Effect of Fertilization on ß-D-Glucan Content in Oat Grain (Avena Sativa L.)

Abstract

β-D-glucan is a soluble component of dietary fibre localised in the cell walls of cereal grains, especially oat and barley. This homopolysaccharide presents a wide spectrum of health-beneficial effects in human beings, and its higher concentration in oats makes it an essential component for human nutrition. Genetic and environmental factors influence the content of β-D-glucan. Four oat varieties (two naked and two hulled) were grown in experimental fields at Vígľaš-Pstruša (Central Slovakia) in two consecutive years (2007 and 2008). The experiment included five fertilisation treatments with application of nitrogen (N) (as ammonium nitrate with dolomite) before sowing, and with selenium (Se) at the end of the tilling period (in the form of sodium selenate). A higher average content of β-D-glucan and test weight were observed in naked oats, Avenuda and Detvan, compared with hulled Vendelin and Zvolen. By contrast, higher yield and thousand grains weight were detected in hulled oats. Fertilisation with N + Se increased the content of β-D-glucan, but significantly only in hulled oat grains. The warmer and drier climate in the year 2007 did not influence the content of β-D-glucan in oats, but caused a significant increase in thousand grains weight and test weight in both oat varieties, as well as grain yield in naked oats.

Effects of genetic and agronomic factors on grain composition in oats

“…Previous data also showed that both oat genotype and agronomic practises, as seeding season and rotation, can be important determinants of the variability of protein and b-glucan (Redaelli et al 2009). In this context, our data confirm the observations by Havrlentová et al (2013), who reported that yield is less sensitive to nitrogen fertilization in husked than in naked oats, whereas increasing nitrogen doses have a positive effect on b-glucan content, especially in husked genotypes. In the present study, where different oat genotypes and agronomical factors were tested in two consecutive experiments, the statistical evaluation of the differences in grain nutritional quality was synthesized graphically by box-plots, in which the four years were clearly differentiated, and a larger variability for b-glucan content as compared to proteins was observed.…”

“…The role of crop rotation and environment on grain bioactive components in a group of naked oats was also examined (Redaelli et al 2009). Finally, the effect of fertilization on the content of b-glucan in naked oats was explored (Havrlentová et al 2013).…”

Influence of Nitrogen Application Rate and Meteorological Conditions on β-Glucan Content in Naked and Husked Oat Grain

“…Differences among nitrogen application treatments in the amount of b-glucan were significant (p < 0.05) only for husked oat genotype. Similarly, Havrlentova et al (2013) observed that b-glucan content of husked oat was significantly affected by nitrogen fertilisation, while content of naked oat was affected only by genotype. Fan et al (2009) did not observe significant differences in content of b-glucan among nitrogen treatments.…”

“…Temperatures and precipitation sum are the main climatic factors influencing oat growth and development. Havrlentova et al (2013) found that the growing year did not significantly affect b-glucan concentration in grains. Our research showed significant (p < 0.05) effect of growing season on b-glucan content of husked and naked oats.…”

“…b-glucan content in oat grains is between 17.3 to 57.0 g•kg -1 (Havrlentova and Kraic, 2006), depending on genotype and agroecological factors. There are several studies on effect of environmental conditions and fertiliser rates on b-glucan content (Saastamoinen et al, 2004;Tiwari and Cummins, 2009;Havrlentova et al, 2013). Climatic factors can limit oat growth and development.…”