Overview of Korean Vegetable Breeding: Past, Present and Future

Nowadays most parts of vegetable breeding in Korea have been conducted by private seed companies. However, in the beginning stages of breeding research, Horticulture Experiment Station played a crucial role. Major vegetable varieties that are distributed from Korea are produced as F1 hybrids. Korea has developed leading techniques and human infrastructure for vegetable breeding. Such brilliant developments have resulted from three major factors: changes in the composition of varieties, the establishment of year-round vegetable production, and the development of the seed export market. First, an F1 hybrid system increased seed performance more than traditional open pollinated (OP) varieties with respect to productivity, uniformity and disease resistance. Moreover, an F1 hybrid system required repetitive seed production and provision, which increased the economic growth of seed companies. Second, vegetables tend to be consumed fresh instead of dried or processed. Finally, vegetable seed exports have continuously increased with the aid of R&D projects such as the Golden Seed Project (GSP). Therefore, for further progress of the vegetable industry, new varieties that can meet consumers’ demands, as well as the stable provision of fresh vegetables, are required. Contrary to the past, the future focus must be concerned with productivity and cultivation stability, the development of high value, functional, eco-friendly vegetables, and high quality vegetables. To cope with this, every breeding subject, including industry, universities, and institutes, have to collaborate with the aim of advancing vegetable breeding in Korea.