Background : Codonopsis lanceolata is a flowering perennial climber. The roots are used as medicinal materials or vegetables. C. lanceolata is distributed in India and East Asia such as China, Japan as well as Korea. Recently, demand for C. lanceolata is increasing as a healthy food. In South Korea, this plant is widely cultivated in Gangwon-do province. Although, C. lanceolata is one of the most important medicinal plants in Korea, an elite, inbred line or a variety has not been developed yet. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker is a powerful tool for analysis of genetic relationships. In addition, it is a useful tool for studying the non-reference plant genome, due to its even distribution throughout the genome, as well as its high polymorphism between individuals. Methods and Results : We constructed microsatellite-enrichment libraries using C. lanceolata genomic DNA, and obtained a total of 226 non-redundant contig sequences. Routine PCR was performed using gDNA as templates for the polymorphic markers screening. Finally, total 15 polymorphic SSR markers based on C. lanceolata genomic sequences were successfully developed. These markers were applied to 53 C. lanceolata collected from Korea. 103 alleles of the 15 SSR markers ranged from 3 to 19 alleles at each locus, with an average of 6.87. The average of observed heterozygosity and genetic diversity were 0.42 and 0.62, respectively. The average of polymorphism information content (PIC) value was 0.57. The genetic distance value ranged from 0.73 to 0.93, and there was no observed distinct group according to the collecting areas. Conclusion : We developed 15 novel SSR markers from C. lanceolata genomic sequences for further genetic studies. Also, we concluded that the lineage of C. lanceolata collected in Korea has not been established systematically.

Background : In the herbal medicine market, Angelica gigas, Angelica sinensis, and Angelica acutiloba are all called "Danggui" and used confusingly. We aimed to assess the genetic diversity and relationships among 14 Angelica species collected from different global seed companies. Toward this aim we developed DNA markers to differentiate the Angelica species. Methods and Results : A total of 14 Angelica species, A. gigas, A. acutiloba, A. sinensis, A. pachycarpa, A. hendersonii, A. arguta, A. keiskei, A. atropurpurea, A. dahurica, A. genuflexa, A. tenuissima, A. archangelica, A. taiwaniana, and A. hispanica were collected. The genetic diversity of all 14 species was analyzed by using five chloroplast DNA-based simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and employing the DNA fragment analysis method. Each primer amplified 3 - 12 bands, with an average of 6.6 bands. Based on the genetic diversity analysis, these species were classified into specific species groups. The cluster dendrogram showed that the similarity coefficients ranged from 0.77 to 1.00. Conclusions : These findings could be used for further research on cultivar development by using molecular breeding techniques and for conservation of the genetic diversity of Angelica species. The analysis of polymorphic SSRs could provide an important experimental tool for examining a range of issues in plant genetics.

Background : Medicinal crop has been used in the traditional Asian medicinal methods. From ancient times, various kinds of medicinal crop are being cultivated in East Aisa including Korea, China and Japan. In Korea, they used a variety of medicinal plants in folk medicine and oriental medicine since ancient times. Molecular markers can be widely used in a variety of settings such as effective-loci estimation, genetic-diversity characterization, allelic-effect studies, gene-flow studies, quantitative-trait locus (QTL) mapping, and evolutionary studies. The genetic analyses of crops require large numbers of useful molecular markers for genetic or QTL identification, comparative mapping and breeding. Studying the genetic diversity and genetic relationship of crops can assist breeders. Crop genetics within a breeding program enable the economic and effective cultivar development. We tried to develop a variety of molecular markers from Angelica gigas genomic sequences for genetic studies and breeding. Methods and Results : A. gigas resources cultivated in Republic of Korea were collected. Fresh leaves were ground with liquid nitrogen and gDNA was extracted using a DNeasy Plant Mini kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA). We sequenced the whole genomes of five A. gigas accessions using Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform and identified genomic Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) and InDel markers. DNA amplification was conducted using the PCR system (Bio-Rad T-100 Thermal Cycler). PCR products were separated by capillary electrophoresis on the ABI 3730 DNA analyzer (Applied Biosystems) and Fragment analyzer automated CE system (Advanced Analytical Technologies, Ankeny, IA, USA). Conclusion : We developed novel SSR and InDel markers from A. gigas genomic sequences for further genetic studies and breeding.

Background : Codonopsis is a flowering plants belong to the family Campanulaceae, and has many kinds of medicinal properties. As currently recognized, two other groups, Campanumoea and Leptocodon, are included in the Codonopsis. The enlarged genus Codonopsis is distributed in Eastern, Southern, Central, and Southeastern Asia. C. lanceolata, C. clematidea and C. pilosula has many kinds of medicinal properties and this plants are used as medicinal and edible plants. C. ovata and C. mollis are distributed in Pakistan Kashmir and Himalaya mountains at an altitude of about 3,000 m, and flowers bloom in July to August. Methods and Results : In this study, we analyzed the genetic diversity of 5 Codonopsis species using 8 SSR markers base on C. lancelolata genomic sequences. Samples were obtained from fresh leaves of 5 plants from each species and genomic DNA was extracted using CTAB method. PCR was performed in total 20μl reaction volume containing 20 ng of DNA template and 5 pmole of primers. PCR conditions composed pre-denaturation at 95℃ for 5 min, then 35 cycles of 95°C for 30 sec, 60°C for 30 sec and 72°C for 30 sec, and a final extension at 72℃ for 30 min. The amplified band sizes ranged from 74 to 301 bp and clearly showed single or doble bands in eletrophoresis. From the phylogenetic analysis, C. lanceolata was grouped together, but the others were not grouped together according to the species. Conclusion : We concluded that C. lanceolata cultivated in Korea is different from the other species, and the eight SSR markers used in this study are able to distinguish C. lanceolata from the other species.

Background : Codonopsis lanceolata is used as a natural medicine or vegetables. It originates in East Asia such as Korea, Japan and China. C. lanceolata roots contain various chemical compounds including saponins like Panax ginseng. Although C. lanceolata are cultivated in different regions of South Korea, no variety has been developed. Therefore, it is necessary to develop discriminating methods such as molecular markers in C. lanceolata species. Methods and Results : To find simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, we sequenced C. lanceolata genomic DNA using Illumina HiSeq 2000 System. A total of 250,455 putative SSR loci were obtained, and 26,334 non-redundant primers were designed to amplify these SSRs. Di-nucleotied repeats were the most abundant SSR reapeats, accounting for 89.53% (23,578) of primer designed SSRs. Tri-nucleotide, tetra-nucleotide and penta-nucleotide accounted for 8.44% (2,223), 1.3%, (348) 0.2% (55), respectively. Tri-, tetra-, and penta-nucleotide (total of 2,626 SSRs) were investigated in silico to identify polymorphism between individuals. Consequently, 573 SSRs showed polymorphism. Forty genomic SSR markers were tested in 16 C. lanceolata plants for determination of PCR amplification and polymorphism. From these primers, 27 (67.5%) amplified products and the average polymorphism information content (PIC) value was 0.52. Conclusion : We development 27 SSR markers from C. lanceolata using NGS, and it could be used for breeding of new varieties in the future.

In this study, genetic diversity of wild Codonopsis lanceolata collected in Korea were analysed using SSR makers. Wild C. lanceolata roots were collected in Jeollanam-do Jangheung-gun Choentae Mountain as in roots. The wild C. lanceolata plants were cultivated in Chungbuk National University greenhouse and the leaves were sampled from 36 plants. The genomic DNA of C. lanceolata was extracted using CTAB. PCR was performed using a program of 35 cycles at 94℃ for 30 sec, 60℃ for 30 sec, and 72℃ for 30 sec with an pre-denaturation of 94℃ for 5 min and a final extension of 72℃ for 30 min. The PCR reaction mixture contains 5 pmole of primers and 20 ng of DNA template in a 20 μL reaction volume. The genotype of the analyzed samples were very different. Therefore, the wild C. lanceolata collected in Korea look genetically diverse.

Codonopsis lanceolata is a perennial climber. The roots are used as medicinal materials or vegetables. Recently, demand for C. lanceolata is increasing as a healthy food. C. lanceolata is distributed in India and East Asia such as China, Japan as well as Korea. In South Korea, this plant is widely cultivated in Gangwon-do province. No C. lanceolata varieties were developed in Korea. The objective of this study is to analyze genetic diversity of C. lanceolata cultivated in Korea using SSR makers. C. lanceolata roots were collected in each region were cultivated in Chungbuk National University greenhouse. Samples were obtained from fresh leaves of 5 plants from each collection region. The genomic DNA was extracted using CTAB. Genetic diversity was analysed using 4 sets of C. lanceolata SSR makers. PCR was performed in total 20 μL reaction volume containing 20 ng of DNA template, 5 pmole of primers. The genotypes of the analyzed samples were very similar. That means that the genetic diversity of C. lanceolata cultivated in Korea is very low.

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea L.) is a hardy perennial herbaceous plant of the Urticaceae family and has been grown as a fiber crop in several countries including Korea for many centuries. Ramie leaves also have been traditionally used as a major ingredient of a type of rice cake called ‘Song-pyun’ in the Southwest area of Korea, especially Yeong-Gwang province. Despite its economic importance, the molecular genetics of ramie have not been studied in detail yet. Genetic resources of ramie were widely collected from domestic local sites by Bioenergy Crop Research Center (RDA) and Yeong-Gwang Agricultural Technology Center. For the systematic and efficient management of the genetic resources, we developed SSR (simple sequence repeat) markers of ramie. To do this, we generated microsatellite-enriched genomic DNA libraries using magnetic bead hybridization selection method. 247 non-redundant contigs containing SSR motif were generated using nucleotide sequences of 376 clones from the libraries. Primer sets were designed from the flanking sequences of the repeat motif. Finally, we selected 10 SSR markers, possibly showing polymorphism among the genetic resources. Results on the genotype analysis of the ramie genetic resources using the SSR markers will be presented.

“Matnami” is a new sweetpotato variety developed by Mokpo Experiment Station, National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), RDA in 2006, for table use and food processing. This variety was selected from the cross between “Hongmi” and MI9510-12 in 1999. Seedling and line selections were performed from 2000 to 2002. Preliminary and advanced yield trials were carried out from 2003 to 2004. The regional yield trials were conducted at six locations from 2005 to 2006. “Matnami” has cordate leaf, green with purple vine and petiole, elliptic storage root, red skin and yellow flesh color of storage root. The average yield of storage root was 27.0 ton/ha in the regional yield trials, which was 11% higher than that of Yulmi variety. Number of storage roots over 50 gram per plant was 2.6. The average weight of one storage root was 173 gram. This variety is also resistant to fusarium wilt and nematode. In addition, steamed “Matnami” has higher polyphenol contents as 3.3 mg/g dw and higher biological activitiesas, which improve the bioactivity in human. The total sugar content was higher, thereby, sweeter than “Yulmi”. It shows lower (68.6℃) initial temperature of starch gelatinization and slower retrogradation process than “Yulmi”.

Sweetpotato tips are known to be very useful parts as a vegetable because of their high nutritive values and great biomass yield. This study was carried out to select a variety that is suitable to the tips of sweetpotatoes as vegetables. Twenty-two varieties were planted in polyethylene (PE) houses and upland field. The tips were cropped, tested and their tips' external characteristics, quantity, sweetness, toughness and taste were likewise tested. This research found that the external characteristics of the sweetpotato tips were mostly colored green or greenish purple and the leaves were of heart shape. When it comes to texture, the crops from the PE houses presented softer sense than those from the upland field, and due to the blanching, the degree of hardness was reduced by 60 percent. The varieties that presented soft texture after blanching were Yulmi, Geonmi, Hwangmi, Sinchunmi, M301, Eunmi, Juhwangmi, Singeonmi and Gogeonmi. The sweetness, which gives a great influence to the taste, was found to be 3.8 Brix°％ on the average for raw tips of sweetpotatoes cropped in P.E. houses, lower than the crops from the upland field which yielded 4.6 Brix°％. By varieties, those that were commonly high in both P.E. houses and upland field crops were three kinds - Geonmi, Sincheonmi and Juhwangmi. The yield derived was on the average 150 tons/ha, which was considerably high yield, compared to the greens like the Korean leeks, which were repeatedly cropped once planted, like the tips. The investigation into the external appearances, texture, sweetness and acceptability found that the varieties that are suitable for sweetpotato tips production are Yulmi, Geonmi, Hwangmi, Yeonmi, Chinmi and Juhwangmi.

Sweetpotato fields in Korea are highly infected with virus and virus like diseases that greatly diminish both yield and quality as indicated by field observations and laboratory tests. In order to solve this problem, there is an urgent need to produce and mass propagate virus-free planting materials for distribution to the farmers. These experiments were conducted, firstly, to determine the most appropriate culture media, nutrient solution, and cutting intervals to maintain growth and vigor of tissue cultured plantleta as mother plants for propagation in insect-proof greenhouse. And as a labor saving method, the production efficiency of plug trays for rapid propagation of stem cuttings as a source of planting materials was likewise evaluated. Results showed that plants grown in medium B supplied with 0.5 and 1.0 strength of MS nutrients had high growth rate, and 20-day cutting interval was the best. 72-plug tray was better than 128-plug. Secondly, it was to develop a technique for the production of first-generation seed roots using hydroponics cultivation system. The yield of virus-free plants propagated in the non-insect proof and open-field cultivation was 2,402 kg/10a, 6% higher than those in the insect-proof cultivation, and the rate of virus re-infection was 18% higher compared to 3.3% with insect-proof cultivation. Lastly, it was to investigate the growth performance of virus free plants in farmers' field. Differences were existed in the yield depending on the variety used, but virus free plants showed an increase of 6~24% over virus infected plants.

Yeonhwangmi is a new sweetpotato cultivar developed by Mokpo Experiment Station, National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), RDA in 2005, for table use and food processing. This variety was selected from the crossing between Mokpo 25 and Yulmi in 1997, Sel