of commercial maize varieties worldwide, and has also been utilized in Korea since its introduction by the Maize Research Institute, Gangwondo. We performed a study to improve the efficiency of selecting haploid maize seeds using fluorescence imaging. It was verified that anthocyanin produced by the expression of R1-nj gene can be detected by fluorescence imaging, and we developed a high-throughput method for discriminating between haploid and diploid seeds. Compared with discriminating with naked eye, this method reduced the time for discriminating haploid and diploid maize by 91.7% and increased selection accuracy by 16.8% for haploid and 2.2% for diploid maize. This method enabled the acquisition of more haploid seeds and improved the efficiency of breeding research by shortening the time involved.

To determine whether Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectral analysis based on multivariate analysis for whole-cell extracts can be used to discriminate different countries of Perilla seeds at the metabolic level, leaves of Perilla seeds were subjected to FT-IR spectroscopy. FT-IR spectral data of leaves were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA), partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA). FT-IR spectra confirmed typical spectral differences between frequency regions of 1,700-1,500, 1,500-1,300, and 1,100-950 cm^-1. These spectral regions reflect the quantitative and qualitative variations of amide I, II in amino acids and proteins (1,700-1,500 cm^-1), phosphodiester groups in nucleic acids and phospholipids (1,500-1,300 cm^-1), and carbohydrates (1,100-950 cm^-1). PCA revealed separate clusters corresponding to their country relationship. Thus, PCA could be used to distinguish between countries of origin with different metabolite contents. And PLS-DA showed a similar country classification of Perilla seeds. Furthermore, these metabolic discrimination systems could be used for the rapid selection and classification of useful field crop cultivars.

A white sesame variety ‘Nuri (Sesamum indicum L.)’ with resistance to Phytophthora blight disease was developed in 2016. It was derived from a cross between ‘Suwon 131’ and ‘Yangbaek’ in 1999. ‘Nuri’ has few branches and triple capsules per node. Notably, ‘Nuri’ exhibited resistance to Phytophthora blight and Fusarium wilt and a yield of approximately 1.19 tons per hectare, 17% higher than that of ‘Kopoom’. ‘Nuri’ presented a crude fat content of 49.0% and protein content of 26.1%. Thus, this variety would contribute to increased sesame production. (Registration no. 7889).

‘Hae-Ol’ (Arachis hypogaea ssp. Hypogaea) -a high-oleate peanut variety-was developed at the Department of Southern Area Crop Science, National Institute of Crop Science in 2018. This variety was selected from the pedigree line crossed between short stem Virginia-type ‘HP825’ and high-oleate elite line ‘YG316’. The crude fat content of ‘Hae-Ol’ was 50.8%, and its oleic acid composition was 83.0% showing high-oleate property compared to that of ‘Daekwang’ variety (57.3%). The ratio of oleic acid to linoleic acid, which represents the oxidative stability, was 12 times higher in ‘Hae-Ol’ than in ‘Daekwang’. The increments in acid value and peroxide value were relatively slower in ‘Hae-Ol’, under the condition of accelerated oxidation. Over the three years of regional adaptation test (2016-2018) conducted at four regions, ‘Hae-Ol’ showed significantly higher grain yield (4.88 MT⋅ha^-1), which was 16% more improved than that of ‘Daekwang’ (4.20 MT⋅ha^-1). The seed of ‘Hae-Ol’ is brown in color and long-ellipse in shape and its 100-seed weight was 96 g. On field, ‘Hae-Ol’ demonstrated more resistance to late leaf spot (Cercosporidium personatum) and web blotch (Phoma arachidicola). It also had a shorter branch and main stem, which was related to the higher tolerance to lodging stress. The release of ‘Hae-Ol’ could contribute to the production of peanuts with enhanced quality and higher yield, and it is expected to be notably beneficial to both the producers and manufacturers (Registration No. 8407).

‘Jonong’ is an early maturing whole crop silage (WCS) japonica rice cultivar characterized by a short growth duration and numerous spikelets. It was developed to enhance the adaptability of WCS rice to double-cropping systems. ‘Jonong’ is derived from a cross between ‘Binhae Col.#1’ and ‘Deuraechan’; ‘Binhae Col.#1’ is a semi-early maturing China rice germplasm with numerous spikelets on dense panicles, whereas ‘Deuraechan’ is a high-yielding japonica rice cultivar with numerous spikelets on long panicles. To diversify the genetic variation and shorten the breeding period, an anther culture method was applied to the F₁ plants. ‘Jonong’ was selected through the pedigree method, yield trials, and local adaptability tests, with a high selection pressure for short growth duration and high biomass. The average heading date of ‘Jonong’ was August 1^st, which is 11 days earlier than that of ‘Nokyang’, the standard cultivar for WCS rice. Moreover, the growth duration of ‘Jonong’ is the shortest among all Korean WCS rice cultivars. The culm length of ‘Jonong’ is 88 cm, which 4 cm longer than that of ‘Nokyang’ and the highest among all Korean early maturing rice cultivars. ‘Jonong’ has 149 spikelets per panicle, which is 30 more than that of ‘Nokyang’, and is the highest among all Korean early maturing rice cultivars. ‘Jonong’ exhibits stable premature heading and is tolerant to lodging. It is moderately resistant to leaf blast and resistant to the rice stripe virus. The feed value of ‘Jonong’ in terms of total digestible nutrients is good and comparable to that of ‘Nokyang’. Furthermore, compared with ‘Nokyang’, ‘Jonong’ shows a similar level of dry matter yield and a higher rough rice yield. Therefore, ‘Jonong’, an early maturing WCS japonica rice with short growth duration and numerous spikelets, would be suitable for cultivating in winter forage crop-rice double cropping systems (Registration No. 7274).

‘KM2’, a maize hybrid grain was developed for the Southeast Asian seed market by the maize breeding team of the Rural Development Administration (RDA), South Korea 2018. ‘KM2’ was bred by crossing two inbred lines, ‘15VL065’ and ‘KS155’. After a advanced yield trial at Dong Trieu, Vietnam, for the first cropping cycle in 2016, country adaptability trials were performed twice in three different countries: Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, in 2016 and 2017. ‘KM2’, a yellow intermediate seed for food and feed, adapts well to the northern Vietnam, northwestern Cambodia, and Central Java in Indonesia. It is an early maturing high-grain yield F1 hybrid. This hybrid is resistant to downy mildew, but not corn rust. The silking date of ‘KM2’ is 10 days earlier than that of ‘LVN10’, a leading cultivar in Vietnam. ‘KM2’ produced grain yields of 811 kg/10a, 845 kg/10a, and 783 kg/10a in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, respectively, showing even higher grain yield than the countries’ respective leading cultivar. ‘KM2’ produced 61%, 17%, and 14% higher grain yield in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Indonesia, respectively, than their respective control cultivars (‘LVN10’, ‘CP888’, ‘P21’) (Registration No. 8192).

Nowadays most parts of vegetable breeding in Korea have been conducted by private seed companies. However, in the beginning stages of breeding research, Horticulture Experiment Station played a crucial role. Major vegetable varieties that are distributed from Korea are produced as F₁ hybrids. Korea has developed leading techniques and human infrastructure for vegetable breeding. Such brilliant developments have resulted from three major factors: changes in the composition of varieties, the establishment of year-round vegetable production, and the development of the seed export market. First, an F₁ hybrid system increased seed performance more than traditional open pollinated (OP) varieties with respect to productivity, uniformity and disease resistance. Moreover, an F₁ hybrid system required repetitive seed production and provision, which increased the economic growth of seed companies. Second, vegetables tend to be consumed fresh instead of dried or processed. Finally, vegetable seed exports have continuously increased with the aid of R&D projects such as the Golden Seed Project (GSP). Therefore, for further progress of the vegetable industry, new varieties that can meet consumers’ demands, as well as the stable provision of fresh vegetables, are required. Contrary to the past, the future focus must be concerned with productivity and cultivation stability, the development of high value, functional, eco-friendly vegetables, and high quality vegetables. To cope with this, every breeding subject, including industry, universities, and institutes, have to collaborate with the aim of advancing vegetable breeding in Korea.

‘Yechan’ is a high grain quality mid-late maturing rice cultivar with lodging tolerance and multiple disease resistance. It was a derived from a cross between ‘Hopum’ and ‘Iksan537’ (cultivar name ‘Haepum’). ‘Hopum’ is a high grain quality mid-late maturing rice cultivar with strong lodging tolerance and ‘Haepum’ is a high grain quality medium maturing rice cultivar with multiple disease resistance. To shorten the breeding period, another culture method was applied to the F₁ plants. ‘Yechan’ was selected through the pedigree method, yield trials, and local adaptability tests, with a high selection pressure for grain quality, lodging, and disease resistance. The heading date of ‘Yechan’ was August 14, one day later than that of ‘Nampyeong’. ‘Yechan’ is a cultivar tolerant to lodging and it has short culms. It has multiple disease resistance against rice blast, rice stripe virus, and bacterial blight, including the K3a race, the most virulent race in Korea. The yield of ‘Yechan’ was similar to that of ‘Nampyeong’. ‘Yechan’ showed excellent grain appearance, superior taste when cooked, and enhanced milling performance; thus, we concluded that it could contribute to the improvement of Korean japonica rice cultivar quality. ‘Yechan’, a high grain quality mid-late maturing rice cultivar with lodging tolerance and multiple disease resistance, would be suitable for cultivation in the southern plain area in Korea and has been utilized in the breeding programs aimed at enhancing the grain quality and stability for the cultivation of Korean japonica rice (Registration No. 7647).