We report the development of new anthocyanin-rich grain corn hybrid variety ‘Saekso 2’. The seed parent, HA3 and the pollen parent, HA4 was developed from breeding materials collected from China in 2008 and from Canada in 2000, respectively. The hybrid was made in the winter of 2010/2011 and evaluated in Hongcheon for 3 years. After evaluation, the selected variety was named ‘Saekso 2’ and was approved for a variety registration in 2017. Anthocyanin content of Saekso 2 in grain was 685 mg/100g and was much higher than that of Saeko 1(0mg/100g). Since regional tests was conducted in only Gangwon province, it is recommended only in that region for commercial cultivation. For the highest content of anthocyanin, it is best to harvest grains at around 45 days after silking. Saekso 2 is the first hybrid bred specifically for processing for high anthocyanin production.

This study was carried out to create new popcorn variety. ‘G-Popcorn’ was made by single crossing with two inbred lines, the seed parent, GP3, and the pollen parent, GP4. The hybrid was made in 2009 and selected in 2014 after investigating characteristics for three years from 2012 to 2014. ‘G-Popcorn’ was evaluated on 2 or 3 places in Gangwon-do for three years. ‘G-Popcorn’ showed higher lodging tolerance and popping volume in contrast to the check variety ‘Oryunpopcorn’. The plant height is 213cm indicating 5cm lower than that of ‘Oryunpopcorn’. Also, ration ear height of plant height of ‘G-Popcorn’ is 59%. The weight of 100 seeds was 15.5g, similar to that of ‘Oryunpopcorn’. The popping volume of ‘G-Popcorn’ was about 28.3cm³/g, higher than 25.0cm³/g of ‘Oryunpopcorn’. The yield of ‘G-Popcorn’ was 467kg/10a in regional yield trials for three years, which was 7% higher than that of ‘Oryunpopcorn’.

This study was carried out to create new waxy corn variety using anthocyanins germplasm including 13 ornamental maize stocks, purple corn and two parental lines of Mibaek2. First, we made anthocyanin husk population for sustainable breeding from 13 ornamental stocks for 6 years from 2001 and then crossed purple corn with a dark purple kernel in 2007. We crossed this hybrid with two parental lines of Mibaek2, a good edible quality waxy corn, in 2007/2008 dry season nursery for additional breeding in Thailand. The anthocyanin-rich waxy lines derived from these hybrids were self-fertilized seven times and made single cross hybrids until 2011. These hybrids were evaluated on 2 or 3 places in Gangwon-do for next two years. One selected elite hybrid was named Cheongchunchal and applied for registration of new waxy corn variety in March 2014. Total anthocyanins content is zero in Mibaek2, 737 in Miheugchal, 18,809 mg/kg in Cheongchunchal. This variety is meaningful as health food and high-value industrial material.