Permeable blocks are effective in improving urban water circulation and alleviating heat islands and floods. However, they cause environmental problems owing to their dependence on cement and natural aggregates. In this study, a permeable block was developed, and its performance was verified using ferronickel slag (FNS) as a substitute. The block applied with FNS met the KS F 4419 standard, and an average flexural strength of 4 MPa and a permeability coefficient of 0.1 mm/s or more were secured. This study confirmed that natural aggregate collection could be suppressed, resource efficiency could be improved, greenhouse gas reduction could be achieved, and high value-added industrial byproducts could be used.

Grapevine l eaf rust (GLR) c aused b y Phakopsora euvitis diminishes fruit quality and reduces yield in viticulture, making it one of the world’s most significant fruit crop threats. To develop GLR-resistant grape varieties, substantial efforts have been made to select rust-resistant genes and determine effective strategies f or achieving durab le resistance in grapevines. This study aims to identify genetic resources resistant to GLR by investigating disease incidence in vineyards and symptom development in grapevines inoculated with pathogens. Fifty-seven genotypes from Ampelopsis brevipedunculata, Vitis acerifolia, V. aestivalis, V. amurensis, V. cinerea, V. coignetiae, V. flexuosa, V. labrusca, V. labruscana, V. rotundifolia, and V. vinifera were evaluated for rust disease incidence over four years (2021 –2024) at Yeunganm University. Three plants per genotype were potted and sprayed with a pathogen suspension to assess disease incidence on their adaxial leaf surfaces in a greenhouse. Variation in resistance to GLR was observed among genotypes within each species. Resistant genotypes of V. coignetiae exhibited no symptoms on their leaves, while severe infections were noted in the leaves of susceptible genotypes of A. brevipedunculata, V. amurensis, V. flexuosa, V. labruscana, and V. vinifera. None of the tested V. rotundifolia genotypes displayed yellow pustules and remained unaffected for three weeks after artificial inoculation. These findings highlight the potential of V. rotundifolia and V. coignetiae as valuable genetic resources for breeding rust-resistant grapevines. Chlorophyll content was comparable across all uninfected genotypes. While resistant genotypes maintained relatively stable chlorophyll levels, the average chlorophyll content in the majority of susceptible genotypes was significantly lower following inoculation than before. This negative relationship indicates a general decline in photosynthetic capacity due to disease development in grapevines. Identifying resistant genotypes among both resistant and susceptible genotypes across different Vitis species provides crucial insights for developing new grape varieties with improved resistance to GLR.

This study reports the development of a new alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) variety, ‘Alfaone’, at the Forage Production Systems Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Korea, from 2015 to 2023. The variety originated from an artificial cross between Xun Lu (maternal parent) and RadarⅡ Brand (paternal parent), followed by pedigree selection and performance testing. The elite line ‘MsCB01’ was subsequently released as ‘Alfaone’. Regional adaptability trials were conducted for two years (2022–2023) across four representative sites in Korea (Cheonan, Pyeongchang, Jeongeup, and Jinju) to evaluate agronomic traits, forage yield, and quality. Evaluated characteristics included plant height, regrowth ability, winter survival, and lodging resistance. The average dry matter yield of ‘Alfaone’ was 20,811 kg/ha, approximately by about 3% higher than that of the standard cultivar ‘Vernal’ (20,236 kg/ha). Yield superiority was particularly evident in Pyeongchang, suggesting excellent cold tolerance and winter hardiness. Assessment of forage nutritive traits indicated that ‘Alfaone’ was comparable to ‘Vernal’, demonstrating that its yield advantage did not come at the expense of quality. Overall, ‘Alfaone’ is a promising cultivar that combines high productivity with strong adaptability to unfavorable environments, particularly cold-prone regions. Its release is expected to promote the expansion of alfalfa cultivation, enhance forage self-sufficiency, and reduce dependence on imported hay in Korea.