This study was conducted to compare the growth, inorganic components, and proximate components of Codonopsis lanceolata grown in 10 regions of Korea for selecting superior species and breeding by crossing. Among the all tested lines, the shortest plant height (217.12 cm) was observed from the Ulleungdo region line (No. 4) while the longest (273.9 cm) was observed from Hwasun region line (No. 9). In addition, the lines of central and northern region (No. 1~No. 7) tend to have shorter plant height than those of southern region (No. 8~No. 9) except Jejudo region line (No. 10). Flowering tends to be late towards southern region, and lines in central and northern regions were started flowering about 2 weeks earlier than those in southern regions. However, the heaviest root weight was 13.1 g, found in only Jejudo line (No. 10) whereas there was no significant difference found in the other regions which have a range of 8.3~11.0 g. The inorganic components were varied in each line, however, proportion of macroelements, such as K, Ca, and P, was the largest for every line. Especially for Heongseong region line (No. 2), had larger proportion of macroelements than the others. There was a difference of proximate compositions of Codonopsis lanceolata, except the moisture content, among all regions, however, it was generally shown that the content of crude protein (1.31~3.76%) and crude fiber (2.18~3.12%) was the highest.

Rye has important genes for biotic and abiotic stress resistance. Introduction of these genes to wheat by breeding wheat-rye translocation have been intensively used in wheat breeding program. Rye chromatin 1RS and/or 2RL show superior performance in unfavorable environments. In order to develop high yielding wheat, we applied various molecular breeding strategies. To develop EST-derived 1RS specific markers, we used comparative genomics with public sequence databases of Poaceae family. Putative rye chromatin specific sequences were used to design 1RS specific markers. To identify genes related to water deficiency, cDNA AFLP analysis was used in PEG treated seedlings of 1RS RILs. For functional analysis of identified genes and markers, we used Brachypodium distachyon, as a new model plant of temperate grasses. B. distachyon were recently applied for transformation and we constructed Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system. Integration of those strategies and conventional breeding method would enhance the usefulness of rye chromatins for wheat improvement.

Korean soybean variety Kwangan was transformed with ORE7 gene using highly efficient soybean transformation system. The gene is known to exhibit a delayed leaf senescence phenotype in Arabidopsis. To confirm phenotypic characterization of leaf senescence for non-transgenic (NT) and transgenic plants, we transplanted T1 transgenic lines 7, 9, 14 and 15 together with two negative controls (NT and EV) in greenhouse. As a result, line 15 showed dramatic phenotypic characterization of yield increase and senescence delay. In addition, to investigate the agriculture traits for transgenic plants with leaf senescence delaying, T2 transgenic lines and two negative controls were transplanted on GMO fields in Ochang and harvested T3 seeds (2010). Most transgenic lines showed higher total seed weigh than NT. Especially, total seed weight of line 15 was increased by about 180% and 120% compared with the NT and EV, respectively. Therefore, we carried out the second field experiments with T3 transgenic line 15 and NT in Ochang (2011). A total of 117 transgenic plants were divided into two groups, senescence delaying (64 out of 117 plants) and increased yield (53 out of 117 plants), by transcript level of ORE7 gene. Interestingly, among increased yield plants, total seed weight of each 7 plants were increased by more than 200% compared with NT.

A new waxy corn hybrid ‘Daedukchal 1’ was developed from single cross between CNU 504 and CNU 2396 at Chungnam National University in 2007. Inbred CNU 504 used as a seed parent and inbred CNU 2396 as a pollen parent were collected throughout domestic regions. Tasseling date of this hybrid was seven days later than that of check hybrid, ‘Chalok 1’. ‘Daedukchal 1’ was 19.7 cm in ear length and 4.5 cm in ear diameter. On yield trial, ear length of this hybrid was increased 29.7% compared with a check hybrid, ‘Chalok 1’. ‘Daedukchal 1’ had white kernels and good eating quality due to high sugar content and thinner pericarp. The ratio of kernel set length/ear length was similar to ‘Chalok 1’. It is moderately resistant to southern leaf blight and northern leaf blight but susceptible to corn borer. The yields of ‘Daedukchal 1’ in fresh ear weight and in number of fresh ear were 16% and 8%, respectively, higher than those of a check hybrid in regional yield trials for two years. Seed production for this hybrid was better because of the consistency of tasseling dates.

Cowpea might have been introduced from China to Korea and cultivated for several hundred years but it has never been a staple food crop in Korea. In this study, genetic diversity of 492 Korean cowpea landrace accessions that have passport information was estimated using six SSR markers. The mean of Weir's gene diversity was 0.665 from all accessions investigated in the study. Cowpea gene diversity of six local provinces in Korea was ranged from 0.370 in accessions of Gangwon to 0.680 in Jeonra provinces. Low gene diversity of the cowpea genepool of Gangwon province was probably derived from relatively few introductions. Especially SSR markers VM36 and VM39 seem to be good markers to distinguish the Gangwon accessions from others by occurring at a specific locus with higher than 78% of allele frequency. Except for the Gangwon province with the low genetic diversity, gene diversity of cowpea accessions from other provinces was ranged from 0.600 to 0.680 indicating no big differences among provinces. Distribution pattern of the allele frequencies was similar among the other provinces. This may reveal that Korean farmers might exchange cowpea seeds easily with even their neighbors with geographical barriers. A core collection, 100 landraces, ca. 20% of base collection, was developed at the 70% of a similarity coefficient level using random sampling approaches after stratification of the entire landrace collection based on the phenetic dendrogram. The variability of SSR in the base and core collections of Korean cowpea landrace was compared by calculating Weir's gene diversity. The mean of Weir's gene diversity of the core was 0.707 while that of the base collection was 0.665. The higher diversity index in the core collection indicates that it maintains the initial variability and well represents the base collection. The core collection included one of determinate accession (IT 216155) and two of no branching type accessions (IT 103959 and IT 161024). The core collection could be used to guide more efficient management and utilization of the entire collection. This core collection should be revised periodically as additional accessions are collected and further characterization is conducted.

A new yellow waxy corn hybrid "Daehakchal Gold 1" was developed from single cross between Yeongdeok Jaera and Okchen Jaera at Chungnam National University in 2007. Inbred CNU57 derived from Yeongdeok Jaera was used as the seed parent of Daehakchal Gold 1, and inbred CNU 27 derived from Okchen Jaera as the pollen parent. Tasseling date of this hybrid was seven day later than that of check hybrid, Chalok 1. Daehakchal Gold 1 was 19.7cm in ear length and 4.5cm in ear diameter. The yield of Daehakchal Gold 1 and check hybrid in dry matter were 146.5g and 113.9g per plant, respectively. On yield trial, which were increased 29.7% compared with a check hybrid, Chalok 1. Especially, Daehakchal Gold 1 had yellow kernels and good eating quality. The ratio of kernel set length/ear length was similar to Chalok 1. It is moderately resistant to Bioporalis maydis and corn borer. The yields of Daehakchal Gold 1 in fresh ear weight and in number of fresh ear were 16% and 8%, respectively, higher than those of a check hybrid in regional yield trials for three years. Seed production of this hybrid has gone well due to good match during crossing between seed and pollen parents.