The objective of this study was to elucidate the dynamics of microtubules in post-ovulatory aging in vivo and in vitro of mouse oocytes. The fresh ovulated oocytes were obtained from oviducts of superovulated female ICR mice at 16 hours after hCG injection. The post-ovulatory aged oocytes were collected at 24 and 48 hours after hCG injection from in vivo and in vitro, respectively. Immunocytochemistry was performed on -tubulin and acetylated -tubulin. The microtubules were localized in the spindle assembly, which was barrel-shaped or slightly pointed at its poles and located peripherally in the fresh ovulated oocytes. The frequency of misaligned metaphase chromosomes were significantly increased in post-ovulatory aged oocytes after 48 hours of hCG injection. The spindle length and width of post-ovulatory aged oocytes were significantly different from those of fresh ovulated oocytes, respectively. The staining intensity of acetylated -tubulin showed stronger in post-ovulatory aged oocytes than that in the fresh ovulated oocytes. In the aged oocytes, the spindles had moved towards the center of the oocytes from their original peripheral position and elongated, compared with the fresh ovulated oocytes. Microtubule organizing centers were formed and observed in the cytoplasm of the aged oocytes. On the contrary, it was not observed in the fresh ovulated oocytes. The alteration of spindle formation and chromosomes alignment substantiates the poor development and the increase of disorders from the post-ovulatory aged oocytes. It might be important to fertilize on time in ovulated oocytes for the developmental competence of embryos with normal karyotypes.

Fifty-five sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) germplasm from the Rural Development Administration (RDA) were analyzed for their fruit yield and fruit quality characters, including fruit weight, fruit size, pericarp thickness, total soluble content, fruit lobe, fruit shape, fruit surface and fruit color. Fruit yield per plot ranged from 200 g to 8150 g (average, 1884 g). Fruit fresh-weight per fruit ranged from 27.3 g to 200.0 g with an average of 97.2 g. Fruit length varied from 4.0 cm to 16.2 cm (average, 9.6 cm). Fruit length-to-width ratio ranged from 0.6 to 3.0 with an average 1.7. The fruit pericarp thickness ranged from 1.8 mm to 10.7 mm (average, 4.8 mm). Total soluble content was the highest (8.5˚ Brix) in K156286 and the lowest (5.3˚ Brix) in K156208 with the average value 6.7˚ Brix. Fruit lobes numbers varied from 2 to 4. Blocky, triangular, elongated, rectangular and round fruit shape identified among the sweet pepper accessions. Fruit surface varied from smooth to wrinkle and fruit color also varied. The presence of variability in fruit yield and quality traits within the sweet pepper genotypes can be utilized to develop high yielding sweet pepper variety with better fruit quality characters.

A field experiment was conducted to examine the fruit quality characters in second generation (F2) hybrid cultivar and to compare the fruit characters with original F1 hybrid cultivar of minipaprika (yellow and orange type) at the Research Farm, Hwacheon in July, 2010. Fruit characters varied within F2 population of each minipaprika type. In minipaprika yellow, fruit weight varied from 12.2 g to 50.8 g (average 28.5 g) and fruit length/width varied from 1.4 to 2.8 (average, 2.0). Pericarp thickness ranged from 1.8 mm to 4.1 mm (average, 2.9 mm). Total soluble solid (TSS) varied from 6.2˚Brix to 13.5˚Brix with an average of 8.7˚Brix. Fruit volume varied from 10.3 cc to 46.7 cc with an average of 24.4 cc. In minipaprika orange type, fruit weight ranged from 19.7 g to 42.4 g (average, 29.0 g) and fruit length/width varied from 1.5 to 2.6 (average, 2.0). Pericarp thickness varied from 2.1 mm to 4.1 mm with an average of 3.0 mm. TSS varied from 5.0˚Brix to 12.2˚Brix (average, 7.9˚Brix) and average fruit volume was 24.6 cc ranging from 10.7 cc to 35.0 cc. The average fruit quality characters in F2 population in both yellow and orange minipaprika did not differ from their F1 hybrid parent and F2 seed can be an additional way to supply high yielding hybrid cultivars at lower cost to the minipaprika growers.

Anther derived double haploids (DHs) from sweet pepper genotypes ('Special', 'Derby', 'Bossanova', 'Fiesta', 'Debora' and 'Minipaprika') were used to study the agronomic variation in 2006. Ninety-nine successful DHs regenerants (32 from 'Special', 25 from 'Derby', 23 from 'Bossanova', 10 from 'Fiesta', 6 from 'Debora' and 3 from 'Minipaprika') were transplanted at plastic house and studied on their agronomic characters. Variation in agronomic characters was observed within the DHs of each genotype. DHs obtained from 'Derby' and 'Fiesta' exhibited wide variation in fruit yield plant-1 whereas averaged fruit yield plant-1 was highest in 'Derby' (1608 g) and less variation was observed in DHs of 'Bossanova'. Based on the agronomic characters expressed in DHs population at this environment, SP55, SP56, SP60, and SP116 from 'Special', SP8, SP10, SP14, SP16, and SP34 from 'Derby', SP115, SP119, SP142, SP143, SP196, and SP199 from 'Bossanova', SP41, SP45, and SP114 from 'Fiesta', SP21 from 'Debora' and SP91 from 'Minipaprika' identified as elite inbred lines and these DH lines could be used for commercial hybrids production in sweet pepper. Genetic relationship among the selected inbred lines using molecular markers and their response to diseases are further recommended to study.

Rice is a staple food for more than 50% of the world's population. Embryo comprises only 2 to 3% of the weight distribution of the entire pericarp but has higher concentration of vitamins, proteins, and essential fatty acids than the other parts of grains. Moreover, α-tocoperol, γ-oryzanol, phytic acid and γ-aminobutric acid that have nutraceutical value are abundant. Increasing the volume of embryo assures the fortification of nutritional value of rice grain. We developed new black waxy giant embryo rice, Milyang 263 by crossing Josaengheugchal, a black waxy rice variety, and get, a giant embryo mutant generated by tissue culture. The nutrient contents and physical properties of Milyang 263 were compared with several giant embryo mutants and normal embryo rice varieties. Changes in the nutrient properties after germination were also observed. Results indicated that this new black waxy giant embryo rice, Milyang 263, offers a promising source for improving nutritional quality of rice especially anthocyanin, essential minerals, and GABA.

Anthers of sweet pepper F1 cultivar ‘Special’ were cultured on Dumas De Vaulx (C medium), supplemented with 0.1mgL-1 2, 4-D and 0.1 mg · L-1 kinetin with 3% sucrose, and 0.32% phytagel. The calluses obtained were further sub-cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium without growth regulators for regeneration. Regenerated plantlets were grown in plastic pots under plastic house and characterized their cytological and morphological characters in spring, 2008. Twenty percent plantlets were identified as haploid plants after chromosome and ploidy analysis. Haploid plants contained 12 chromosomes, high stomatal density with small stomatal length as compared to diploid plants. Stomatal length in haploids was 23.3% smaller than diploids. Haploid plants were characterized as small leaf and petiole size, poor vigor, thin stem and short plant height, short internodes and small flower buds, fruit size and fruit weight as compared to diploid plants and most of the haploid fruits were seedless. SP55, SP62, SP68, SP72 and SP77 are found high yielding double haploids with high total soluble content (8.6, 8.7, 9.2, 9.1 and 9.8 ºBrix, respectively) and desirable fruit shape, and recommended them to exploit as inbred lines for heterosis breeding.

Sweet pepper inbred lines (KNU1003, KNU1006, KNU1007, KNU1009, KNU1015, KNU1017 and KNU2006) developed at Kangwon National University (KNU) through conventional means, inbred lines (5AVS1, 5AVS2, 5AVS3, 5AVS5, 5AVS7 and 5AVS8) collected at Rural Development Administration (RDA) and inbred lines (SP12, SP27 and SP14) derived from anther culture were used as female parents and anther culture derived homozygous lines (SP9, SP10, SP14, SP24, SP25, SP27, SP30, SP32, SP34, SP38, SP43, SP45 and SP51) were used as male parents to produce F1 hybrids. A total of 37 F1 hybrids were evaluated for fruit yield and quality characters in summer season, 2007. Variation in fruit number, fruit weight, fruit yield per plant and fruit volume was observed among the F1 hybrids. Superiority on yield over standard/commercial varieties were differed among F1 hybrids. Hybrid 5AVS8 x SP45 exhibited highest heterosis over Special (16.5%) and Fiesta (24.7%). Fruit quality characters (fruit length, fruit width, pericarp thickness, total soluble solid, fruit shape and fruit color) were varied among the F1 hybrids. Fruit number, fruit weight and fruit volume per plant were correlated with fruit yield. Based on the standard heterosis expressed by the hybrids and quality characters evaluation, KNU1017 x SP27, 5AVS1 x SP43, 5AVS5 x SP27, 5AVS8 x SP45, SP12 x SP38 and SP27 x SP25 hybrids were found to be superior over commercial cultivars and are selected. Inbred lines of these hybrid combinations can be used to produce F1 hybrid seed for commercial production.