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Previous studies have not detected transcripts of the gene encoding anthocyanidin synthase (ANS) in white pomegranates (Punica granatum L.) and suggest that a large-sized insertion in the coding region of the ANS gene might be the causal mutation. To elucidate the identity of the putative insertion, 3887-bp 5′ and 3392-bp 3′ partial sequences of the insertion site were obtained by genome walking and a gene coding for an expansin-like protein was identified in these genome-walked sequences. An identical protein (GenBank accession OWM71963) isolated from pomegranate was identified from BLAST search. Based on information of OWM71963, a 5.8-Mb scaffold sequence with genes coding for the expansin-like protein and ANS were identified. The scaffold sequence assembled from a red pomegranate cultivar also contained all genome-walked sequences. Analysis of positions and orientations of these genes and genome-walked sequences revealed that the 27,786-bp region, including the 88-bp 5′ partial sequences of the ANS gene, might be translocated into an approximately 22-kb upstream region in an inverted orientation. Borders of the translocated region were confirmed by PCR amplification and sequencing. Based on the translocation mutation, a simple PCR codominant marker was developed for efficient genotyping of the ANS gene. This molecular marker could serve as a useful tool for selecting desirable plants at young seedling stages in pomegranate breeding programs.

In general, the storage life of hardy kiwifruit (Actinidia arguta ) is approximately one month, even in cold storage, which is a limiting factor for its commercialization due to the short marketing period. This short shelf life is in contrast to those of green kiwifruit (A. deliciosa , 6 to 8 months) and gold kiwifruit (A. chinensis , 4 to 6 months). To increase the storage life of hardy kiwifruit, we performed a cross between A. arguta (a local collection, ‘Hy2-1’, female) and A. deliciosa (‘Matua’, male) at Wando station at the Fruit Research Institute of JARES, Korea in 1999. After the first selection in 2006, we clonally propagated the hybrid plants by grafting them onto A. arguta seedlings in Gwangyang and Haenam province, Korea. We performed the final selection of this cultivar in 2012 and applied for plant protection rights from the Korea Forest Research Institute in 2013. Several experimental orchards have been established for commercial production. ‘Mansu’ begins to flower on May 20 in Gwangyang. The horticultural maturity date in ‘Mansu’, when the soluble solid content reaches 7°Bx, is October 15, whereas that of the control variety (‘Chiak’) is October 5. The average fruit size of ‘Mansu’ is approximately 15 g. The soluble solid content of ‘Mansu’ is approximately 16 to 17°Bx after ripening. The total yield of mature ‘Mansu’ vines is estimated to be 2.2 to 2.5 tons per 10a. The fruit firmness of ‘Mansu’ exceeded 1.5 ㎏/5 ㎜O until 70 days after storage (at 0 and 1℃). Therefore, ‘Mansu’ fruits have much longer storability than the control. The cultivation and production of ‘Mansu’ may extend the marketing period for hardy kiwifruit.

The Korean kiwifruit growers have a limited access to 'Hort16A', although the yellow flesh varieties are very appreciated in Korea. As a result a demand for Korean variety of gold kiwifruit was increasing. Fruit research institute of Jeonnam Agricultural Research and Extension Services (JARES) in Korea carried out a breeding program performing crosses between Actinidia chinensis species since mid-1990s. A round and very fruitful accession was selected from a 1997s cross between late 2002 and early 2003. The variety named 'Haegeum' in 2007 was grafted on 'Hayward' and followed in both experimental sites and farm orchards since then. 'Haegeum' flowers in mid-May and reaches maturity (disappearance of green color in fruit flesh) at mid-late October although some differences among cultural conditions and seasons were observed. The fruit average size is between 70 to 100 g and the soluble solid content after ripening is around 14 to 16%. This new selection was released and at the end of 2009 the potential acreages reached 25 ha in Korea.