Seed samples were collected from 14 black oat populations from small producers in the region, and cultivars BRS Madrugada and BRS Centauro (populations 15 D. Meira, et al. 2 Genetics and Molecular Research 16 (4): gmr16039814 and 16, respectively). A randomized block design with four replications was used. It was evaluated seed length, seed width, thousand seed weight, percentage of germination, non-germinated seeds, abnormal seedlings, hypocotyl length, root length, dry matter of seedlings. Populations revealed a difference in the physiological quality of seeds, and populations 1, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, with germination within the required standard, have a greater potential to compose progenies. Seed width, thousand seed weight, dry matter of seedlings and hypocotyl length revealed association with germination. It is worth highlighting that seed width and thousand seed weight are characters of easy and immediate measurement that can guarantee greater efficiency of selection.

This study aimed to identify important traits for indirect selection and to evaluate the variability among black oat populations through cause and effect relationships and canonical variables. Fourteen (14) black oat populations were collected in the 2013 cropping season which were evaluated in the laboratory, and then in the field in the 2014 cropping season. The seed width has a high and positive association with physiological quality of black oat seeds. The number of grains and thousand-grain weight has greater direct effects on the grain yield of black oat; thus, these traits may be considered for indirect selection in earlier phases of future black oat breeding programs. Targeted crosses between black oat genotypes coming from Salvador das Missões with genotypes coming from the other studied locations should be promising to obtain recombinant offspring in the future.Análise multivariada revela divergência genética e características promissoras para seleção indireta em aveia preta RESUMO: Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar características importantes para seleção indireta e avaliar a variabilidade entre populações de aveia preta através de relações de causa e efeito e variáveis canônicas. Quatorze populações de aveiapreta foram coletadas na safra 2013, que foram avaliadas em laboratório e em campo, na safra de 2014. A largura das sementes apresenta alta e positiva associação com a qualidade fisiológica das sementes de aveia preta. O número de grãos e o peso de mil grãos têm maior efeito direto no rendimento de grãos de aveia preta; assim, essas características podem ser consideradas para seleção indireta em fases anteriores de futuros programas de melhoramento de aveia preta. Cruzamentos direcionados entre genótipos de aveia preta procedentes de Salvador das Missões com genótipos procedentes dos demais locais estudados devem ser promissores para obtenção de descendentes recombinantes no futuro. Palavras-chave: Avena strigosa S.; reprodução; causa e efeito; populações; variabilidadeMultivariate analysis revealed genetic divergence and promising traits for indirect selection in black oat Rev. Bras.

Grain yield is a complex quantitative trait, because its expression is associated to the large number of genes with small effect. In addition, there is interaction among different yield components and environment effect, making difficult the direct selection of genotypes. The most viable alternative for wheat breeding programs, an autogamous plant, is use artificial crosses in order to obtain superior genotypes. Hybridization after use of successive self-fertilizations results in segregating populations, which reveal the genetic variability, especially when the parents are genetically different. Therefore, it is important to know genetic relationships between crosses, which will serve as reference for decision making in the choice of combinations. Therefore, general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) are used, which facilitate choice of the best parents to compose crossover block. In addition to these parameters, path analysis can be used to determine importance of primary and secondary traits and to guide indirect selection of promising genotypes by means of interest traits.

This study aimed to evaluate direct and indirect effects of agronomic traits importance on grain yield with focus in pre-harvest sprouting. Experiment was conducted in 2017 crop season, and conducted in a randomized block design, with three replications, with eight wheat cultivars (BRS Sábia, CD 105, CD 1104, CD 1440, Frontana, Jadeíte 11, Mirante and ORS Vintecinco). Grain yield and its components were evaluated, as well as other important traits such as pre-harvest sprouting. Data were submitted to variance analysis; and phenotypic, genotypic and environmental correlations were estimated to understand grain yield expression, direct and indirect effects of its components were evaluated through path analysis. Cultivar BRS Sabiá showed shorter cycle, cultivar CD 1104 was highlighted in number of spikes per area, hectoliter weight and grain yield. And cultivars Frontana, CD 1440 and ORS Vintecinco presented the best tolerances pre-harvest sprouting. Grain yield showed high and positive phenotypic and genotypic correlations with number of ears per square meter. Furthermore, high positive direct effect of pre-harvest sprouting on grain yield, revels lower tolerance for cultivars with high grain yield. Number of spikes per square meter showed intermediate and positive direct effect and pre-harvest sprouting had the greatest direct effect on grain yield.

This work aimed to determine variance components and genetic parameters, as well as phenotypic, genetic and environmental correlations among black oat (Avena strigosa) families grown in different crop season. Seventy-six black oat families and three controls (BRS Madrugada, BRS Centauro, BRS 139 Neblina) were evaluated in two crop seasons (2016 and 2017), using families with intercalary controls experimental design. The results reveled high potential of black oat families to compose a breeding program, due to families and controls variance were similar, variance components expressed greater genetic variance origin for crop season. Panicle weight and panicle grain weight presented high heritability and, these are correlated with panicle length. Thus, these traits can be used to select superior genotypes. Divergent meteorological conditions between crop seasons expressed few variations among phenotypic, genetic and environmental correlations, and it did not alter magnitude and sense of phenotypic and genetic correlations.