Six crosses between three naked oat (Avena sativa L.) germplasm sources from the USA and Australia and three Brazilian hulled genotypes were studied for the segregation of naked grain and multiflorous spikelet traits in the F2 and F3 generations. One major gene with incomplete dominance and expressivity for both traits was identified in all populations. The occurrence of intermediate types for naked grain varied with the population and did not depend on the germplasm source of naked grain used. The frequency of intermediate types varied among F2 populations indicating that selection for higher expressivity of naked grain could be used to develop Brazilian oat lines with naked grain.

ABSTRACT. Preservation and use of wild oat species germplasm are essential for further improvement of cultivated oats. We analyzed the transferability and utility of cultivated (white) oat Avena sativa (AACCDD genome) microsatellite markers for genetic studies of black oat A. strigosa (A s A s genome) genotypes. The DNA of each black oat genotype was extracted from young leaves and amplified by PCR using 24 microsatellite primers developed from white oat. The PCR products were separated on 3% agarose gel. Eighteen microsatellite primer pairs amplified consistent products and 15 of these were polymorphic in A. strigosa, demonstrating a high degree of transferability. Microsatellite primer pairs AM3, AM4, AM21, AM23, AM30, and AM35 consistently amplified alleles only in A. sativa, which indicates that they are putative loci for either the C or D genomes of Avena. Using the data generated by the 15 polymorphic primer pairs, it was possible to separate 40 genotypes of the 44 that we studied. The four genotypes that could not be separated are probably replicates. We conclude that A. sativa microsatellites have a Genetic variability in black oat accessed by microsatellite high transferability index and are a valuable resource for genetic studies and characterization of A. strigosa genotypes.

do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Av. Bento Gonçalves, 7712, CP 776, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS. Autor para correspondência. 3 Biólogo, Mestre em Botânica, aluno do Programa de Pós-graduação em Fitotecnia, FA/UFRGS. 4 Engenheiro Agrônomo, aluno do Programa de Pós-graduação em Fitotecnia, FA/UFRGS. 5 Alunos do Curso de Agronomia, UFRGS, bolsistas Iniciação Científica, PIBIC/CNPq e FAPERGS. RESUMOApesar da morfologia do grão ser de interesse no melhoramento da aveia, critérios de amostragem e análise de grãos para a seleção da qualidade física neste cereal precisam ser determinados. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram determinar as correlações entre características morfológicas de grãos primários, secundários e terciários de aveia, com e sem casca, a fim de definir de que forma podem ser manipuladas no melhoramento genético dessa espécie. Cinqüenta grãos primários, secundários e terciários, com e sem casca, de dez genótipos de aveia foram avaliados para área, largura, comprimento, perímetro e fator de formato através da análise de imagens digitais. Variabilidade entre genótipos de aveia foi encontrada para todas as características. As correlações entre as características de morfologia de grãos primários, secundários e terciários, em grãos com e sem casca, foram altas e significativas. Assim, a determinação do tamanho do grão de um genótipo pode ser feita pela avaliação da área de grãos primários com casca; enquanto que medidas de comprimento e largura são necessárias para definir o tipo característico de grão do genótipo. Baixas correlações foram obtidas entre as características de grãos terciários com os demais, e a eliminação destes pode contribuir para um aumento da uniformidade e maior qualidade física de grãos em aveia.Palavras-chave: comprimento, largura, uniformidade de grãos. SUMMARYAlthough kernel morphology is of great interest in oat breeding, it is still necessary to determine how to proceed and analyze samples in selecting for better physical kernel quality in this cereal. The objectives of this study were to determine the correlation among primary, secondary and tertiary kernel morphology traits to define strategies for breeding these traits in oat. Fifty primary, secondary and tertiary, hulled and dehulled, kernels from ten oat genotypes were analyzed for area, length, width, perimeter and shape factor through digital image analysis.Variability among genotypes was identified for all kernel morphology traits. High and significant correlation was found among traits evaluated in primary, secondary, tertiary, hulled and dehulled kernels. Therefore, the average kernel size of a genotype can be determine by the area of its primary hulled kernels; and the evaluations of kernel width and length are necessary for determining kernel shape. Low correlation was found between tertiary kernels and the other two types and selecting against this may contribute for increasing physical kernel quality in oat.