Simultaneous selection for grain yield and protein percentage in backcross populations fromAvena sterilis ×A. sativa matings by using the independent culling levels procedure

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Abstract
The method of independent culling levels was applied for simultaneous improvement in grain yield, protein percentage, and protein yield in a population of oat lines from the BC0–BC5 of the interspecific matingAvena sativa ×A. sterilis. Grain yield and protein percentage were subjected to selection with various combination of culling levels to give samples with 2% of the lines from the original population. — Intense selection for grain yield resulted in samples with high grain and protein yields but low protein percentage. Intense selection for protein percentage resulted in samples with high protein percentage but low grain and protein yields. The sample selected for protein yield only showed no significant difference from the recurrent parent for any trait. The recommended regime for improving protein percentage and grain and protein yields simultaneously was one that initially saved approximately 25–50% of the original population on the basis of protein percentage, and then provided intense selection for grain yield on the lines that remained. At least three backcrosses were necessary to obtain lines with high protein percentage and acceptable agronomic traits.