GRAIN QUALITY IN HYBRIDS OF AVENA SATIVA L AND A BYZANTINA C KOCH

Results of grain analyses for the content of nitrogen, oil and husk are presented from trials in the F1 and F2 generations of four subject varieties, Condor (Avena sativa), Sierra, Avon and Anita (A. byzantina), nine tester varieties, mainly of north-west European origin and the 36 crosses between them. Yield of grain crude protein per unit area was positively correlated with grain yield, but nitrogen content of the grain, expressed as a percentage of dry matter, was inversely related to grain yield in both trials. Although the highest values for grain nitrogen content were invariably associated with low grain yields, the highest yielders had average or slightly better than average values for nitrogen content. Analysis of straw samples from the F2 trial revealed considerable differences between varieties and crosses in the proportion of the total shoot nitrogen (grain + straw) ultimately found in the grain. The proportion of total shoot nitrogen translocated to the grain was positively correlated with the ratio of grain yield to straw yield. High grain yielders took up more nitrogen per unit area from the soil and translocated relatively more nitrogen to the grain from the vegetative tissues than did varieties with low grain yields. Yields of grain oil were highly positively correlated with yields of grain per unit area but there was no significant regression of oil content on grain yield in either trial. In the F2 trial, oil yield per unit area was positively correlated with oil content of the grain. The variety Avon and its crosses had consistently high oil content. There was no correlation between yielding ability and husk content of the grain, and some of the highest grain yields were associated with low mean husk contents. High husk content of the grain tended to be associated with stiffer straw. The results are discussed in relation to improving grain quality in the breeding of new varieties of oats. © 1969, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.