A master of breeding science who proved ‘species synthesis theory’ to reveal the basic principle of seedless watermelon
Father of Korea agriculture modernization who solved the food shortage after liberation
(Late) Woo Jang-choon
Dr (1898~1959)
- Academic background
-
-
1916
Graduated Kure Middle School, Hiroshima, Japan
-
1919
Graduated Department of Agriculture, Tokyo Imperial University, Japan
-
1936.05.04
Tokyo Imperial University, Japan (Doctor of Agriculture-Horticultural Breeding Science)
- Professional career
-
-
1950.05.04
Head of Korea Institute of Agricultural Science
-
1953.08.01
Head of Central Agricultural Technology Research Institute
-
1958.01.23
The 1st Head of Agricultural Experimental Station
- Awards
-
-
1956.04.20
Agriculture and forest technology public official citation
-
1957.12.23
Busan Culture Awards (science prize)
-
1959.08.07
Cultural Medal
Validated the theory of ‘species synthesis’ and contributed greatly to the advancement of global genetic breeding science
Dr. Jang Choon Woo is a scientist who validated experimentally his ‘Triangle of U’ theory, the key contents of his doctoral thesis from Tokyo Imperial University in 1936 and contributed to the advancement of global genetic breeding science.
He made the rape, which existed already, artificially via hybridization of napa cabbage and cabbage, the brassica plants, and validated the process genetically to validate the fact that interspecies hybridization and species synthesis are accomplished actually. It was known as the first example to synthesize a plant, which existed already, by experiment. The theory of Woo obtained a global reputation including citation even in modern genetics textbook, as contents complementing ‘Origin of Species’ by Charles Darwin. The seedless watermelon was developed by a Japanese scientist on the basis of his theory. Then he realized the plant breeding science via hybridization method he found and opened a new horizon of breeding science combined with genetics.
After returning to his homeland ravaged by the Korean War in March 1950, he contributed definitively to improve high-quality seeds such as potato and tangerine as well as vegetables and realize production and self-sufficiency of seeds, from appointment as the head of Korean Agricultural Science Research Institute to his cease in August 1959
Utilizing the plant self-incompatibility, the most advanced technology at that time, he developed ‘napa cabbage and radish of Korea’ to suit our taste and grow well in Korea and established cultivation methods of ‘Gangwon variety of potatoes’ to grow well in the barren soil and ‘Jeju variety of tangerine’ tolerable to the winter cold. He contributed also to secure seeds of about 20 crops including hot peppers, cucumber, cabbage, tomato, watermelon, and oriental melon. With these efforts, it was enabled to overcome difficult conditions after liberation when the import of various seeds from Japan was discontinued and accomplish domestic security and self-sufficiency of the crop seeds. In 1955 domestic self-sufficiency of vegetable seeds became feasible, which served as a momentum to initiate the domestic vegetable seed industry.
Improved high-quality seeds such as Chinese cabbage and icicle radish of Korea, Gangwon-do potato and Jeju tangerine to realize production and self-sufficiency of seeds
In addition, Dr. Woo tried to produce research personnel and build the base Korean agriculture, founding a research institute and propagating specialized knowledge and technology related to the world-leading genetic breeding science. From appointment as the head of Central Agricultural Technology Institute, he attempted and succeeded in primary hybrid strain cultivation following the introduction of genetic resource and testing and selection of the specific character. The primary hybrid is a strain that has more yield, better quality, and higher tolerability to insect pests generally than the fixed variety. The primary hybrid seed production technology using the self-incompatibility of napa cabbage crop was the most advanced technology at that time. Using this technology, he developed ‘Wonye No. 1’ of a napa cabbage variety and ‘Dongchun’ of a cabbage variety and provided them to a private seed company. In the crops without self-incompatibility such as onions and hot peppers, the primary hybrid cultivation technology system using male sterility was established.
Dr. Woo trained the younger generation, utilizing his excellent knowledge and experiences by practicing and instructing all the processes from the collection, evaluation, maintenance and conservation of genetic resources to a selection of useful resource, variety cultivation, and production of primary hybrid seed. The younger generation trained by him built the base for the advancement of the Korea vegetable industry in research institutes, universities, and private seed companies.
He established the foundation to reach the world's best level with the primary hybrid cultivation technology and built the base to lead the technology level of Korea toward the upper class in the world also with the primary hybrid cultivation using male sterility.