Gyeongbuk Agricultural Research Institute Develops 'Tanggeultanggeul' Raspberry Variety ... Distributed to Major Production Areas in Pohang and Gimhae

Nation's First Development of '4 Superior Varieties' with Excellent Marketability

The new raspberry variety 'Dongakheuk' developed by the Gyeongbuk Provincial Agricultural Research and Extension Services.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] The Gyeongsangbuk-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services announced on the 30th that it has distributed high-quality seedlings of four superior varieties of wild raspberry, which have recently gained popularity as a functional fruit, to pilot cultivation farms in major production areas.

The wild raspberries cultivated by farmers are varieties selected and improved from those naturally growing in the hills. Due to the disorderly cultivation of various traditional species and their variants across regions and farms, uneven growth and fruit quality have been pointed out as factors causing consumer rejection.

Considering this situation, the Gyeongbuk Agricultural Research and Extension Services began research on new wild raspberry varieties in 2015. Among genetic resources collected from Pohang and Gimhae, they developed four varieties (Dongakheuk, Dongakhong, Geumdongwang, Geumdongcheon) with excellent fruit characteristics and high yield for the first time nationwide and filed for variety protection.

The distributed varieties were produced using tissue culture technology, which allows for rapid mass propagation of superior seedlings, producing 4,500 plants that were distributed to key farms in Pohang and Gimhae in mid-May. Additionally, breeding research is underway to develop thornless varieties with larger fruits, addressing obstacles in wild raspberry cultivation.

Choi Ki-yeon, director of the Gyeongbuk Agricultural Research and Extension Services, stated, "With the recent increase in interest in well-being and health, wild raspberries with excellent functionality are gaining new attention. We will contribute to improving the income of wild raspberry farmers through the distribution of superior seedlings of the newly developed varieties and strive to develop even better varieties in the future."

Meanwhile, wild raspberry, one of Korea's native fruit trees, is widely cultivated nationwide due to its ability to grow well even in poor soil. In Gyeongbuk, the cultivation area is 144 hectares (1.44 km², 435,600 pyeong), accounting for 25% of the national total, with Pohang and Cheongdo recognized as major production areas.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.