Biotech Studies 2017, Vol 26, Num, 1     (Pages: 040-044)

β-Glucan Content and Relationships to Some Agronomical and Quality Characters in Oat (Avena sativa L.)

Nurgül SARI 1 ,Aydın ÜNAY 2

1 Field Crops Central Research Institute, Ankara, Türkiye
2 Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Agriculture, Field Crops Department, Aydın, Türkiye
DOI : 10.21566/tarbitderg.323577 - The β-glucan of oat is recommended for lowering cholesterol level in human nutrition. The main objective of this research is to determine the selection criteria for increased β-glucan in oat breeding. Fifty oat genotypes were evaluated for β-glucan content in two different yield trials during 2010 and 2011 growing seasons in Aegean Agricultural Research Institute (AARI).Experimental designs were completely randomized block design with four replications in both trials. The data of β-glucan and related traits were evaluated to analyze the correlation, path and stepwise regression. The correlation coefficients between β-glucan content and number of spikelet/panicle, number of grain/panicle, starch rate and hull rate were negatively significant, while β-glucan showed significant positive correlations with thousand kernel weight, plant height, harvest index, oil rate, protein rate and ash rate. The results of path analysis showed that the greatest positive direct effects were ash rate and number of grain/panicle. The stepwise regression analysis verified that ash and oil rate, test weight had marked increasing effects on β-glucan. As a result of all analysis, selection plants with higher ash rate and lower number of spikelet/panicle are needed to be increased for higher β-glucan content. Keywords : Oat, β-glucan content, yield, quality, correlation, stepwise analysis