Traditionally, the oat crop (Avena sativa) has been neglected in a number of respects, cultivated in cropping areas not optimal for wheat, barley or maize. In recent years the interest in oats has increased, particularly because of its dietary benefits and therapeutic potential for human health. The uniqueness and advantages of naked oats over other popular cereals, due to its potentially valuable nutritional composition, have been well studied and reported, opening new market “niches” for oats. Despite the well‐documented benefits, the status of the oat crop is still fragile, due to many reasons. The area cultivated for the oat crop is much less compared with other cereals, and therefore commercial efforts in oat breeding are less. Oat groat yield is lower than other cereals such as wheat and the nutritious uniqueness has not been reflected in agreeable market prices. The same price still exists for both naked and conventional/covered oats in the world grain market. The absence of visible market competitiveness, and some of the oat biological drawbacks, including low grain yield, keeps the oat crop as a lower profitability minor crop. This review is intended to analyse and summarise main achievements and challenges in oat genetics, agronomy and phytopathology to find possible ways of oat improvement and future perspectives for oat breeding.

A study on the variation of species diversity and sex ratio of thrips in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was conducted at the Lithuanian Institute of Agriculture (currently -Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry). Assessments of thrips abundance were carried out from the beginning of tillering (growth stage (GS) 21) until complete maturity (Gs 89). Thirteen thrips species belonging to the three families were identified: 10 thrips species belonged to Thripidae, 2 to Phlaeothripidae and 1 to Aeolothripidae families. In terms of the feeding group, one species (Aeolothrips intermedius) belonged to zoophagous, the rest of the species were phytophagous. Frankliniella intonsa, F. tenuicornis, Haplothrips aculeatus and Limothrips denticornis were the earliest thrips species identified on winter wheat in spring. The dominating species were L. denticornis (41.3%), H. aculeatus (25.8%) and F. tenuicornis (20.5%). An average sex ratio of L. denticornis was 84.7%, and of H. aculeatus -68.2%, and of F. tenuicornis -71.1% and of F. intonsa -60.9%.

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is very productive in the first two years of harvest but afterwards it tends to thin out dramatically and finally die. In Lithuania, the main disease causing this problem is Sclerotinia crown and root rot (Sclerotinia trifoliorum Eriks.). The present study was aimed to determine red clover resistance to Sclerotinia crown and root rot in the laboratory and field conditions. Investigations were carried out at Institute of Agriculture, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. Resistance of red clover varieties and breeding lines to Sclerotinia crown and root rot was investigated in 2012-2014 in the field under natural and artificial infection conditions. Diploid (43: 20 varieties, 20 breeding lines, 2 wild ecotypes and 1 semiwild ecotype) and tetraploid (41: 24 varieties and 17 breeding lines) red clover was investigated. In the laboratory experiment, red clover seeds were treated with oxalic acid which is the main toxin of Sclerotinia spp. This experiment enabled us to evaluate seedling resistance to Sclerotinia crown and root rot. The same varieties and breeding lines as in the field experiment were investigated. The seedlings were treated with 0, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 mM oxalic acid concentrations. The most resistant varieties were found to be '

Alfalfa exhibits high adaptability to a range of environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the agro-biological traits of alfalfa and select its most promising cultivars under different contrasting vegetation seasons. The field experiment was carried out at the Institute of Agriculture of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. In 2016 and 2018, eleven alfalfa cultivars of different origin were established in the Endocalcari Epigleyic Cambisol. In the seasons of 2017–2018 and 2019–2020, the agro-biological traits of alfalfa cultivars were evaluated during winter; at the height of spring regrowth; before flowering at the three cuts; and during the fresh and dry matter yields; we also examined the development of diseases at the three cuts. The cultivar Birutė from Lithuania was distinguished by its wintering, its plant height at spring regrowth, its height before flowering, and its fresh and dry matter yields. The cultivar Timbale from France was distinguished by its wintering, spring regrowth, and its height before flowering. The cultivar Magnat from Romania was distinguished by its height before flowering and the fact that it was less damaged by downy mildew. The cultivars Jõgeva 118, Juurlu, and Karlu from Estonia were distinguished by their wintering and the fact that they were less damaged by diseases. The cultivar Eugenia from Italy was distinguished by the fresh and dry matter yields and the height before flowering.

Advanced oat breeding lines were investigated in 2009-2011 at the Institute of Agriculture of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. The highest grain yield (4.10 t ha-1) and fat content (4.41%) was in 2009 and the highest protein and starch content (12.54% and 51.4%) was in 2011. Every year the yield of oat line LIA 1526-9 was higher or similar to the standard variety yield. The breeding line LIA 1526-9 also gave good results for fat, protein and starch yield. Every year fat, protein and starch content of naked line 1579-1 was higher in comparison with standard variety Mina DS: respectively, 7.39%, 12.6%, and 61.7% (standard variety 6.49%, 12.3%, and 55.7%) in 2009, 6.27%, 15.1%, and 60.7% (standard variety 5.06%, 11.5%, and 52.8%) in 2010 and 6.24%, 15.1%, and 63.6% (standard variety 5.66%, 14.0%, and 58.4%) in 2011. Significantly higher yields of fat, protein and starch per hectare were obtained in 2009 and reached 176, 454, and 1910 kg ha-1. Fat, protein and starch yields per ha of naked oat breeding lines were not higher than those of hulled oat breeding lines because of their low grain yield.