• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.342-349
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• 2015

Kiwifruit is a new fruit crop that was commercialized in the late 1970s. Recently, its cultivation and consumption have increased rapidly worldwide. Kiwifruit is a dioecious, deciduous, and climbing plant having fruit with hairs and various flesh colors and a variation in ploidy level; however, the industry consists of very simple cultivars or genotypes. The need for efficient cultivar improvement together with the evolutional and biological perspectives based on unique plant characteristics, have recently encouraged genome analysis and bioinformatics application. The draft genome sequence and chloroplast genome sequence of kiwifruit were released in 2013 and 2015, respectively; and gene annotation has been in progress. Recently, transcriptome analysis has shifted from previous ESTs analysis to the RNA-seq platform for intensive exploration of controlled genetic expression and gene discovery involved in fruit ascorbic acid biosynthesis, flesh coloration, maturation, and vine bacterial canker tolerance. For improving conventional breeding efficiency, molecular marker development and genetic linkage map construction have advanced from basic approaches using RFLP, RAPD, and AFLP to the development of NGS-based SSR and SNP markers linked to agronomically important traits and the construction of highly saturated linkage maps. However, genome and transcriptome studies have been limited in Korea. In the near future, kiwifruit genome and transcriptome studies are expected to translate to the practical application of molecular breeding.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.3
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• pp.420-427
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• 2013

This study was conducted to analyze growth characteristics and adaptability of poplar clones under the treatment of liquid pig manure. The average of survival rate was 33% better at control than the treatment under age of 5 years. But, tree height and DBH growth were higher at the treatment than control. Populus euramericana 'Eco28' showed the highest survival rate (97.9%) under the treatment. P. euramericana 'Eco28' and P. deltoides hybrid 'Dorskamp' could be selected as superior clones for height and DBH growth under the liquid pig manure treatment. The above-ground biomass production was also investigated when the poplar clones were 5 years old. The aboveground biomass under the liquid pig manure treatment was, on average. 52.6 ton/ha, which was 80% higher than control (29.1 ton/ha). P. euramericana 'Eco28' (73.6 ton/ha) and P. deltoides hybrid 'Dorskamp' (71.1 ton/ha) showed superior biomass production than other clones at the treatment of liquid pig manure. Based on survival, growth and demage traits, the adaptability of poplar clones to liquid pig manure treatment was estimated. P. deltoides hybrid 'Dorskamp' and P. euramericana 'Eco28' showed better adaptability to the treatment. P. nigra ${\times}$ P. maximowiczii '62-10' and P. koreana ${\times}$ P. nigra var. italic 'Suwon' were identified as poor adaptability clones.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.18-28
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• 2008

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the most abundant forms of human genetic variations and resources for mapping complex genetic traits and disease association studies. We have constructed a linkage disequilibrium (LD) map of chromosome 22 in Korean samples and compared it with those of other populations, including Yorubans in Ibadan, Nigeria (YRI), Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain (CEPH) reference families (CEU), Japanese in Tokyo (JPT) and Han Chinese in Beijing (CHB) in the HapMap database. We genotyped 4681 of 111,448 publicly available SNPs in 90 unrelated Koreans. Among genotyped SNPs, 4167 were polymorphic. Three hundred and five LD blocks were constructed to make up 18.6% (6.4 of 34.5 Mb) of chromosome 22 with 757 tagSNPs and 815 haplotypes (frequency $\geq$ 5.0%). Of 3430 common SNPs genotyped in all five populations, 514 were monomorphic in Koreans. The CHB + JPT samples have more than a 72% overlap with the monomorphic SNPs in Koreans, while the CEU + YRI samples have less than a 38% overlap. The patterns of hot spots and LD blocks were dispersed throughout chromosome 22, with some common blocks among populations, highly concordant between the three Asian samples. Analysis of the distribution of chimpanzee-derived allele frequency (DAF), a measure of genetic differentiation, Fst levels, and allele frequency difference (AFD) among Koreans and the HapMap samples showed a strong correlation between the Asians, while the CEU and YRI samples showed a very weak correlation with Korean samples. Relative distance as a quantitative measurement based upon DAF, Fst, and AFD indicated that all three Asian samples are very proximate, while CEU and YRI are significantly remote from the Asian samples. Comparative genome-wide LD studies provide useful information on the association studies of complex diseases.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.300-318
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• 2019

Many infraspecific taxa within Lespedeza maximowiczii and hybrids with related species have been described, but taxonomic verification remains controversial. We examined the morphological traits of hybrids (L. chiisanensis and L. patentibicolor) and infraspecific taxa (var. tomentella, elongata, and tricolor) and analyzed their genetic structures using microsatellite loci. Flower and leaflet shapes in var. tomentella and elongata were within the range of variation of those in var. maximowiczii, and individuals in the two former varieties were grouped into var. maximowiczii. Lespedeza maximowiczii var. tricolor was similar to L. buergeri in terms of the structure and flower color, whereas the leaflet and bracteole shapes of var. tricolor were similar to those of var. maximowiczii. Based on the genetic structure (K = 3), var. tricolor had a mixed lineage with L. maximowiczii and L. buergeri. In addition, these formed a distinct lineage at K = 5. For two hybrids, the flower and leaflet structure in L. chiisanensis did not differ from those in L. maximowiczii, whereas the flowers of L. patentibicolor were within the range of variation of L. bicolor. In addition, L. chiisanensis and L. patentibicolor were assigned to L. maximowiczii and L. bicolor, respectively, based on the genetic structure. We treated var. tomentella and elongata as a forma, f. friebeana, because L. friebeana preceded var. tomentella, whereas var. tricolor was treated as a distinct species, L. tricolor. Lespedeza chiisanensis was recognized as a synonym of L. maximowiczii. Lespedeza patentibicolor was considered to be L. bicolor.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.265-269
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• 2021

This study was conducted to provide primary data through analysis of zoysia grass genetic resources to develop grass cultivars with beneficial novel properties. Zoysia grass (Zoysia. spp) is native to Korea, and is mainly propagated through stolons. However, since seed coat treatment technology was developed, the breeding of sexually reproductive grass variants has become possible, necessitating characterization of the floret appearance rate in the secured zoysia grass genetic resource before developing sexually reproductive cultivars. In this experiment, 549 grass lines were examined, revealing that florets appear in only 43 lines (7.81%). Survival rates after transplantation, and stolon generation rates displayed a significant positive correlation (Rho = 0.44). Survival rates after transfer, and rates of stolon production displayed very low correlations with floret appearance (Rho = -0.11 and Rho = -0.06). No significant results were obtained in 43 lines that displayed >20% floret appearance. To breed sexually reproductive grass variants, it is thus necessary to secure more genetic resources, considering the low rate of floret appearance. Finding traits that predict floret appearance at an early stage is also required.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.1749-1756
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• 2021

Objective: Microminipig (MMP) is a miniature pig with an extra small body size for experimental use. In the present study, the occurrence of stillbirths and their genetic association with swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) class II haplotypes were evaluated in a population of MMPs. Methods: The occurrences of stillbirth and genetic association with SLA class II haplotypes using 483 stillborn and 2,246 live piglets, and their parents were compared among the three groups of newborn piglet litters; an all stillborn (AS) group consisting of only stillborn piglet litters, a partial stillborn (PS) group consisting of stillborn and live piglet litters, and an all alive (AA) group consisting of only live piglet litters. Results: The incidence of stillborn piglets was 483/2,729 (17.7%). Distributions of litter sizes, numbers of stillborn piglets in a litter, parities, and gestation periods were distinct among the three groups. The frequencies of low resolution haplotype (Lr)-0.7 or Lr-0.23 were higher in the AS group than in the PS or AA groups. In sires, the frequency of Lr-0.7 associated with the AS group was significantly higher in the AS group than with the AA group. In dams, the frequency of Lr-0.23 was significantly higher in the AS group than in the PS or AA groups, whereas the frequency of Lr-0.7 was not significantly different. Conclusion: The incidence of stillborn piglets in MMPs appears to be higher than those in other pig breeds. Several traits related with stillbirths such as the number of stillborn piglets and parities of the AS group were different from those of the PS and AA groups. Specific SLA class II haplotypes were associated significantly with a high incidence of stillbirths and could be used as genetic markers to adopt breeding strategies to lower the rate of stillbirth in MMPs.

• Genes and Genomics
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1249-1258
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• 2018

The Jeju horse is an indigenous Korean horse breed that is currently registered with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. However, there is severe lack of genomic studies on Jeju horse. This study was conducted to investigate genetic characteristics of horses including Jeju horse, Thoroughbred and Jeju crossbred (Jeju${\times}$Thoroughbred) populations. We compared the genomes of three horse populations using the Equine SNP70 Beadchip array. Short-range Linkage disequilibrium was the highest in Thoroughbred, whereas $r^2$ values were lowest in Jeju horse. Expected heterozygosity was the highest in Jeju crossbred (0.351), followed by the Thoroughbred (0.337) and Jeju horse (0.311). The level of inbreeding was slightly higher in Thoroughbred (-0.009) than in Jeju crossbred (-0.035) and Jeju horse (-0.038). $F_{ST}$ value was the highest between Jeju horse and Thoroughbred (0.113), whereas Jeju crossbred and Thoroughbred showed the lowest value (0.031). The genetic relationship was further assessed by principal component analysis, suggesting that Jeju crossbred is more genetically similar to Thoroughbred than Jeju horse population. Additionally, we detected potential selection signatures, for example, in loci located on LCORL/NCAPG and PROP1 genes that are known to influence body. Genome-wide analyses of the three horse populations showed that all the breeds had somewhat a low level of inbreeding within each population. In the population structure analysis, we found that Jeju crossbred was genetically closer to Thoroughbred than Jeju horse. Furthermore, we identified several signatures of selection which might be associated with traits of interest. To our current knowledge, this study is the first genomic research, analyzing genetic relationships of Jeju horse, Thoroughbred and Jeju crossbred.

• Genes and Genomics
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.1373-1382
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• 2018

Hanwoo and Chikso are classified as Korean native cattle breeds that are currently registered with the Food and Agriculture Organization. However, there is still a lack of genomic studies to compare Hanwoo to Chikso populations. The objective of this study was to perform genome-wide analysis of Hanwoo and Chikso populations, investigating the genetic relationships between these two populations. We genotyped a total of 319 cattle including 214 Hanwoo and 105 Chikso sampled from Gangwon Province Livestock Technology Research Institute, using the Illumina Bovine SNP50K Beadchip. After performing quality control on the initially generated datasets, we assessed linkage disequilibrium patterns for all the possible SNP pairs within 1 Mb apart. Overall, average $r^2$ values in Hanwoo (0.048) were lower than Chikso (0.074) population. The genetic relationship between the populations was further assured by the principal component analysis, exhibiting clear clusters in each of the Hanwoo and Chikso populations, respectively. Overall heterozygosity for Hanwoo (0.359) was slightly higher than Chikso (0.345) and inbreeding coefficient was also a bit higher in Hanwoo (-0.015) than Chikso (-0.035). The average $F_{ST}$ value was 0.036 between Hanwoo and Chikso, indicating little genetic differentiation between those two breeds. Furthermore, we found potential selection signatures including LRP1B and NTRK2 genes that might be implicated with meat and reproductive traits in cattle. In this study, the results showed that both Hanwoo and Chikso populations were not under severe level of inbreeding. Although the principal component analysis exhibited clear clusters in each of the populations, we did not see any clear evidence that those two populations are highly differentiated each other.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
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• 2022.10a
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• pp.269-269
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• 2022

Pre-harvest sprouting (PHS) on rice panicles is getting problematic in recent several years in Korea due to climate changes such as high temperature and more frequent typhoons during harvesting season. PHS negatively affects grain quality severely and also yield. Genetic improvement of Korean varieties (Oryza sativa ssp. japonica) through a marker assisted-backcross breeding (MAB) with the known PHS resistant genes must be one of ideal solutions. However, the final breeding products of MAB occasionally exhibit unwanted traits, especially the cross between genetically distant parents. This might be caused by linkage drag and/or presence of the gene-unlinked donor introgressions, resulting that the final products could not be released to the farmers. The major PHS resistance gene, Sdr4 (Seed dormancy 4) originated from an indica cultivar, Kasalath was selected as a donor gene. In order to avoid unexpected phenotypes in the breeding products, we performed a precision marker-based breeding (PMBB) consisting of foreground, recombinant, and background selections (FS, RS, and BS) which aim to develop 'single small introgression lines' (~100 kb introgression). Korean varieties (Ilpum and Gopum) were crossed with Kasalath. We developed Sdr4-allele specific markers for FS and a set of polymorphic flanking markers near the Sdr4 (-350kb and +420kb) for RS. To minimize linkage drag, the small introgression (< 125kb) containing Sdr4 was selected in Ilpum background (BC₂F₄) through 1^st RS with ~1,200 F₂ or BC₁F₂ plants (one side trimmed) and then 2^nd RS with ~1,000 progenies from the 1^st RS selected plants (another side trimmed). After RS, the selected lines were genotyped by using Infinium 7K SNP chip to detect other donor introgressions and the lines were backcrossed. Currently BS is on-going from the backcross-derived progenies with BS markers to remove residual introgressions. During the PMBB process, genetic effect of Sdr-4-Kasalath allele was confirmed in Ilpum and Gopum backgrounds by PHS phenotyping using the segregating BC₂F₃ or BC₁F₄ materials. The Sdr4 PMBB lines in Ilpum background (< 125kb introgression) will be valuable genetic resources to improve PHS resistance in modem popular temperate japonica varieties.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2008

Progeny tests of Abies holophylla were established with 32 open-pollinated families at Hwaseong and Gangneung in 1994. Growth characteristics (height, DBH and volume index) were measured at the age of 15, showing that Gangneung site showed in general better performance than Hwaseong site. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the growth characteristics showed that there was a significant difference among families in Gangneung but not in Hwaseong, and Hwaseong site showed that DBH and volume index were statistically different among replications. At Gangneung site, family ${\times}$ replication interaction was significant in DBH and volume index. Based on the combined analysis of both sites, all characteristics except height showed highly significant differences between sites and among families. On the other hand, family ${\times}$ replication interaction was not significant, implying that growth pattern of families could be similar at Gangneung and Hwaseong. Individual heritabilities ($hi^2$) at Gangneung were 0.485 in height, 0.611 in DBH and 0.538 in volume index, and the values of $hi^2$ at Hwaseong were 0.121 in height, 0.054 in DBH and 0.080 in volume index, respectively. Based on both sites, $hi^2$ was estimated as 0.204 in height, 0.326 in DBH and 0.238 in volume index. Individual heritabilities (0.054~0.611) were lower than family heritabilities (0.089~0.723) for all growth characteristics. Realized gain was estimated to be 2.5% in height, 9.2% in DBH and 23.6% in volume. When inferior families (about 50% of all families) are genetically thinned from a seed orchard, genetic gain would be 9.55% in height, 17.0% in DBH and 46.8% in volume.