Abstract:
Oat is a crop with an
important European history and tradition.
The high value of oat in human nutrition,
which is unique among cereals, is widely
recognized and confirmed by health claims
issued in various countries. It is based on a
high content and quality of proteins,
considerable content of fat with high
proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids,
high contents of dietary fiber, especially the
soluble, highly viscous mixed linked
(1->3)(1->4)-ß-D-glucans, which hypocholesterolemic
effects, minerals and
antioxidants, especially tocopherols,
tocotrienols and avenanthramides. The main
goal of this paper is on characterization and
evaluation of accessions from European ex
situ collections for different traits, which are
important for the quality of oats in human
nutrition. All field experiments carried out
in experimental field of Suceava Genebank,
during 2014-2016. Field screening of
genetic material was performed by using
several IPGRI descriptors: days to heading;
growth habit; lodging at immature and
mature stages; shape of panicle; lemma
color; length of panicle; panicle
numbers/m2; plant height; productivity;
(g/m2); seed weight (g) and test weight
(kg/hl). A wide variability was observed for
all used descriptors, and some genotypes
potentially interesting for breeding
programs were identified (landraces and
obsolete cultivars).
