1. Establishment of Crop Disease-Resistant Marker-Assisted Selection Technology and Applications:

(1) Disease Resistant of Bacterial Leaf Blight of Rice

In recent years, the prevalence of bacterial leaf blight of indica rice has significantly reduced farmers' inclination to cultivate rice. To enhance the disease resistance of superior strains, TCDARES utilized the IRBB62 strain, carrying three bacterial blight-resistant genes (Xa4, Xa7, and X21). Through crossbreeding with the commonly used indica rice variety, Taichung Sen 10, We successfully developed rice 'Taichung Sen 199', exhibiting outstanding resistance to bacterial leaf blight.

▲ Molecular markers are employed for disease resistance screening, allowing for sampling and analysis during the seedling stage. This enables selection processes to occur prior to transplanting the seedlings into the field.

(2) Resistance to Fusarium Yellow of cabbage

Fusarium yellow is a fungal soil-borne disease affecting cabbage. Developing resistant varieties contributes to the policy goals of reducing pesticide usage and promoting environmental sustainability. To achieve this, we had established a technique for inoculating young cabbage seedlings with Fusarium yellow disease to assess plant resistance characteristics. Additionally, we've developed SSR and SNP molecular markers for cabbage, coupled with field-based high-temperature adaptability selection. This effort has led to the development of cabbage 'Taichung No. 3', possessing disease resistance and suitability for summer cultivation in the flatlands of central Taiwan.

▲ The cabbage seedling Fusarium yellow inoculation technique was used to evaluate the disease-resistance performance of both susceptible varieties (A and B) and resistant varieties (C and D) after 28 days of inoculation with the Fusarium yellow pathogen.

▲ The identification results of the cabbage resistance to Fusarium yellow markers MTK-1, Bol037157, and Frg3 are as follows:
R: Represents homozygous binding for resistance; S: Represents homozygous binding for susceptibility; H: Represents heterozygous binding. These markers are used to determine the genetic makeup of cabbage varieties with respect to their resistance or susceptibility to yellowing disease.

(3) Resistance to Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus

Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus is a significant disease in the tomato industry. Current chemical control methods targeting the insect vector, the silverleaf whitefly, have not been very effective. Developing disease-resistant tomato varieties has become an essential approach for disease management. We applied marker-assisted selection and successfully developed the all-red tomato variety 'Taichung 11', which carries a stacked resistance to Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus genes Ty-1/Ty-3 and Ty-2.

▲ The marker test results for the tomato hybrid combinations carrying the Ty-2 gene for resistance to Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus show the presence of both R and S bands. This indicates a successful introduction of the disease-resistant gene and serves as a selection target for breeding.

2. Establishment of Echinacea Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) Cultivation, Germplasm Identification, and Functional Food Formulation:

Echinacea, a popular crop in Europe and the United States, has been gaining traction. To promote the development of the domestic functional health crop industry, we has established several technologies related to Echinacea. These include superior cultivation techniques, post-harvest processing methods, health component extraction techniques, Echinacea germplasm identification methods, and formulation of functional food products. Additionally, patents related to Echinacea's resistance to adenovirus and enterovirus have been obtained in Taiwan, the United States, and Canada (Taiwan Patent No. I649088; U.S. Patent No. US 10,772,922 B2).

▲ We provide guidance to young farmers on the cultivation of organic Echinacea and facilitate connections with biotech companies for the procurement of raw materials. This assistance includes aiding in product development and entry into organic distribution channels.

3. Formulation of Whole Grain Job's Tears Functional Food and Ingredient Production Technology:

Whole grain Job's Tears are high-quality ingredients in traditional medicine and food. To promote the development of the domestic Job's Tears industry, this technology extracts the essence of Job's Tears and establishes analytical techniques for active components to facilitate the development of highly functional food ingredients. We has collaborated with the ATRI to conduct animal experiments, confirming that whole grain Job's Tears can improve the metabolism of lipids in the blood and liver of animals fed with high-fat diet. Animals fed a high-fat diet developed fatty liver, with increased levels of liver function markers such as GOT and GPT. However, animals given whole grain Job's Tears decrease their GOT and GPT levels.

▲ Left: Imported whole grain Job's Tears; Middle: Imported Refined Job's Tears; right: Domestic Red Job's Tears

whole grain Job's Tears" retain their bran, where the essential functional components of Job's Tears are found. Removing the bran significantly diminishes its effectiveness. Domestic Job's Tears are harvested and kept under refrigeration throughout the process to maintain the best flavor and nutritional value.

▲ Animals fed a high-fat diet developed fatty liver, but when given Job's Tears porridge, their total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood decreased. This dietary intervention also improved liver function, reducing the levels of liver function markers such as GOT and GPT.

4. Cultivation and Post-Harvest Processing Techniques for Fireweed

Fireweed, commonly found in Taiwan, shares a taste similar to chrysanthemum greens and is also known as "mountain chrysanthemum greens." Recognized for its functional components such as sugar lipids like dLGG, these compounds have exhibited hepatoprotective effects, reduced skin inflammation, and displayed anti-melanoma properties in vitro cell and animal studies, making it an emerging health-supporting crop domestically. However, ensuring a stable supply of raw materials remains a significant challenge for industrialization. To achieve large-scale production, our institute has developed cultivation and post-harvest processing techniques for fireweed. This comprehensive approach covers seedling propagation, crop cultivation, and post-harvest treatments, ensuring stable production yields and consistent levels of functional components in fireweed, providing the industry with a dependable source of stable raw materials.

▲ The development of cultivation and post-harvest processing techniques for fireweed can address the issue of the raw material supply for health products.

5. Establishment of Dragon Fruit Powdering Technology and Development of Derivative Applications:

To solve the limitations in the use of dragon fruit as a processing raw material and to improve processing convenience, we developed dragon fruit powdering technology. This allows dragon fruit to be processed into powder form, which can be used as a natural red coloring. It can be applied in the coloring of products such as bubble tea, cookies, cakes, and toast.

▲ The dragon fruit powdering technology.

▲ The derivative products of dragon fruit powdering technology.

6. Research on the Application of Legumes in Rice and Grain Products

Legumes are rich in protein and dietary fiber, making them an excellent source of plant-based protein. They also contain various vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Legumes have a slow starch digestion rate, which can help mitigate post-meal blood sugar spikes, offering numerous nutritional and health benefits. We has developed rice and grain products with added legumes. This not only increases the protein and dietary fiber content of these products but also imparts a legume flavor to them.

▲ Rice flour with various types of legumes and different mixing ratios.

7. Mint Cultivation and Tea Bag Manufacturing Technology

We has selected mint varieties that are suitable for local cultivation and have higher essential oil yields. In collaboration with the Academia Sinica, screening for varieties in vitro tests to find which can inhibit the production of nitric oxide in macrophages. Subsequently, establishing stable cultivation practices, drying and processing conditions, and developed tea bag formulations based on mint.

▲ We select multiple mint varieties suitable for domestic cultivation and establishes stable cultivation and production techniques.

▲ Developing tea bags based on mint.