A reproducible transformation system via optimized regeneration media for Korean rice cultivars was established using Agrobacterium tumefeciens LBA4404 (pSBM-PPGN; gusA and bar). Although japonica rice genotypes were easier to produce transgenic plants compared to Tongil type cultivars, transformation efficiencies were not always correlated with regeneration efficiencies of non-transgenic callus on the control medium. Regeneration efficiencies of Donganbyeo, Ilmibyeo, and Manchubyeo were over 50% in non-transgenic control, however, transformation efficiencies were significantly low when only sucrose was added to the media as a carbon source. However, the medium, MSRK5SS-Pr (or MSRK5SM-Pr), that contains 5~textrmmgL-1 kinetin, 0.5~textrmmgL-1 NAA, 2 % sucrose (or maltose), 3% sorbitol, and 500~textrmmgL-1 proline, was the most efficient not only for regeneration of non-transgenic callus but also for regeneration of transgenic callus in the presence of L-phosphinotricin (PPT). Average transformation efficiencies of 16 Korean rice cultivars were significantly enhanced by using the optimized medium from 1.5% to 5.8% in independent callus lines and from 2.9% to 19.4% in tromsgenic plants obained. Approximately 98.9% (876 out of 885) transgenic plants obtained on optimized media showed basta resistance. Stable integration, inheritance and expression of gusA and bar genes were continued by GUS assay and PCR and Southern analysis of the bar gene. With Pst1 digestion of genomic DNA of transgenic plants, one to five copies of T-DNA segment were observed; however, 76% (19 out of 25 transgenic plants) has low copy number of T-DNA. The transformants obtained from one callus line showed the same copy numbers with the same fractionized band patterns.

No-tillage (NT) practice for corn production has advantages of reduction of soil erosion and energy conservation. Research on effects of NT for sweet corn or super sweet corn is very limited. Hybrids of sugary (su) and shrunken-2 (sh2) were tested under NT and conventional tillage (CT) practices to investigate plant characters, ear characters, fresh yield, and grain yield. Sugary hybrids were Golden Cross Bantam 70 (GCB70), Sprint, Geumdanok, and Danok3. Shrunken-2 hybrids were BSS9472, Cambella90, GSS9299, Jubilee, KS-Y-65, and Chodangok1. Emergence rates under NT were lower than those under CT for su, while there was no difference between tillage systems for sh2. There were no differences between CT and NT for days to tasseling and silking, plant height, and ear height for both su and sh2. Ear characters such as ear length, number of kernel rows, number of kernels per row, and t100-kernel weight under NT were not significantly different from those under CT. There were no differences between two tillage practice for fresh and grain yield, rather they showed trend of increases under NT practices. Results from this trial indicate that NT practice for both su and sh2 cultivation may be possible to recommend to farmers.

Sweet com seeds deteriorate faster due to low starch content than field com seeds when stored for a long tenn. This study had been conducted to observe the seed deterioration of four different sweet corns in a long tenn storage conditions in room temperature. Four kinds of sweet com genes (sh2, bt, su, and se) were harvested from 15 days to 50 days after silking with 5-day intervals. These seeds were stored in the room temperature and tested for germination percentages from 3 months to 18 months period with 3-month interval. su seeds germinated better than other types of gene. Hybrid Mecca which is sh2 gene germinated better when stored for 3 months to 18 months. For all genes, mean regression equations in relation to storage periods showed linear responses. For regression equation, the slope of sh2 gene was lower than that of su gene. The highest slope value was observed in bt gene showing faster deterioration rate. The rate at which seed deteriorates seems to be affected by the date at which it was harvested. The seeds that were harvested at the optimum time deteriorated more slowly than those which were not