Correlations Among Chemical and Agronomic Characteristics in Certain Oat Cultivars and Selections¹

Abstract

Correlations among several chemical and agronomic characteristics were determined in 1970 and 1971 for 10 Avena sativa L. cultivars and for 46 F4‐F6 backcross “N” lines derived from a complex interspecific cross involving a 6x amphiploid. In 1971, groat protein percentage was significantly and negatively correlated with yield in both series, but in 1970 a nonsignificant positive r of 0.37 existed in the A. sativa series. A strong negative association existed between groat protein percentage and kernel weight in the A. sativa and 46 “N” line series in 1971 (−0.71** and −0.28*, respectively), when kernel weights were considerably higher than in 1970. Correlation coefficients between groat protein and lipid percentages were negative, though nonsignificant, for the A. sativa series in both years, but were near zero or positive in the “N” series. ‘Dal’ was high in both groat protein and lipid percentages, illustrating that departures from the general relationship exist. Lines such as ‘Lodi,’ with higher lipid and lower protein percentages, contribute strongly to a negative association.The correlation between lipid percentage and grain yield was significant and positive only in 1971. While r values between lipid percentage and kernel weight were significantly positive in the A. sativa series in both years, the relationship in the “N” series was significant and negative in 1970 and near zero in 1971. Groat protein percentages varied more from year to year within selections than did lipid percentages.The association between groat protein percentage and four of the six fatty acids differed in the A. sativa series from that in the “N” series. The relationship between lipid percentage and the fatty acids were considerably more in agreement for the two series. Lipid percentage was positively associated with percentages of stearic and oleic acids, but negatively correlated with myristic, palmitic, and linoleic acids.

Correlated response to recurrent selection for groat-oil content in oats

“…Groat-oil content was negatively correlated with seed weight, and the correlation was significant across all selection cycles . Previously, groat-oil content and seed weight have been reported to be either independent (Brown et al ., 1966 ;Baker & McKenzie, 1972 ;Gullord, 1980) or positively associated (Forsberg et al ., 1974) . Grain yield and groat-oil content were negatively associated in this study, but the correlations were not significant .…”

“…It is known, however, that groat-oil content is often positively correlated with grain yield (Thro & Frey, 1984) and sometimes negatively correlated with protein percentage (Youngs & Forsberg, 1979) . No correlation seemingly exists between groat-oil content and kernel weight, kernel density, test weight, or groat percentage (Brown et al ., 1966 ;Baker & McKenzie, 1972 ;Brown & Craddock, 1972 ;Forsberg et al ., 1974) .…”

Inheritance of groat-oil content and high-oil selection in oats (Avena sativa L.)

“…The energy content of oat grain is lower than that of other cereals (HUTCHINSON to develop oat cultivars with high groat-oil content (BRowN et al, 1966;FORSBERG ET AL., 1974;FREY & HAMMOND, 1975). FREY & HAMMOND (1975) calculated that if oats had 17% groat oil combined with present levels of grain yield and protein content they might compete as an oilseed crop for producing high quality culinary oil (KALBA-SI-ASHTARI & HAMMOND, 1977).…”

Genotypic and Environmental Effects on Grain Yield and Quality of Oat Grown in North Dakota

“…Cooler growth environments have been reported to stimulate oil accumulation in groats (Beringer 1971, Saastamoinen et al, 1989). Negative correlations between protein concentration and oil concentration among different oat genotypes have been reported (Brown et al, 1966; Forsberg et al, 1974). This relationship has been disputed (Youngs and Forsberg, 1979), and cultivars with both high protein and oil concentrations have been developed.…”