Barley and wheat are a major food crop of humans, along with rice, soybean and corn. A systematic breeding program for Korean barley began in 1906 with selection and introduction breeding. In 1908, landrace barley was collected, and breeding focused on selection and introduction for high yielding varieties until the 1970s. In the 1980s and 1990s, breeding was carried out for diversity; thereafter, we aimed to improve quality, productivity and lodging tolerance that can be applied to the paddy field in Korea. Since 2010, the major result of breeding was shortening cultivation to approximately 6–12 days, making a double cropping system possible in the paddy field in Korea. Yield has increased by 1.2 times from 438 kg/10 a in the 1960s to 536 kg/10 a in the 2010s, and farm yield has increased by 1.7 times. In addition, as cultivation safety has been enhanced, the varieties have also improved, such as the covered barley used in making tea and other processing products. In case of wheat, up to now forty cultivars have been developed in Korea. In the early stage, we developed a domestic wheat variety that was early maturing and high yielding. As a result, the maturation time of wheat planted in the 1970s to 2010 was shortened (from 13 to 30 days), while productivity increased by 30% from 408 kg/10 a in the 1970s to 532 kg/10 a in 2010. In recent years, there have been remarkable efforts for a more stable production by focusing on increasing disaster and pest resistance due to climate change. In addition, a wheat variety discrimination marker was developed using a variety-specific marker, and selection was made using a trait-specific marker at the early stage of breeding to enhance breeding efficiency. In the 2000s, winter cereals for forage have been promoted to expand forage production and to replace imported feed grains. Therefore, winter cereal that is useful for feed, such as rye, oat, and triticale, have had various varieties and safe production techniques developed. Currently, our research goal for winter cereals for feed is to develop a double-cropping adaptation and abiotic stress tolerance cultivar, and safe production in paddy field. Hence, aggressive action is needed to support the strategic survival of the Korean wheat and barley industry. Barley is a health food that requires a multifaceted effort to improve breeding efficiency, develop varieties that contain large amounts of functional components and are more resistant to stronger biotic and abiotic stresses in response to climate change. It is necessary to recognize the role of wheat and barley as the second main crop after rice, and to improve the self-sufficiency rate of these crops for the health and food industry crisis of Korea.

A winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar, ‘Taejoong’, was developed by the National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration in 2016. It was derived from a cross between ‘Xian83(104).11’ and ‘Keumkang’ in 2005. It was generated through the bulk and pedigree methods for six years, and then designated as ‘Iksan370’ after a two-year advanced yield trial test. This variety was designated the name ‘Taejoong’ after a regional yield trial test in eight locations throughout Korea for three years from 2014 to 2016. Its heading date was April 27 in upland and paddy filed conditions, and its maturity date was June 7 in uplands and June 4 in paddy fields, which were late compared to that of ‘Keumkang’. ‘Taejoong’ had 417 spikes per m², which was 300 less than that of ‘Keumkang’. However, the spike length was 13.4 cm and the number of kernel per one spike was 48, which was 5.8 cm longer and 19 higher than those of ‘Keumkang’, respectively. ‘Taejoong’ showed strong resistance to lodging and moderate resistance to Fusarium head blight, but was susceptible to powdery mildew. ‘Taejoong’ flour yield (71.8%) and flour lightness (91.90) were similar to those of ‘Keumkang’, but its protein content (11.1%), gluten content (8.8%), and sodium dodecyl sulfate-sedimentation volume (34.2 ml) were lower. These result showed that the flour dough strength of ‘Taejoong’ was weaker than that of ‘Keumkang’. The high-molecular-weight gluten subunit compositions of ‘Taejoong’ were Glu-A1 (N), Glu-B1 (7+9), and Glu-D1 (2+12). The granule-bound starch synthase compositions were Wx-A1, Wx-B1, and Wx-D1. The puroindoline compositions were Pina-D1 (a type) and Pinb-D1 (b type). The average grain yield of ‘Taejoong’ in a regional yield trial was 5.3 ton/ha in uplands and 4.6 ton/ha in paddy fields, which were 21% and 13% higher than that of the reference cultivar, ‘Keumkang’, respectively. (Registration No. 7378).

‘Joongmo2004’, a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar was developed by the National Institute of Crop Science, RDA. It was derived from the cross ‘Bacanora88/Keumkang//Keumkang’ during 1996. ‘Joongmo2004’ was evaluated as ‘Iksan320’ in advance yield trial test in 2006. It was tested in the regional yield trial test between 2007 and 2009. Its heading date was April 26 in upland and April 23 in paddy filed conditions, and Maturity date was June 5 in upland and June 4 in paddy field, which were similar to Keumkang, respectively. It showed 830 in number of spikes per m², 35 of grain number per spike, 44.9g of 1,000 grain weight, and 806g of test weight. ‘Joongmo2004’ showed moderate to fusarium graminearum (Scab) in test of specific character although ‘Keumkang’ is susceptible to scab. ‘Joongmo2004’ had higher flour yield (75.5%) than ‘Keumkang’(72.5%). ‘Joongmo2004’ showed similar ash (0.42%), lower protein content (12.3%), SDS-sedimentation volume (43.0 ml) and gluten content (10.3%) than ‘Keumkang’ (0.42%, 13.1%, 57.8ml and 10.8%, respectively). It showed higher lightness (89.97), redness (-1.38) and yellowness (10.76) in flour color than ‘Keumkang’ (89.61, -1.15 and 9.46, respectively). ‘Joongmo2004’ exhibited lower hardness (3.50N), similar springiness and higher cohesiveness of cooked noodles (0.92 and 0.65) compared to ‘Keumkang’ (4.54N, 0.93, and 0.63, respectively). The average grain yield in the regional yield trial was 517 kg/10a in upland and 534 kg/10a in paddy field, which were 11% lower and 3% higher than that of the check cultivar, ‘Keumkang’, respectively.

‘Joongmo2003’, a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar was developed by the National Institute of Crop Science, RDA. It was derived from the cross ‘SW86054/Keumkang’ during 1997. ‘Joongmo2003’ was evaluated as ‘Iksan318’ in advance yield trial test in 2006. It was tested in the regional yield trial test between 2007 and 2009. Its heading date was April 24 in upland and April 21 in paddy filed conditions, which was two days earlier than those of the check cultivar ‘Keumkang’, respectively, and maturity date was June 4 in upland and June 2 in paddy field, one or two days earlier than those of ‘Keumkang’, respectively. ‘Joongmo2003’ showed resistance to winter hardiness and pre-harvest sprouting, which lower withering rate on the low ridge (0.3%) and rate of pre-harvest sprouting (18.5%) than ‘Keumkang’ (9.2 and 25.8%, respectively). ‘Joongmo2003’ showed similar protein content (13.2%), lower SDS-sedimentation volume (54.0 ml) and higher gluten content (11.7%) than ‘Keumkang’ (13.1%, 57.8ml and 10.8%, respectively). It showed higher lightness (89.85) of flour and noodle dough sheet than ‘Keumkang’ (89.81 and 80.28, respectively). ‘Joongmo2003’ exhibited similar hardiness (3.84N), springiness and cohesiveness of cooked noodles (0.92 and 0.63) compared to ‘Keumkang’ (4.54N, 0.93, and 0.63, respectively). The average grain yield in the regional yield trial was 555 kg/10a in upland and 485 kg/10a in paddy field, which were 4% and 7% lower than those of the check cultivar, ‘Keumkang’, respectively.

Doubled haploid (DH) system is an effective tool in improving breeding efficiency and has been widely applied in wheat breeding programs. Wheat x maize hybridization is used for the production of wheat DH because of its efficiency and ease of application. We carried out an experiment to investigate genotype effect of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and maize (Zea mays) on efficiency of wheat haploid production. In various wheat x maize crosses, ten wheat and seven maize genotypes were tested. Haploid embryos were rescued and cultured for plant regeneration. Average seed set, embryo formation and haploid regeneration of five wheat varieties in crosses with a pollinator cv. Gangdaok were about 75%, 19% and 8.4%, respectively. Their haploid regeneration ranged from 3.7~9.8% and cv. Jokyoung showed highest regeneration. Average seed set, embryo formation and haploid regeneration of seven maize genotypes in crosses with a parent cv. Jokyoung were about 78%, 18% and 9.6%, respectively. Their haploid regeneration ranged from 7.6~12.9% and cv. Kwangpyeongok showed highest regeneration followed by cvs. Gangdaok and Gangilok. Analysis of variance for seed set and embryo formation showed highly significant effects of wheat parents and maize pollinators, whereas their interaction effect was only significant for seed set. The effect of maize genotypes on these traits was greater than that of wheat genotypes. Consequently, cvs. Kwangpyeongok, Gangdaok and Gangilok were found to be better pollen donors among the genotypes tested in wheat x maize hybridization for wheat hybrid production.