INHERITANCE OF GROAT PROTEIN IN INTERSPECIFIC OAT CROSSES

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Abstract
Ten interspecific crosses of Avena sativa L. × A. sterilis L. were used to study inheritance of crude protein percentage in the groats of oats. There was significant genetic variability among F2-derived lines for groat-protein percentage in each cross. Mean and midparent values for groat-protein percentage were not significantly different and the frequency distributions were reasonably symmetrical for six crosses, both suggesting that additive gene action conditioned this trait. Frequency distributions for the remaining four crosses showed an excessive number of low-protein lines and the F2-derived line means for three were lower than their respective midparent values, suggesting that duplicate epistatic gene action was conditioning low groat-protein percentage in these crosses. Mean per-plot, per-experiment, and regression heritabilities were 41, 57, and 30% respectively. It appears that the inheritance is sufficiently simple and the heritability is large enough for researchers to be successful in breeding for high groat-protein percentage in oats by using appropriate A. sativa × A. sterilis crosses.