GYEONGSANGBUK-DOAGRICULTURAL RESEARCH& EXTENSION SERVICES

The Yeongyang Pepper Research Institute, located in Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, was founded in April 1995. A laboratory was constructed in September the following year. Today, the institute serves as Korea’s only research facility on peppers.
The primary responsibilities of the Yeongyang Pepper Research Institute include the collection and preservation of genetic resources on peppers and their utilization toward the breeding of superior varieties; development of technologies for the stable production of high-quality peppers at reduced cost; research on pepper physiology, ecological environment and disease and pest control; and research on quality enhancement and pepper processing/utilization.
Major facilities include the laboratory (main building), a processing and utilization research lab, seed storage, a generation-shortening greenhouse, a plug seedling production facility, and a 3.5-hectare experimental field.

Major research outcomes and the status of current/ongoing research is as follows:
In terms of management of genetic resources, the institute has over 3,600 domestic and foreign peppers that have all undergone a special screening process and are stored in the seed storage: the resources are used in the breeding of new or modified varieties. To increase the effective use of these genetic resources, an evaluation was recently conducted on hundreds of pepper varieties that tested for disease resistance and quality characteristics. The institute also participates in the Rural Development Administration’s project on agricultural genetic resource management institutions: each year, it conducts a quality evaluation of the genetic resources of over 100 pepper varieties as well as seed multiplication.

In terms of variety breeding, for the purpose of securing the competitiveness of local peppers through quality differentiation, four varieties of outstanding native peppers were restored: Subicho (Yeonggo 4ho, 2001), Chilseongcho (Yeonggo 5ho, 2004), Yuwolcho (Yeonggo 10ho, 2009), and Tojong (Yeonggo 11ho, 2009). The restored native pepper varieties are currently being used in the breeding of disease-resistant varieties (resistant to pestilence, anthracnose, viruses) as well as a high-quality, high-yield F1 variety using male sterile lines. Recently, the institute began a joint research project with Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (China) on the use and exchange of pepper genetic resources. It is also working on a project regarding the breeding of outstanding bell peppers that can potentially eliminate the need to import seeds.

In terms of improving pepper cultivation methods, the institute has studied the optimum period for raising seedlings (in accordance with pot size), planting period, mulching materials and plant distance for tunnel farming, resulting in the development of a tunnel farming technology that yields 10~30 percent more peppers than open field planting. In areas that are frequently subject to epidemic attacks, graft cultivation systems were established as a means of drastically reducing the damage caused by these epidemics. The most optimum crop rotation cycle has also been established, as has a pepper containment method, and a planting period for the early maturation culture of peppers in greenhouses―a farming method that increases crop output by over 40 percent over open field cultivation. The institute also defined the most optimum period for harvesting red peppers and proved the effect of cultivating peppers in paddy fields as well as lateral branch induction management when peppers are damaged by hail when the plants begin to bear fruit. The institute has also developed technologies on direct seeding cultivation in greenhouses for native pepper varieties (e.g. Tojong) and one-time harvesting. It is currently focusing on the development of eco-friendly pepper farming technologies that can be put to immediate use (e.g. eco-friendly soil management, green manure crop cultivation).

In terms of disease and pest control, the institute has defined the ecological conditions that give rise to the major diseases and pests that attack peppers (aphid, anthracnose, oriental tobacco budworm, thrip) and established a comprehensive control system to reduce the number of such organisms based on detailed forecasting. It has also proved that furrow mulching reduces instances of disease such as anthracnose, and is currently monitoring occurrences of disease and pest attacks caused by climate change as well as engaging in a test project for the development of control technology that utilizes the natural enemies of aphids.

The institute has been hard at work realizing many research outcomes in terms of managing harvested peppers: standardization methods, packaging materials and storage conditions for pepper powder; the effect of storing hot air-dried peppers; most optimum number of hours for hot air drying, the effect of cut-and-dry and optimum drying temperature.
The utmost priority of the Yeongyang Pepper Research Institute is the development of technologies that address the problems of local pepper cultivation and research on their practical application towards granting local peppers a competitive edge in domestic and foreign markets.
Welcome to the Yeongyang Pepper Research Institute.
Thank you.

Responsibilities