Capsicum diversity is getting lower in modern crops because of the genetic erosion. In Capsicum, breeders have been mainly focused on agriculturally important traits such as disease resistances, high yield and pungency. This narrow breeding pool hampered to develop improved cultivars. It has become a hot issue to conservation of genetic diversity and exploitation of wild germplasm in Capsicum. However, although a large number of accessions are maintained in Capsicum germplasm collections, their use for crop improvement is limited by the scarcity of information on genetic diversity, population structure and proper phenotypic assessment. The identification of representative and manageable subset of accessions would facilitate access to the diversity available in large collections. A genome wide germplasm characterization using molecular markers can offer reliable tools for adjusting the quality and representativeness of core samples. We investigated patterns of molecular diversity at 48 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 4056 accessions from 11 Capsicum species from 89 different countries. Using these genetic variations and 32 different morphological traits, 250 core set was selected in whole Capsicum germplasm. The core collection could be a primary source for distributing germplasm to pepper breeders and other national programs as well as for evaluation

Capsicum diversity is getting lower in modern crops because of the genetic erosion. In Capsicum, breeders have been mainly focused on agriculturally important traits such as disease resistances, high yield and pungency. However, this narrow breeding pool hampered to develop improved cultivars. It has become a hot issue to conservation of genetic diversity and exploitation of wild germplasm in Capsicum. Analysis of genetic diversity and construction of core collection is the first step to make efficient use of germplasm. Although there have been several attempts to construct core collections in Capsicum, most of these works were limited due to handling small number of samples, relying mainly on the characterization of morphological traits or focusing only C. annuum species. To expand understanding of the structure and genetic diversity of germplasm in Capsicum, we need to have a highly efficient genotyping tool to handle large number of samples. Toward this end, we are analyzing 3,599 germplasm accessions including other cultivated species and wild species in Capsicum with 48 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers.

Muscle strength and endurance activities of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer; KG) were compared with those of wild simulated cultivation ginseng (WCG) in mice. Fifty male ICR mice were divided into five groups: A (vehicle); B (WCG 100 mg/kg); C (WCG 500 mg/kg); D (KG 100 mg/kg); E (KG 500 mg/kg). Subsequently, the mice were subjected to the forced swimming test (FST) and treadmill test at the 4th and 7th weeks. The glycogen content in the muscle and blood analysis (levels of glucose, triglyceride (TG), IGF-1) were also performed immediately after the last FST and treadmill test at the 7th week. Immobility times in FST were shorter in WCG- than KG-treated groups, and the results of the treadmill tests were also significant except for KG-treated at 100 mg/kg. The glycogen content was increased in both groups with a peak at 500 mg/kg of WCG groups. Serum concentrations of TG and glucose were decreased by administration of KG and WCG and all treated groups showed increase in the level of IGF-1 in serum. These results suggest that KG and WCG supplementations are effective in escalating the muscle strength and endurance.

In pepper, investigation of important traits such as disease resistances, high yield and pungency were mostly focused on a cultivated species, Capsicum annuum. This narrow breeding pool hampered to develop improved cultivars. Exploitation of wild germplasm in Capsicum has been recognized as an important issue. The construction of core collection and analysis of genetic diversity in Capsicum is the first step to make full use of germplasm. Although there have been several attempts to construct core collections in Capsicum, most of the works were limited due to handling small number of samples, relying mainly on the characterization of morphological traits and focusing on C. annuum species. Therefore, the comprehensive studies for genetic diversity and structure of Capsicum including phenotypic data, molecular marker patterns and evaluation of useful alleles are very necessary to understand the structure and patterns of genetic diversity in Capsicum. We are developing for a core collection set in Capsicum using molecular markers and phenotypic data with over 3,000 germplasm accessions.

For QTL analysis of agronomic traits based on cultivation of low and high altitude locations, BC1 F5 181 lines were developed from a cross of Tongil type Gayabyeo and japonica Chhomrong originated from Nepal. Plant materials were grown in both of low altitude area of Milyang, Korea and high altitude area of Khumaltar, Nepal. In QTLs analysis, a total of 42 QTLs were detected in days to flowering, culm length, panicle length, number of panicles/hill, panicle exertion, and spikelet ripening ratio. Although many of the QTLs were coincided between the two locations of Korea and Nepal, several QTLs were revealed as location specific in high altitude area of Khumaltar. Especially, the regions harboring marker RM489-RM14281 on chromo- some 3, RM5642-RM19049 on chromosome 5, and RM2854-RM6696 on chromosome 12 where QTLs were clustered and coincided between the two locations are considered as positive target regions for environmental independent traits. Furthermore, high rate of location specific QTLs such as panicle exertion and spikelet ripening ratio could be considered carefully for understanding the mechanism of cold tolerance based on cultivation of different altitude location.

In this study, a series of laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the weak reflection of regular and random water waves over a train of protruded permeable shore structures. A cylindrical slit type breakwater and the alternatives are employed and compared for reflecting and transmitting capabilities of incident waves including wave forces. A series of random waves were generated by using the Bretschneider-Mitsuyasu frequency and directional spectrum. Measured spectrum of irregular waves without breakwaters is verified by comparing with those of the input waves generated. Weak reflection is occurred at the breakwater center of the peak frequency. If the row of breakwaters is fixed at three layers and the relative height of breakwater is fixed at 0.6, around 45% of incident wave energy is reflected to offshore. It is also found that the transmission of directional random waves increases as the maximum frequency parameter increases. A very good agreement is observed. Reflection coefficients of permeable submerged breakwaters are less than those of impermeable breakwaters. The upside-down L shape is recommended for a small fishery harbor mooring in terms of reflecting capability and of practical application. The final design was applied to the wharf of a small beach of Seolly, near Namhae at the southeast coast of Korea.

The effect of seasonal wind on the tidal circulation in Jeju harbor was examined by using a numerical shallow water model. A finite element for analyzing shallow water flow is presented. The Galerkin method is employed for spatial discretization. Two step explicit finite element scheme is used to discretize the time function, which has advantage in problems treating large numbers of elements and unsteady state. The numerical simulation is compared with three cases; Case 1 does not consider the effect of wind, Case 2 and Case 3 consider the effect of summer and winter seasonal wind, respectively. According to result considering effect of seasonal wind, velocity of current vector shows slightly stronger than that of case 1 in the flow field. It can be concluded that the present method is a useful and effective tool in tidal current analysis.

“Younbaek”, a new noodle making wheat cultivar, was developed from the cross between “Keumkang” with white grain color and “Tapdongmil” by the Honam Agricultural Research Institute(HARI), National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), RDA, Korea in 2005. Amon

Genetic background and phylogenetic relationships among 20 Korean wheat cultivars were assessed using microsatellites after amplifying with 13 SSR primer pairs. Average allele number per primer pair was 3.36. Genetic similarities for every pair of cultivars ranged from 0.42 to 0.97, with 0.69 of overall average. Korean cultivars were divided into two major groups based on microsatellite DNA polymorphisms. Group I consisted of relatively old cultivars developed until 1970s, and group II contained the recent cultivars developed during 1980s and 1990s. Amongst old elite cultivars/lines, ‘Yukseung 3’, ‘Norin 12’ and ‘Norin 72’ contributed most to the genetic background of cultivars belonging to group I, and ‘Norin 4’, ‘Norin 12’, ‘Norin 43’ and ‘Norin 72’ to group II, respectively. The phylogenetic relationship of Korean wheat cultivars was in accordance with the genealogical data of each cultivar. The genetic background of each cultivar was assessed from the point of breeding and germplasm management such as variety identification and duplicated accessions for assisting in developing a system for the registration of new variety based on the molecular characterization in future.