The intermediate breeding material ‘JJ625LG’ was developed to diversify the grain shape characteristics of Korean japonica rice cultivars. ‘JJ625LG’ was derived from a cross between ‘HR30198-AC33 (DGS79),’ a japonica breeding material with extra-long and spindle-shaped grains, and ‘Boramchan,’ a high-yielding japonica cultivar with excellent cultivation stability and medium-short and semi-round grains. By employing both bulk and pedigree breeding methods, strong selection pressure was applied to eliminate undesirable traits inherited from ‘DGS79,’ such as very late heading, long awns, and susceptibility to lodging. Consequently, elite lines with long spindle-shaped grains on a japonica background were selected. These lines subsequently underwent yield performance and local adaptability tests, during which their agronomic traits were comprehensively evaluated, leading to the final selection of ‘JJ625LG.’ The heading date of ‘JJ625LG’ was August 16th, three days later than that of ‘Nampyeong’. Its culm length was similar to ‘Nampyeong.’ ‘JJ625LG’ exhibited a higher number of spikelets per panicle, fewer panicles per plant, and heavier 1,000-grain weight than brown rice. Additionally, it showed strong resistance to bacterial blight (races K1, K2, and K3) but was susceptible to viral diseases and insect pests, indicating the need for further improvement in these areas. Its grain yield was comparable to that of ‘Nampyeong.’ With a brown rice grain length of 6.34 mm, ‘JJ625LG’ was classified as a long-grain type and had a grain length-to-width ratio of 2.64, reflecting a spindle-shaped morphology. It carried the GW2-gs3-qSW5 allele combination associated with grain shape, which is a genetic profile not found in existing Korean japonica cultivars. Although its milling recovery rate was similar to that of ‘Nampyeong,’ the presence of many broken rice due to its long grain shape resulted in a lower percentage of head rice. The eating quality of ‘JJ625LG’ was excellent, with its grains exhibiting the sticky and soft texture typical of japonica rice and receiving high scores in sensory evaluation. As the first intermediate breeding material in Korea with long and spindle-shaped grains in a japonica background, ‘JJ625LG’ is expected to contribute significantly to diversifying the traditionally narrow grain shape spectrum of Korean japonica rice cultivars (Registration No. 10166).

The decrease in seed vigor and grain quality during storage has become an increasingly critical issue due to the extended storage periods resulting from declining rice consumption and climate change in Korea. Despite its importance, few studies have investigated rice seed aging in a large number of Korean rice cultivars. In this study, 53 japonica rice cultivars were evaluated for seed germination, vigor, and grain quality-related traits under accelerated-aging conditions. Seed germination rate was evaluated 7 days after imbibition, following accelerated aging treatments at 42℃ and 95% relative humidity for 8, 12, and 16 days. The average germination rates were 72.9% in the control (0 d), 71.7% after 8 days, 59.0% after 12 days, and 5.6% after 16 days of treatment. Grain quality-related traits, including texture and pasting properties, were also evaluated in rice subjected to the accelerated aging treatment. Adhesiveness and stickiness decreased, whereas hardness and toughness increased, as seed aging progressed. Cluster analysis based on germination rates after accelerated aging identified three distinct clusters, with cultivars in Cluster 3 maintaining a high germination rate of 70.6% even after 12 days of aging, showing clear differences from the other clusters. A principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted to investigate the relationship between germination rate and grain quality-related traits. The results showed that the germination rate and hardness tended to be negatively associated across all three clusters. These results suggested that cultivars with higher germination rates tend to maintain a softer cooked rice texture after aging. Our results provide insight into the relationship between seed aging and grain quality, highlighting elite cultivars that maintain both germination ability and grain quality during storage as valuable resources for breeding programs.

Risotto is an Italian rice dish cooked in broth until it reaches a creamy consistency. This is one of the most common rice preparation methods in Italy. The famous rice varieties for risotto are ‘Carnaroli,’ ‘Arborio,’ and ‘Vialone Nano.’ This study was conducted to provide essential data for breeding risotto rice varieties suitable for Korea by analyzing the agricultural traits of three risotto varieties and ‘Cheolweon96’ (Carnaroli SA-mutant line) under Korean environmental conditions. The risotto varieties and the mutant line showed early maturation, similar to ‘IS592BB.’ They had longer culm lengths and fewer panicles per hill and spikelets per panicle than to the Korean rice varieties, ‘i.e., Sindongjin’ and ‘IS592BB.’ They also exhibited lower ratios of ripened grains, brown/rough rice ratios, and lower yields. The risotto rice varieties and the mutant line other than ‘Vialone Nano,’ represented longer, wider, and heavier grain characteristics. The rice varieties and the mutants line had high levels of chalky rice, which absorbs water rapidly during cooking. Because broth absorption is important in risotto preparation, chalkiness can be considered an important characteristic of risotto rice varieties. In the analysis of pasting properties, ‘Carnaroli,’ ‘Cheolweon96,’ and ‘Vialone Nano’ showed similar characteristics, whereas ‘Arborio’ was grouped with ‘IS592BB.’ The cooked rice of ‘Carnaroli,’ ‘Cheolweon96,’ and ‘Vialone Nano’ exhibited a hard and non-sticky texture, while that of ‘Arborio’ was softer and stickier than that of the Korean rice varieties. The risotto rice varieties showed a larger grain size, higher chalkiness, pasting temperature, setback viscosity, and harder texture than the Korean rice varieties. These characteristics are expected to be useful selection indicators for breeding Korean risotto rice varieties.

Breeding wheat cultivars with high nitrogen use efficiency is crucial for sustainable agriculture. In this study, 130 durum wheat accessions from 53 countries were cultivated under two nitrogen fertilization levels to investigate variations in agronomic traits and identify accessions suitable for low-nitrogen conditions. Under no nitrogen fertilization, SPAD value (-99.2), flag leaf length (−15.8 mm), grain area (−0.52 mm²), grain length (−0.27 mm), thousand-grain weight (+5.2 g), and grain protein content (−4.2%) showed significant differences compared to that under standard nitrogen fertilization. Among these traits, the SPAD value exhibited a strong positive correlation with protein content in the absence of nitrogen fertilization, suggesting its potential as an indicator for selecting germplasm with superior nitrogen use efficiency. Hierarchical cluster analysis, based on the differences in the six traits under the two nitrogen fertilization levels, classified the 130 durum wheat accessions into three groups (Groups 1, 2, and 3). Accessions in Group 2 exhibited superior adaptability under no nitrogen fertilization compared with those in the other two groups. We identified seven accessions in Group 2 that exhibited minimal decreases in SPAD values and protein content under no nitrogen fertilization for use in wheat breeding programs aimed at developing cultivars with high nitrogen use efficiencies.

To stably produce domestic wheat under water-scarce environmental conditions due to climate change, root characteristics with excellent water utilization rates are crucial. In this study, we analyzed the root and grain phenotypes of 37 domestic wheat varieties over a two-year period by combining the results of genetic mutations related to semi-dwarfing and grain size. Root length was positively correlated with maximum root depth (r=0.76**) and total seminal root length (r=0.54**), whereas it was negatively correlated with the number of roots (r=-0.33**) and root angles (r=-0.51**). The thousand-kernel weight was positively correlated with embryo width (r=0.34**) and embryo area (r=0.33**) but was not correlated with other root traits. Embryo length was positively correlated with the number of roots (r=0.34**) and coleoptile length (r=0.42**). Phenotypic analyses of roots and grains, along with genotypic analyses of semi-dwarfing (Rht-B1 and Rht-D1) and grain size (TaCWI-4A, TaCWI-5D, TaGW2-6A, TaSus2-2B) genes, revealed that the Rht-D1b genotype led to reduced root depth, increased root angles, and reduced coleoptile length. TaCwi-A1, TaCWI-5D, TaSus2-2B, and TaGW2-6A, possessing the alleles TaCwi-A1a, Hap-5D-C, Hap-L, and Hap-6A-G associated with a larger grain size, resulted in an increased number of roots and root depth. Domestic wheat varieties were categorized into three clusters based on root, grain, and coleoptile trait characteristics, with 15 varieties in Cluster I, 9 in Cluster II, and 13 in Cluster III. The results of this study can be utilized in basic research to develop varieties that can produce stable domestic wheat by selecting resources with excellent root growth and seed characteristics.

Since iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) are essential micronutrients for human immunity and metabolic activities, it is important to biofortify major food crops such as wheat and improve the bioavailability of Fe and Zn. In this review, we focused on analyzing studies conducted to identify and evaluate QTLs, genes, and associated molecular markers related to Fe and Zn content in wheat, their absorption mechanisms, and bioavailability in terms of genetics and breeding. Because bread wheat has a limited Fe and Zn content in its grains, many studies have used wild, synthetic, or mutant wheat resources with high Fe and Zn contents. Many studies have been conducted to characterize related genes, of which Gpc-B1 is the major gene that increases the final content of Fe, Zn, and protein in association with an Gpc-B1 increase in Fe uptake and regulate Zip and YSL expression. Research determining the appropriate phytic acid content and increasing phytase activity to improve bioavailability was also highlighted.

Powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici) significantly affects wheat yield and flour quality. Plant resistance to powdery mildew has been investigated for decades, and numerous resistance genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for molecular markers have been discovered. In Korea, powdery mildew occurs initially in spring, due to frequent rain and low temperatures, becoming severe during the harvest season. In Korea, systematic monitoring and quantitative and qualitative impact assessments of powdery mildew outbreaks have never been conducted properly. Herein, the lifecycle of powdery mildew, resistance genes, QTLs, and selection markers in wheat were examined to elucidate powdery mildew resistance, develop resistant varieties, and genetic markers suitable for the domestic environment.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a severe disease of wheat, mainly caused by Fusarium graminearum, which greatly reduces wheat production and directly affects human and animal health due to the mycotoxins produced in wheat grains. To develop high-quality, stable yields, and mycotoxin-free crop, it is essential to first understand the genetic basis of wheat FHB-resistance, and to design molecular markers facilitating the selection of FHB-resistant varieties. However, despite extensive global research efforts, genetic research and marker development for the selection of FHB-resistant varieties, in Korea, are insufficient. Here, we summarize recent studies on FHB-resistance genes, resistance resources, quantitative trait locus analysis, and genome-wide association studies to enhance our understanding of FHB and the breeding of FHB-resistant domestic wheat cultivars.

As recent advances in gene editing technologies have enabled rapid and accurate modification of target genes, new varieties are being developed through the application of gene editing technologies in various crop species. In particular, the CRISPR/Cas9 system has become a tool of choice for gene editing because it is much more economical and efficient than previous tools such as ZFN and TALEN, and is being actively used to improve various breeding traits, including biotic and abiotic stress tolerance to overcome the limitations of conventional plant breeding technologies. In this review, we retrieved 210 papers describing the utilization of CRISPR/Cas9 in rice published between 2013 and 2021 and classified them according to the field of study and traits of interest. Further case studies were conducted on 21 and 12 research papers that reported the enhancement of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, respectively. This demonstrated that CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing can be highly effective in improving resistance to bacterial (bacterial leaf blight and bacterial leaf streak), fungal (blast, sheath blight), and viral (rice tungro spherical virus, rice black streak virus) diseases as well as various abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, cold, and heat, in many cases, without diminishing important agronomic traits. As recent technological advances have begun to overcome the major limitations of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, such as low HDR efficiency and off-target effects, it is expected that more research on gene function and cultivar development will adopt CRISPR/Cas9 as a major gene editing tool in the future. To effectively apply such innovative technologies in crop improvement, much effort is required to establish more reasonable and detailed policies for regulating crops developed through new breeding technologies.

To improve the seed purity management system of Korean wheat cultivars, 50 Korean wheat cultivars were subjected to chemical assays for grain color, genotyping of grain weight-related genes, and grain image analysis. The tested cultivars were primarily classified by NaOH and ninhydrin tests as white (26%) and red (74%) cultivars, as well as high PPO activity (48%), and low PPO activity (52%) cultivars, respectively. The allelic variations of Tamyb10 gene revealed Tamyb-A1a/Tamyb-B1a/Tamyb-D1a as the major allelic combination in white wheat and five different Tamyb10 genotypes (i.e., aba, abb, baa, bba, and bbb) in red wheat. Those cultivars with high PPO activity possessed the Ppo-A1a/Ppo-B1b/Ppo-D1b genotype, while those with low PPO activity possessed the Ppo-A1b/Ppo-B1a/Ppo-D1a genotype. In the grain image analysis, long grain cultivars displayed increased grain width, circularity, and area. Based on cluster analysis of grain traits, the Korean wheat cultivars were classified into two groups - 1) large red grain cultivars released before 2000, and 2) small red grain cultivars and white wheat cultivars released after 2000. Further research is required to determine the effects of grain filling conditions on the grain characteristics of Korean wheat cultivars and to develop efficient and reliable molecular markers for an improved seed purity management system.

This study aimed to develop an agarose gel-based multiplex PCR assay using sequence-tagged site (STS) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers that can differentiate Korean wheat cultivars. Forty-nine Korean wheat cultivars were primarily classified based on seed coat color into red (36) and white (13) groups. Red wheat cultivars were further differentiated by three multiplex PCRs using molecular markers for Ppo-A1/Vrn-D1a/Rht-B1b, Glu-A3ac/TaCwi-A1b/Lr34, and Glu-A1ac/Glu-B1b/KWSM003/TaSE96. Similarly, white wheat cultivars were further differentiated using two multiplex PCRs using the molecular markers for Ppo-A1/Vrn-D1a/Pina-D1a and Ppo-B1/Glu-B3h. A multiplex PCR assay using molecular markers for Glu-A1b/Glu-D1d/Wx-B1 was developed to differentiate four Korean wheat cultivars used as government certified seeds: Baekkang, Hwanggeumal, Keumkang, and Saekeumkang. A multiplex PCR assay using molecular markers for Glu-B3h and Pin-D1a was used for colored wheat cultivars, Arijinheuk, Ariheuk, and Chinese colored wheat. The multiplex PCR assays developed in this study can provide useful molecular tools for differentiating Korean wheat cultivars, developing wheat seed management systems, and guaranteeing wheat seeds in Korea.

Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies have enabled large-scale cost-effective genotypic analyses, and consequently, obtaining reliable phenotypic data has now become a major bottleneck in data-driven plant breeding. In order to construct a phenotype database for commercial rice varieties released by the National Institute of Crop Science, Rural Development Administration, we initiated a systematic phenotype evaluation project, with the aim of investigating the major agronomic traits of Korean rice varieties released during the period between 1979 and 2017. Despite the narrow genetic background, we found that the days to heading (DTH) and culm length (CL) of the 297 Korean rice varieties assessed exhibited wide phenotypic variation under different environments. Under normal planting cultivation in 2018, the DTH ranged from 48 to 104 days in Suwon, 46 to 111 days in Wanju, and 39 to 97 days in Miryang, with CL values ranging from 59 to 134 cm, 55 to 122 cm, and 57 to 106 cm, respectively. During early planting cultivation in 2019, the DTH ranged from 56 to 113 days (Suwon), 58 to 109 days (Wanju), and 58 to 100 days (Miryang), with corresponding CL values ranging from 63 to 119 cm, 55 to 93 cm, and 51 to 115 cm. Despite the difference of one month in planting dates in 2018 and 2019, DTH in the different years and regions showed highly significant positive correlations (r=0.90-0.98), whereas CL showed positive but weaker correlations (r=0.45-0.82). Furthermore, we detected a weak, although significant, correlation between DTH and CL in each environment (r=-0.18-0.35). Analyses of additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) were conducted for DTH and CL to identify rice varieties with stable phenotypes under different environments. We anticipate that the findings of this study will provide a useful rice phenotype database to facilitate genotype-phenotype association studies and data-driven rice breeding.

AbstractStem rust is a major wheat disease caused by the fungus Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt). Occurring mainly in warm and humid climates, stem rust has generally been considered less prevalent than leaf rust (P. triticina) and stripe rust (P. striiformis f. sp. tritici). However, a highly virulent stem rust race, Ug99, appeared in Uganda in 1998 and has devastated wheat production throughout Africa and the Middle East. As damage caused by the Ug99 lineage and other newly diverging stem rust races continues to increase, extensive research on wheat breeding and genetics to enhance stem rust resistance has been conducted internationally. Among the 60 stem rust resistance genes reported thus far, 11 (Sr13, Sr21, Sr22, Sr33, Sr35, Sr45, Sr46, Sr50, Sr55, Sr57, and Sr60) have been cloned. New resistance sources have been sought by screening diverse wheat germplasms through international collaborations. Such efforts are urgently required in Korea to address the increasing threat of stem rust epidemics. Furthermore, major Pgt races in the Korean peninsula need to be pathotyped. This information can be used to screen major wheat cultivars, breeding lines, and landraces to identify effective resistance sources. Previously reported stem rust resistance genes should also be introduced and pyramided into the genetic background of Korean wheat breeding populations via available molecular markers. Finally, research capacity in molecular genetics and genomics needs to be strengthened to enable the identification of new stem rust resistance genes and the development of precise molecular markers.

AbstractExtensive research has been conducted in wheat to improve genetic resistance to rust, a major disease that deteriorates wheat yield and quality worldwide. Leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina is the most prevalent among the three major wheat rust diseases (leaf, stripe, and stem rust) globally and is adapted to a wide range of climates. Approximately 80 genes for leaf rust resistance have been reported, and six (Lr1, Lr10, Lr21, Lr22a, Lr34, and Lr67) have been cloned. Among these cloned genes, Lr34/Yr18/Sr57/Pm38 and Lr67/Yr46/Sr55/Pm46 are of special interest for breeding programs, as they provide pleiotropic resistance to stripe rust, stem rust, and powdery mildew as well as leaf rust. In Korea, knowledge on wheat breeding and genetics for rust resistance is insufficient, as agronomic measures have mainly been used to avoid rust. Therefore, an extensive research program to address the increasing threat of rust epidemics due to climate change is urgently required. Major Korean wheat cultivars, breeding lines, and landraces should be screened for leaf rust resistance. Diverse germplasms also need be introduced through international collaborations to broaden the genetic background for resistance. It is equally important to characterize the distribution of different leaf rust races in Korea and respond to changes in pathogen populations by using effective resistance genes in breeding programs. Research on molecular genetics and genomics needs to be furthered to identify new leaf rust resistance genes and develop efficient molecular markers.

Stripe rust (or yellow rust) caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici is the major wheat disease responsible for deteriorating global wheat yield and quality. Although stripe rust appears to be prevalent mainly in temperate areas, new races adapting to high temperature have recently appeared in warmer areas, such as Australia, the Middle East, and Africa, increasing the threat to global food security. Among the approximately 80 reported genes for stripe rust resistance, six (Yr5, Yr7, Yr15, Yr18, Yr36, Yr46) have been cloned. Stripe rust resistance genes are generally classified into race-specific (or all-stage) and non-race-specific (or high temperature adult plant) resistance genes. While resistance conferred by most race-specific genes are overcome by the appearance of new pathogen races within few years, non-race-specific genes, such as Yr18, Yr36, and Yr46, provide more durable resistance and are often stable for several decades. Yr18/Lr34/Sr57/Pm38 and Yr46/Lr67/Sr55/Pm46 are especially useful in breeding as they confer resistance to leaf rust, stem rust, and powdery mildew as well as stripe rust. Unlike the extensive global research efforts, few studies have been conducted in Korea regarding breeding and genetics for stripe rust resistance. To prevent damage by stripe rust in advance, it is important to monitor the changes in major pathogen races in Korea, evaluate major wheat breeding lines and landraces for stripe rust resistance by establishing an efficient screening system, and introduce new germplasm with various resistance genes. Reinforcing wheat molecular genetics and genomics capacity is also important to enable identification of new stripe rust resistance genes and efficient transfer of the novel genes into elite wheat cultivars using molecular markers.

An advanced F₈ population was derived from a cross between the hard wheat cultivar “Keumkang” carrying Pinb-D1b and the soft wheat cultivar “Olgeuru” carrying Pinb-D1a. A breeding line named “Hetero”, which exhibited the heterozygous-like Pinb-D1a/Pinb-D1b genotype, was selected by sequence analysis and KASP (Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR) assay. Physicochemical and processing characteristics of flour were tested in the Hetero line and compared with the two parental cultivars for two years. Hetero display a Glu-1 composition similar to Keumkang and a Glu-3 composition intermediate between Keumkang and Olgeuru. Contrary to the expectation that Hetero carrying the Pinb-D1a/Pinb-D1b genotype would exhibit an intermediate phenotype between the two parents, its overall flour physicochemical characteristics were more similar to Keumkang than to Olgeuru. The flour yield of Hetero (71.6%) was lower than that of Keumkang (74.5%). However, the flour particle size (73.3 μm) and damaged starch content (4.6%) of Hetero were similar to those of Keumkang (71.9 μm and 4.5%). The protein content (16.5%) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-sedimentation volume (72.8 mL) of Hetero were higher than those of Keumkang (14.0% and 57.5 mL) and Olgeuru (11.4% and 45.5 mL). The mixograph water absorption (68.7%) and mixing tolerance (17.7 mm) values of Hetero were higher than those of Keumkang (65.6% and 15.9 mm) with the same mixing time of 3.9 min. The bread loaf volume of Hetero was lower than that of Keumkang (866.7 vs. 894.7 mL). The cooked noodles hardness of Hetero was higher than that of Keumkang (5.9 vs. 4.7 N).

Hypoxia caused by water seeding of rice inhibits germination and often leads to serious problems in seedling establishment and early growth. To solve this problem, it is necessary to develop rice cultivars that can stably germinate and grow under anaerobic environments. In this study, we performed QTL analysis on anaerobic germination (AG) tolerance using 139 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between Milyang23 and Gihobyeo, and identified two QTLs (qAG2.1, qAG2.2) on chromosome 2. The LOD scores at qAG2.1 and qAG2.2 were 3.30 and 5.31, respectively. The phenotypic variances explained by the QTLs were 9.19% and 14.99%, respectively. The japonica cultivar Gihobyeo provided alleles for AG tolerance at both QTLs. While the chromosomal location of qAG2.2 overlapped with previously identified QTLs for AG tolerance, qAG2.1 was detected in a locus that has not been reported previously. The RILs carrying favorable type alleles for the AG tolerance at both QTLs (qAG2.1 + qAG2.2) expressed 41.0% survival rate under the AG condition, which was significantly higher than those of the RILs carrying single QTL, qAG2.1 (22.0%) or qAG2.2 (26.2%). As the favorable alleles for the two QTLs found in this study derived from the japonica cultivar Gihobyeo, it is expected that they would accompany less linkage drag such as shattering and lodging compared to those derived from indica or landraces. The result of this study would provide useful information for improving AG tolerance of japonica rice cultivars that can be used for water seeding cultivation.

‘Bodrami’ is a brown rice cultivar suitable for cooking, developed by crossing ‘Hwaseong’ and ‘Congsengla’ cultivars at Rural Development Administration, Korea, in 2003. Cooked brown rice of ‘Bodrami’ naturally has a soft texture, and after 24 hours of warm treatment, it maintained its soft texture and it was evaluated that the taste and texture of cooked brown rice were better than that of another rice cultivar. ‘Bodrami’ is a mid-maturing rice cultivar. The average heading date in ordinary planting was August 11^th in Suwon, Korea, which also exhibits strong to blast leaf and rice stripe virus, and brown rice yield of ‘Bodrami’ had a yield of 5.56 MT/ha in ordinary planting. The advantages of eating brown rice are high intake of GABA (which is excellent for controlling blood), γ-oryzanol (which is good for Antioxidation), rice embryos (rich in fiber), and rice bran (rich in minerals). Another advantage of ‘Bodrami’ is that, compared to glutinous rice varieties (which is a higher glycemic index), it has a lower glycemic index and a smooth texture. The consumption of white rice has been decreasing recently, while interest in brown rice has been increasing as a consequence of these advantages. ‘Bodrami’ was developed in response to recent changes in consumption preferences. (Registration No. 5644)

‘Baegilmi’ is an extremely early maturing rice variety that can be harvested within 100 days after transplanting, and also exhibits strong blast resistance and good grain appearance. From a mutant population of ‘Koshihikari’ treated with ethyl methanesulfonate, a promising line, ‘Suweon 559’, was selected through pedigree breeding and yield trials, and subsequently registered as ‘Baegilmi’. According to the 3-year (2012–2014) regional adaptability tests, the average heading date of Baegilmi in ordinary planting was July 14^th, which was 23 and 9 days earlier than that of the check varieties ‘Hwaseong’ and ‘Odae’, respectively. The milled rice yield of ‘Baegilmi’ was 4.53 MT/ha in ordinary planting (83% and 98% of ‘Hwaseong’ and ‘Odae’, respectively). ‘Baegilmi’ had a culm length of 75 cm (10 cm shorter than ‘Hwaseong’), a panicle length of 21 cm (similar to ‘Hwaseong’), and 12 panicles per plant (two fewer than ‘Hwaseong’). The brown rice of ‘Baegilmi’ was slightly more slender than ‘Hwaseong’, with a 1,000 grain weight of 20.6 g and length/width ratio of 1.92. The milled rice of ‘Baegilmi’ was translucent, with a protein content of 8.4% (1.7% higher than ‘Hwaseong’) and an amylose content of 18.6% (similar to ‘Hwaseong’). ‘Baegilmi’ exhibited strong blast resistance, but was susceptible to bacterial blight, viral diseases, and insect pests. The release of ‘Baegilmi’ is expected to provide a useful early-maturing rice variety that can be used in diverse cropping systems in paddy fields (Registration No. 6805).