Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) is a powerful tool for the detection of DNA sequences in the specific region of the chromosomes. As well as for the integrated physical mapping, FISH karyotype analysis has to be preceded. The detailed karyotypes of two onion cultivars, which are resources for onion genome sequencing project (‘Eumginara’ and ‘Sinsunhwang’), were constructed based on triple color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using 5S rDNA, 45S rDNA, and tandem repeat sequence. All used our materials showed 2n=2x=16 with x=8 as basic chromosome number. 5S rDNAs were located on 4 loci in one pair of interstitial region of short arm chromosome in both onion cultivars. Two pairs of 45S rDNAs were positioned in distal region of short arm chromosome in ‘Eumginara’. Otherwise 5 loci of 45S rDNAs were located in distal region of two pairs of short arm chromosome in ‘Sinsunhwang’. Among them, two signals of 45S rDNAs were co-localized in distal part of short arm and long arm chromosome, respectively. In case of tandem repeat sequence was detected on telomeric region of 8 pairs of chromosomes except on 45S ribosomal DNA sites. These results will provide a valuable background for physical mapping and help to further more understand the genome sequencing project in Allium cepa.

The precise, fast, and cost-effective identification of important fruit crop cultivars is essential for practical breeding and plant breeder’s rights. Traditional methods for identification of persimmon cultivars are based on the evaluation of sets of morphological characteristics. However, the identification using only morphological traits is difficult to distinguish among genetically closely related cultivars. This study was conducted to develop more reliable DNA markers for identification of the 32 persimmon cultivars in Korea and Japan. In total, 309 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were identified using 40 different random primers. The 4 (OPP-08) to 14 (UBD159) polymorphic bands were detected with an average of 7.7. The resulting 57 RAPD fragments were selected, and their sequences were determined for developing sequence-characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers. As a result, 15 of 57 RAPD fragments were successfully converted to SCAR markers. A single polymorphic band of the same size as the RAPD fragments or smaller DNA fragments were amplified depending on primer combinations in the 15 SCAR markers. Among these markers, a combination of eight SCAR markers (PS225_200, PSN05_420, PSF13_523, PSN11_540, PS372_567, PS485_569, PSP08_635, and PS631_735) provided sufficient polymorphisms to identify 32 persimmon cultivars depending on number and size of amplicons. These newly developed markers will be useful as a fast and reliable tool to identify persimmon cultivars.

We investigated the changes in plasma sex steroid hormones, testosterone (T), estradiol- (), 17,-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (), 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) and cortisol levels from ribbed gunnel, Dictyosoma burgeri in associated with annual reproductive cycle. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of females increased from November, peaked in February and decreased rapidly from March. The GSI of males also increased from November, peaked in January and then decreased gradually. In females, levels increased and remained high from December to February. The levels of T showed a similar tendency and correlated (=0.898, p<0.01) with levels. The levels of increased rapidly in February () and peaked in July (). Cortisol level was peaked in March and correlated with levels (=0.696, p<0.01). In males, the levels of T was peaked in January and then decreased rapidly. The levels of 11KT were remained high from October to January. On the other hand, the levels of fluctuated during reproductive cycle. These results suggest that plasma sex steroids in ribbed gunnels have annual periodicity, and that cortisol may involve in maturation of females.

The Hardy Kiwifruit (A. arguta (Sieb. & Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq.) is one of the valuable species due to their edible fruit, high content of nutritious substances, especially abundant of vitamin C, and distinctive flavor and medicinal usage. In order to develop a new A. arguta cultivar with larger fruit and high yielding, 168 candidate plants were collected from wild population in 12 locations distributed 4 provinces (Chungbuk, Gangwon, Gyeongnam, Jeonbuk) from 1985 to 1987. A clone bank that contained highly productive, superior genotypes of A. arguta was assembled in 1988, and 32 excellent clones were selected in 1996 through the clonal test for the growth and fruiting. Evaluation on these clones was done for the fruiting characteristics, yield trial, and major agronomic traits, such as Average Fruit Length (FL) and Width (FW), and Weight of Fruit (WF) and Individual Yields (IY), during 6 years (1997~2002). After the final selection, a new A. arguta cultivar, “Sae-Han” with larger fruit and high yielding was registered as a new variety denomination and certificated variety production and merchandising in 2006 (Table 1). “Sae-Han” is a tetraploid plant and has ellipsoid fruit shape, and has particularly large fruit size (Fig. 1, Table 3). The major agronomic traits of “Sae-Han” showed the large values and selection effect with an average of 43.6 mm (FL), 36.1 mm (FW), 29.4 g (WF), and 17.5 kg (IY), which are 35.0%, 19.9%, 81.5%, and 124.4% compared to the mean of 29 sample trees, respectively (Table 2).

Hardy Kiwifruit (A. arguta (Sieb. & Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq.) is one of the valuable species due to their edible fruits, high content of nutritious substances, especially abundant of vitamin C, and distinctive flavor and medicinal usage. Therefore, we have developed a new cultivar of A. arguta with large fruits and high yielding. For this, 168 candidate plants were collected from wild population in 12 locations from 4 provinces (Chungbuk, Gangwon, Gyeongnam, and Jeonbuk) from 1985 to 1987. A clone bank that contained highly productive, superior genotypes of A. arguta was assembled in 1988, and 32 excellent clones were selected in 1996 through clone tests for growth and fruiting. From these clones, we have regularly investigated yield trials for the fruiting characteristics for evaluation of major agronomic traits, which are the average of Fruit Length (FL), Fruit Width (FW), Weight of Fruit (WF) and Individual Yield (IY), during consecutive 6 years (1997~2002). Finally, we have selected the new A.arguta cultivar, “Chil-Bo” with large fruits and high yielding and registered as a new variety denomination and certificated for variety production and merchandising in 2006 (Table 1). This cultivar is characterized by a tetraploid plant and spheroid type in the fruit shape, and is particularly characterized by large fruit size (Fig. 1). The major agronomic traits of this cultivar showed the large selection effect with an average of 28.4 mm (FL), 36.9 mm (FW), 18.2 g (WF), and 24.2 kg (IY), which are -12.1%, 22.6%, 12.4%, and 210.3% compared to the mean of 29 sample trees, respectively (Table 2).

Oil and fatty acid composition of 648 soybean germplasms of different categories including Korean and American source were analyzed by NIRS (Near Infrared Reflectance Spectrophotometer) method at Yeongnam Agricultural Research Institute, Milyang, Korea. A

The effect of plant growth regulators was investigated on in vitro shoot proliferation from axillary bud explants of Hypericum erectum. To determine the optimal cytokinin for proliferation of axillay buds, we carried out screening four cytokinins (BA, kinetin, 2iP, TDZ). When nodal segments were cultured on MS medium supplemented with 4.5 μM TDZ (thidiazuron), a number of shoots were induced. Our results indicated that the addition of TDZ to culture medium resulted in the induction of significantly more axillary buds than in the addition of other cytokinins. The optimal concentration of TDZ for proliferation of axillary buds was 10 μM. 92% of shoots spontaneously rooted without any plant growth regulator (PGR) and formed whole plantlets within one month. More than 95% of these regenerants survived and they did not show any detectable variation in morphology or growth characteristics compared to their donor plants.

Oil and fatty acid compositions of 1,429 germplasms including 1,121 cultivated soybeans for sprout production and 308wild soybeans were analyzed by the NIRS (Near Infrared Reflectance Spectrophotometer) method at Yeongnam AgriculturalResearch Institute, M

“Jokyoung”, a new bread making wheat cultivar, was developed from the cross between “Seri 82”, a hard white wheat from CIMMYT, Mexico and “Keumkang”, a hard white wheat with high milling rate and early maturing from Korea by National Institute of Crop Sci

A recombinant inbred lines (RILs) consisting of 231 lines, derived from a japonica (Suweon365) and a japonica (Chu-cheongbyeo) rice, was used to investigate the genetic factors affecting cooking and eating quality of rice. Alkali digestion valueloci (QTLs