The development of pollen-free Lilium varieties can reduce the potential for allergies and increase the ornamental value as cut flowers. Moreover, lilies are not only ornamental but also edible, making them versatile in application. In this study, we developed a pollen-free Asiatic lily variety ‘Red Velvet’ with antioxidant activity. The crossbreeding was conducted in 2003 using the blackish-red ‘A3-22’ lineage and the orange and yellow bicolor ‘Cancun’. From the seeds produced, the pollen-free and color-excellent ‘A05-70’ was selected in 2005, and through growth and flowering characteristic tests, ‘Red Velvet (‘WonKyo C1-123’)’ was developed by 2015. Compared to the control ‘Brunello’, ‘Red Velvet’ exhibits superior horticultural characteristics, including taller plant height and excellent coloration in red and orange hues. Analyses of active components (total phenols and total flavonoids) and chemical antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS⁺ free radical scavenging) showed higher contents and antioxidant activity than the control, highlighting the potential for an expanded use of this new variety. The pollen-free ‘Red Velvet’ variety is expected to solve the problem of pollen issues and, through antioxidant activity research, expand the floriculture market and applications as a functional ingredient (Registration No. 6516).

‘Dahongmi’ was developed to enhance the quality of colored rice by crossing ‘Jeogjinju’, Korea’s red-brown colored rice variety, with ‘Junam’, a variety known for excellent cultivation characteristics. ‘Dahongmi’ is a mid-maturing cultivar harvested approximately 15 days later than ‘Jeogjinju’, suitable for the mid-central plains. Each ‘Dahongmi’ plant bears 14 panicles, similar to that in ‘Jeogjinju’ but with an additional 22 grains per panicle and a heavier 1000-grain weight compared to that of ‘Jeogjinju’. ‘Dahongmi’ exhibited superior low-temperature germination rate (85.1%) and a higher percentage of fertile grains at a cold-water irrigated nursery (36.2%) compared to ‘Jeogjinju’. The stem height of ‘Dahongmi’ is 89.7 cm, similar to that of ‘Jeogjinju’. However, ‘Dahongmi’ has a third node height 9 cm shorter than that of ‘Jeogjinju’, enhancing its resistance to lodging. Furthermore, it displayed resistance to leaf blast, bacterial leaf blight (K1, K2, and K3 strains), and rice stripe virus, ensuring stability during cultivation. The protein and amylose content of ‘Dahongmi’ are 5.5% and 18.9%, respectively, similar to that of ‘Jeogjinju’ (5.9%, 18.3%). The levels of antioxidant components such as total polyphenols and flavonoids are comparable to that of ‘Jeogjinju’. However, ‘Dahongmi’ does not exhibit resistance against bacterial leaf blight strain K3a and delphacidae, underscoring the importance of timely and balanced fertilization for effective early-stage management. ‘Dahongmi’ exhibits better yield, straw strength, and plant architecture compared to ‘Jeogjinju’. It has immense potential for augmenting the yield of high-antioxidant-pigmented rice varieties. In addition, it could provide valuable foundational data for the brown rice processing industry (Registration Number: 8680).

Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) is a major legume crop with a high protein and carbohydrate content. Mungbean sprouts have higher levels of bioactive phenolic compounds than mungbean seeds. In this study, the physical and biochemical characteristics of mungbean sprouts were investigated at the tissue level (cotyledon, hypocotyl, root, and seed coat) using three cultivars (Dahyeon, Samgang, and Sunhwa). Sunhwa was found to have longer hypocotyl, root, and cotyledon lengths and more bioactive compounds (phenols and flavonoids), leading to a higher antioxidant capacity compared to the other cultivars. Among the three cultivars, the hypocotyl had the highest antioxidant activity and bioactive compound content. The flavonoid content of the seed coat was as high as those of the cotyledon and root tissues. Although Dahyeon and Samgang mungbean sprouts are more suitable for consumption based on consumers’ preference for physical traits, they had lower antioxidant capacities than Sunhwa. The results of this study indicate that mungbean cultivars that are consumed as sprouts need to be developed to improve food quality for consumers’ needs.

The color and functionality of paprika fruits (Capsicum annuum L.) are important factors that determine consumption preferences. Paprika contains a large amount of functional phytochemicals, such as carotenoids and polyphenols. In this study, the total polyphenol content by total phenol content (TPC) assay, antioxidant activity by 2,2’-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total red pigment content by American spice trade association (ASTA) color were evaluated in a total of 93 commercial cultivars and germplasms of red paprika. In results, the total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity by ABTS and FRAP, and total red pigment content ranged from 6.35-11.84 mg GAE⋅g^-1 dry weight (DW), 19.80-44.84 mg trolox⋅g^-1 DW, 8.82-31.06 mg trolox⋅g^-1 DW, and 5.30-75.03 ASTA value, respectively. For each trait, there were 2, 31, 16, and 44 germplasms, respectively, which were higher than those of the commercial cultivars. The correlation analysis between the total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity (ABTS and FRAP) showed highly positive correlations, with r=0.69 and r=0.75, respectively. In contrast, the ASTA values showed very low negative correlations with ABTS (r=-0.15) and FRAP (r=-0.26). These results imply that the antioxidant activity in paprika was largely affected by the total polyphenol content but was hardly affected by the ASTA value. Accessions 30, 31, and 56 were selected with high red pigment content, and accessions 5, 21, 24, and 26 had high antioxidant activity as well as high polyphenol content. These germplasms will be useful for the development of new paprika varieties with high red pigment content or high antioxidant activity.

In order to select sweetpotato varieties with excellent tip characteristics, we investigated the appearance, yield, and functional compounds in 32 domestic sweetpotato varieties. During the cultivation period, the total production of sweetpotato tips among the different variety ranged from 1,780 to 9,923 g/m², with that of the Gogeonmi variety being the highest. The lutein content among varieties ranged from 21.7 to 47.0 mg/100 g and was highest in the Juhwangmi variety, whereas the ß-carotene content ranged from 25.5 to 183.4 mg/100 g and was highest in the Hayanmi variety. The total polyphenol content ranged from 30.7 to 74.4 mg CAE/g, and it was high in the Pungwonmi, Daeyumi, and Dahomi varieties at 74.4, 73.8, and 72.9 mg CAE/g, respectively, whereas the DPPH radical scavenging activity of tips ranged from 88.6% to 91.6%, with Gogeonmi and Healthymi showing the highest value of 91.6%. ABTS radical scavenging activity was found to be lowest in the Yeonjami variety at 86%, whereas the remaining 31 varieties showed values in excess of 96%. ABTS radical scavenging activity showed a high positive correlation with total polyphenol content. On the basis of these analyses, we identified Juhwangmi with high lutein content, Hayanmi with high beta-carotene content and high yield, and Gogeonmi with high DPPH radical scavenging activity and high yield, as being suitable varieties for tip cultivation. We anticipate that these sweetpotato varieties with excellent tip characteristics will be used as parents for the breeding of varieties for vegetable use.

Red peppers (Capsicum spp.) are one of the most widely consumed vegetables in Korea; thus, improving the beneficial properties of peppers may have important public health implications. Peppers contain various active phenolic compounds, including capsaicinoids; therefore, developing cultivars with high levels of these and other functional compounds is of major interest. We analyzed and compared the physiological activities and functional compounds on 15 cultivars of red peppers, including 5 commonly consumed cultivars that were collected from markets in Korea, and 10 important breeding cultivars that were registered with the National Agrobiodiversity Center (RDA, Korea). Comparisons of polyphenol content showed that polyphenol levels were higher in the green stages of the 10 registered peppers than in the same stage of ‘Noggwang Gochu’ peppers collected from the market. Based on ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6- sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity, all stages of the 10 registered peppers had higher antioxidative activity than did the green and red stages of ‘Noggwang Gochu.’ Overall, ‘Hongsinho Gochu’ and ‘House Put Gochu’ had the highest antioxidant activity levels and the highest functional content among breeding cultivars. Among landraces, ‘Jeonbuk Wanju’ red peppers had both the highest functional ingredient levels and the highest antioxidant activity levels.

The demand of sorghum is increasing since sorghum has significant and positive role in promoting nutrition and health of human beings; however, sorghum cultivated by farms is mostly a native variety having low genetic purity and low production, so it is necessary to improve the variety. Accordingly, the National Institute of Crop Science (NICS) developed “Donganme” that is non-glutinous and functional sorghum having antioxidant activity with higher yield potential. “Donganme” is the variety cultivated in 2012 through the breeding by the separation method from the foundation stock of ‘CS-4 LOCAL COLLECTION’ parceled out from the National Agricultural Genetic Resources Center. “Donganme” is a medium maturing variety, which takes the average of 71 days from the sowing date to the heading date, and the average of 120 days to the harvest. It has the culm length of 138 cm; the egg-shaped spikelets; dark red seeds, which are redder than those of the native variety, “Hwanggumchal.” Since the number of the ears is 3 per plant, the advantage of tillers is mature at the same time; The average quantity of the regional adaptation test is 3.1 MT/ha, and it means the high-yielding ability. In addition, Donganme contains various functional components including polyphenols, flavonoids, etc.; its antioxidant activity is 42.0 mgTE/g and 30% higher than that of “Hwanggumchal.” Unpolished grain’s thousand-kernel weight is 26.8 g; the weight per plant is as heavy as 33.6 g; the lodging is stronger than that of “Hwanggumchal”. Hwanggumchal has been cooked simply with rice due to its glutinous property, however, Donganme can be used more widely for processed food, such as bread, crackers, noodles, etc., due to its non-glutinous property. Moreover, its antioxidant activity can enhance the quality of those processed food.

A new small red bean cultivar, ‘Geomguseul’, was artificially crossed between ‘Chilbo’ and ‘SA8412-3-1-4-3-3-2-3’ in 1998, fixed excellent agronomic characters by pedigree breeding method, and selected for the further trials with the name of ‘Miryang 10’. It was prominent and showed good result, such as high grain quality, lodging resistance, and high-antioxidant activity in the regional adaptation yield trials (RYT) for three years from 2009 to 2011 and released for the public consumption as the name of ‘SA9801-24-4-3-1’ in 2011. ‘Geomguseul’ has a semi-determinate growth habit, yellow flower, green embryonic axis, black seed coat, white hilum, and small spherical seed (12.2 grams per 100 seeds). The average yield of ‘Geomguseul’ was 2.01 MT/ha in the regional yield trials (RYT) carried out for three years from 2009 to 2011 which was a little higher than that (1.98 MT/ha) of the check variety, ‘Chungju’.