Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is important crop as a staple carbohydrate sources and was regarded as domesticated in Asia region. The seed dormancy is one of the domesticated traits, and this character allows that plants survive in various environment. The degree of dormancy have been targeted for controling in breeding program while weak dormancy cause pre-harvest sprouting contrary to the nonuniform seed germination by strong dormancy. In this study, we surveyed the variation of germiability in diverse rice genetic resources including japonica and indica ecotype. Overall, the degree of seed dormancy of rice germplasm was distinguished into four groups and admixed types; first group(G-1) included accessions revealing high germiability, the accessions of second group(G-2) acquired the high germiability by after-ripening process, third group(G-3)’s accessions showed high germiability after dormancy breaking process and the accessions of last group(G-4) maintained the low germiability in spite of the dormancy breaking process. Among the 51 japonica accessions G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-4 included 15, 15, 11 and 10 accessions, respectively, and among 40 indica accessions, G-1, G-2, G-3 and G-4 groups included 15, 15, 9 and 1 accessions, respectively. Based on these primary test, we plan to detail examine the seed germiability and survey the genetic factors affecting the degree of germiability in representative accessions of each group

This study was conducted to compare seed viability among 42 species after ten years of storage in the midterm storage complex (4℃, 30-40% RH) at the National Agrobiodiversity Center (NAC) Korean genebank maintained by the Rural Development Administration (RDA), Republic of Korea and to suggest the relative seed longevity and suitable monitoring intervals. The germination data from initial tests and after ten years of storage were compared to measure changes in viability during storage. The decline in seed viability varied greatly among seeds from -11.5% for Triticum sp. to 80% for melon. Coriander, crowndaisy, safflower, cosmos, Chinesebellflower, waxgourd, melon, castorbean, Welch-onion, hollyhock, wild barley, and tallfescue showed significant decreases in viability of 34.2%, 73.4%, 36.5%, 30.0%, 40.2%, 71.3%, 80.0%, 65.9%, 45.5%, 51.4%, 53.0%, and 33.5%, respectively. Gardenpea, soybean, perilla, onion, wild rice, Italian-ryegrass, and pepper showed a 15-30% decline in viability, while the viability of morningglory, adzukibean, maize, and Capsicum sp. decreased by 15% to 5%. Chicory, radish, Chinese-cabbage, bottlegourd, watermelon, cucumber, pumpkin, Cucurbita sp., groundnut, kidneybean, clubwheat, sesame, wheat, Triticum sp., rice, barley, orchardgrass, buckwheat, and wild tomato showed changes in viability of <5%. The changes in storage viability also varied within families. The wild types of rice and barley showed rapid viability loss and presented different aspects from cultivars. Since seed viability of species, classified as index 1 or 2, showed germination losses >15% after ten years of storage, a viability test should be conducted with five year intervals, while species with germination loss of <15% (in index 3 or 4) can be retested at ten year intervals.

The world-wide capacity of genebanks for ex-situ conservation of crop genetic resources has increased greatly since the 1970s, improving the access of crop breeders to landraces, and wild relatives (Wright, 1997). In south Korea, systematic seed germplasm management was begun at the Rural Development Administration (RDA) in 1985 and consequently genebank system was established in 1988. The RDA genebank, National Agrobiodiversity Center (NAC) of south Korea, preserve 173,217 accessions of plant seed germplasm and 10.7% (18,509 accessions) of whole preserved germplasm is occupied by horticultral PGR by 2011. Horticultural PGR preserved in NAC is composed with 67 genera of crops including pepper (3,817 accessions), tomato (2,040 accessions), cabbages (1,690 accessions) and etc. According to horticultural plant sub-group, fruit-vegetable is the biggest group with 60% of accession share and leafy vegetable (19%), root vegetable (10%), bulb vegetable (8%), and ornamental (3%) follow subsequently. In aspect of PGR status, landrace is dominant part of conserved accession and then developed cultivar, wild relatives, cultivated material, wild, and weedy type follow subsequently. Recently characterization and evaluation of horticultural PGR have been activated for 3 years in NAC, which are useful for breeders and users focused on disease-resistance or active ingredient. It will promote utilization of horticultural PGR and development of horticultural crop breeding program for both human being and sustainable agriculture in near future.

This experiment was carried out to find suitable sample type for a more accurate prediction and non-destructive way in the application of NIRS technique for estimation amino acid composition of soybean by comparing three different sample types, single seed, whole seeds, and milled seeds’ powder. The coefficient of determination in calibration and 1-VR of cross-validation for 17 amino acids analyzed by NIR using milled powder were highest, followed by single seed, and then whole seeds were the lowest. The R2 coefficients of determination in calibration for single bean perimeters were higher than those of whole beans and showed higher R2 coefficient than 0.8 with the exception of seven amino acids. On the other hand, calibration equation development for only glutamic acid analyzed NIRS data scanned with whole seeds showed higher R2 coefficient than 0.8. Eleven different amino acids, such as aspartic acid, threonine, serine, glutamine, glycine, alanine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, arginine and proline, of soybean seeds in the powder had higher R2 coefficient of determination in calibration than 0.8 and could be estimated for the most accurate prediction. However, judging from the results of single bean samples, in consideration on NIR application for more nondestructive and faster prediction, these amino acids using single bean sample could be estimated without grinding the seeds.

This experiment was carried out to investigate the appropriate chilling requirements for breaking dormancy by treating the dormant plant of Hanabusaya asiatica with low temperature (4℃) for different time periods. The rates of sprouting and flowering were higher with longer treatment periods at low temperature. In addition, the growth and flowering of the plant were better when it was potted after treatment at a low temperature for 90 days. The abscisic acid levels and polyphenoloxidase activity of the dormant plant increased during the low temperature treatment, reached a climax 90 days and decreased thereafter. The catalase activity was the lowest after the low temperature treatment for 90 days and increased subsequently. The peroxidase activity increased and showed a sharp rise after the low temperature treatment for more than 90 days. Considering the physiological activities of the enzymes, the changes in the abscisic acid levels, and the characteristics of growth and flowering after sprouting of the plant, the appropriate cold periods required for breaking dormancy could be 90 days.

This experiment was carried out to find suitable sample type for the more accurate prediction and non-destructive way in the application of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) technique for estimation the protein, total amino acids, and total isoflavone of soybean by comparing three different sample types, single seed, whole seeds, and milled seeds powder. The coefficient of determination in calibration (R2 ) and coefficient of determination in cross-validation (1-VR) for three components analyzed using NIRS revealed that milled powder sample type yielded the highest, followed by single seed, and the whole seeds as the lowest. The coefficient of determination in calibration for single seed was moderately low(R2 0.70-0.84), while the calibration equation developed with NIRS data scanned with whole seeds showed the lowest accuracy and reliability compared with other sample groups. The scatter plot for NIRS data versus the reference data of whole seeds showed the widest data cloud, in contrary with the milled powder type which showed flatter data cloud. By comparison of NIRS results for total isoflavone, total amino acids, and protein of soybean seeds with three sample types, the powder sample could be estimated for the most accurate prediction. However, based from the results, the use of single bean samples, without grinding the seeds and in consideration with NIRS application for more nondestructive and faster prediction, is proven to be a promising strategy for soybean component estimation using NIRS.

Kjeldahl method used in many materials from various plant parts to determine protein contents, is laborious and time-consuming and utilizes hazardous chemicals. Near-infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy, a rapid and environmentally benign technique, was investigated as a potential method for the prediction of protein content. Near-infrared reflectance spectra(1100-2400 nm) of coarse cereal grains(n=100 for each germplasm) were obtained using a dispersive spectrometer as both of grain itself and flour ground, and total protein contents determined according to Kjeldahl method. Using multivariate analysis, a modified partial least-squares model was developed for prediction of protein contents. The model had a multiple coefficient of determination of 0.99, 0.99, 0.99, 0.96 and 0.99 for foxtail millet, sorghum, millet, adzuki bean and mung bean germplasm, respectively. The model was tested with independent validation samples (n=10 for each germplasm). All samples were predicted with the coefficient of determination of 0.99, 0.99, 0.99, 0.91 and 0.99 for foxtail millet, sorghum, millet, adzuki bean and mung bean germplasm, respectively. The results indicate that NIR reflectance spectroscopy is an accurate and efficient tool for determining protein content of diverse coarse cereal germplasm for nutrition labeling of nutritional value. On the other hands appropriate condition of cereal material to predict protein using NIR was flour condition of grains.