Variability of the beta-glucan content in oat caryopsis of 132 cultivated-oat genotypes and 39 wild-oat genotypes

In order to establish the genetic variability and the environmental dependency on the beta-glucan contents (% DM) in oar caryopses, several outdoor experiments have been conducted. For a rest period of 3 years, 132 oar genotypes from the gene bank of the Federal Research Institute for Agriculture (FAL) in Braunschweig were cultivated in the field. Furthermore, 39 wild-oat genotypes from the gene bank were grown in Mitscherlich pots in protected areas for a 2-year test period. The genetic-variance range of the 132 oat genotypes in terms of beta-glucan content is maximally 2.27 % DM (1993). During the 3-year test period, the lowest value was 3.23 % DM and the highest 5.67 % DM. For the 39 wild-oat genotypes, the variance range of beta-glucan content was slightly higher (2.95 % DM, 1992). The minimum was 3.13 % DM and the maximum 6.08 % DM (1992). The beta-glucan content (% DM) was significantly influenced by prevailing climatic conditions during the test year. In conclusion, it may be stated that, for oar breeding based on beta-glucan content (% DM) the oat's genetic variability for the cultivated and wild plants investigated is similar, so that there is actually no need to go back to the wild material.