ASSESSMENT OF GRAIN YIELD AND QUALITY TRAITS OF DIVERSE OAT (AVENA SATIVA L.) GENOTYPES

Abstract

Oat (Avena saliva L.) is used as an important source of essential nutrients for both humans and animals. There is an increasing demand in the world due to the high nutritional content and adaptability to low fertility conditions. This study was carried out to determine important yield and quality traits in 347 oat lines and 12 oat cultivars selected from a large number of pure line oats between 2012-2013 and 2013-2014. Grain yield, test weigh, groat percentage. along with crude protein, starch, ii-glucan, fat, palmitic, stearic, oleic and linolenic acids, ash, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber contents were determined. Significant differences were found between the genotypes in terms of the studied traits. Principal component analysis indicated that the first six axes accounted for 84% of the variability. The results indicate which genotypes that is hopeful for use in breeding programs.