Red Chinese cabbage is rich in anthocyanins, with beneficial effects on anti-obesity and lipid profiles. The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-obesity effects of red Chinese cabbage. Four-weeks old Spague-Dawley male rats were divided into four groups for six weeks as follow: Normal Diet (ND), High Fat Diet (HFD), HFD + Red Chinese Cabbage Diet (RCD), HFD + Red Chinese Cabbage Juice (RCJD). After six weeks, the liver weight was significantly higher in the HFD group than in the other groups, and the RCD and RCJD groups showed similar values to the ND group. The epididymal fats were significantly higher in all high fat diets (HFD, RCD, RCJD) than in the ND group and there was statistical significance in the post-tests when comparing the RCD and RCJD groups with the HFD group. Triglycerides significantly decreased in the RCD group. In conclusion, red Chinese cabbage is rich in anthocyanins, with beneficial effects on organ weight and lipid profiles.

Cabbage head splitting can greatly affect both the quality and commercial value of cabbage (Brassica oleracea). To detect the genetic basis of head-splitting resistance, a genetic map was constructed using an F2 population derived by crossing “748” (head-splitting-resistant inbred line) and “747” (head-splitting-susceptible inbred line). The map spans 830.9cM and comprises 270 markers distributed in nine linkage groups, which correspond to the nine chromosomes of B. oleracea. The average distance between adjacent markers was 3.6cM. A total of six quantitative trait loci (QTLs) conferring resistance to head splittingwere detected in chromosome 2, 4, and 6. Two QTLs, SPL-2-1 and SPL-4-1, on chromosomes 2 and 4, respectively, were detected in the experiments over 2 years, suggesting that these two potential loci were important for governing the head-splitting resistance trait. Markers BRPGM0676 and BRMS137, which were tightly linked with head-splitting resistance, were detected in the conserved QTL SPL-2-1 region using bulked segregant analysis. Synteny analysis showed that SPL-2-1 was anchored to a 3.18Mb genomic region of the B. oleracea genome, homologous to crucifer ancestral karyotype E block in chromosome 1 of Arabidopsis thaliana. Moreover, using a field emission scanning electron microscope, significant differences were observed between the two parental lines in terms of cell structures. Line “747” had thinner cell wall, lower cell density, larger cell size, and anomalous cell wall structure compared with the resistant line “748”. The different cell structures can provide a cytological base for assessing cabbage head splitting.

Fusarium wilt (FW), caused by the soil-borne fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum is a serious disease in cruciferous plants, including the radish (Raphanus sativus). To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) or gene(s) conferring resistance to FW, we constructed a genetic map of R. sativus using an F2 mapping population derived by crossing the inbred lines ‘835’ (susceptible) and ‘B2’ (resistant). A total of 220 markers distributed in 9 linkage groups (LGs) were mapped in the Raphanus genome, covering a distance of 1041.5 cM with an average distance between adjacent markers of 4.7 cM. Comparative analysis of the R. sativus genome with that of Arabidopsis thaliana and Brassica rapa revealed 21 and 22 conserved syntenic regions, respectively. QTL mapping detected a total of 8 loci conferring FW resistance that were distributed on 4 LGs, namely, 2, 3, 6, and 7 of the Raphanus genome. Of the detected QTL, 3 QTLs (2 on LG 3 and 1 on LG 7) were constitutively detected throughout the 2-years experiment. QTL analysis of LG 3, flanked by ACMP0609 and cnu_mBRPGM0085, showed a comparatively higher logarithm of the odds (LOD) value and percentage of phenotypic variation. Synteny analysis using the linked markers to this QTL showed homology to A. thaliana chromosome 3, which contains disease-resistance gene clusters, suggesting conservation of resistance genes between them.

We investigated the genetic diversity and structure of the 239 fixed lines with 47 simple sequence repeat (SSR) and 109 NGS-generated SNP markers evenly distributed in B. rapa genome. Phylogenetic analysis classified the vegetable fixed lines to four subgroups, with the three types forming a separate and relatively farther cluster. Population structure analysis identified four sub-populations corresponding to geographic origin and morphological traits, and revealed extensive admixture. The vegetable B. rapa fixed lines successfully developed in our study would be valuable materials for multinational B. rapa diversity resources establishment. Understanding the genetic diversity and population structure could be useful for utilization of the representing genetic variation and further genetic and genomic analysis.

Genome-wide association study (GWAS) is a very powerful method to identify the natural allelic variation present in crop plants causing variation to economically important traits. The recent advances in high throughput genotyping and sequencing technology supplemented greatly to GWAS. Taking this advantage, we selected a total of 382 Chinese cabbage inbred lines for GWAS study. The selected inbred lines are being sequenced using next generation sequencing technology to develop genome wide gene specific single nucleotide polymorphism markers. The morphological and quality traits data were taken from field grown inbred lines. The phenotype and genotype association study will be done with more environmental grown data’s and developed SNP. At the end of this project, gene specific SNP markers will be developed for Chinese cabbage breeding for morphological and quality traits.

For genetic mapping studies, biparental segregating populations are often useful, however recombination is limited, giving rise to large genomic regions under QTL, and one can only study alelles present in both parents. In Wageninegn UR, a core collection is being developed representing all Brassica rapa morphotypes and geographic origins. As most B. rapa accessions are heterozygous and heterogeneous, we started a project to fix the collection through microspore culture. The resulting Diversity Fixed Foundation Set will be an interesting resource for association mapping studies, which have as advantage that they present the allelec variation present in the collection, and for mapping studies recombination is increased. Nineteen accessions of eight subspecies of Brassica rapa were used for microspore culture to developdoubled haploid lines. Eight morphotypes were represented: 3 Chinese cabbage, 2 Chinese turnip cabbage, 3 Pak choi, 5 Turnip, 3 Broccolleto, 1 Mizuna, 1 Komatsuna and 1 Turnip greenfrom the 19acessions examined, embryos were obtained for 13, representing six subspecies (Komatsuna and Turnip Green had no response). The embryo yields differed significantly between these 13 accessions. We regenerated normal plants from 10 accessions that survived more than 4 weeks in the soil using microspore culture. Nine accessions flowered after 4 weeks vernalization at 5℃ and seeds were harvested from 5 accessions. From a Mizuna, we obtained 3791 seeds from one plant and total 7318 seeds were harvested from 5 accessions representing 4 subspecies(Chinese cabbage, Chinese turnip cabbage, Pak choi, Mizuna). At present, we carry out experiment for obtain more seeds and induce embryos from the other plant materials.

The genus Brassica, phylogenetically related to Arabidopsis thaliana, is one of economically important crops and a botanical model of plant polyploidization and rapid phenotypic evolution. We established the Korea Brassica Genome Resource Bank (KBGRB) in order to supply basic plant materials for structural/functional genomics and breeding of Brassica. Since the establishment of KBGRB in 2004, KBGRB has supported genomic materials for Multinational Brassica Genome Sequencing Project and collected over 10,000 accessions of Brassicas from different areas in the world. KBGRB has collected seeds including inbred lines and mapping population of various Brassica species, and DNA stocks including BAC libraries and cDNA libraries of Brassica rapa. Moreover, all germplasms of KBGRB have been propagated, maintained, and distributed to the scientists in the world. Currently, KBGRB has collected 11,041 accessions of Brassica species, 33,159 clones for cDNA libraries, and 222,336 clones for BAC libraries, and 1,398 genetic markers. KBGRB has distributed more than 621,345 clones, 280 genetic markers and 6,210 accessions of seed to researchers over 10 countries since 2004. Information and other requests for genomic resources of Brassica are accessible at http://www.brassica-resource.org.