A multilevel exploration of Avena strigosa diversity as a prelude to promote alternative crop

Wiesław Podyma,Wiesław Podyma,Marta Puchta,Sylwia Wlodarczyk,Joanna Nocen,Maja Boczkowska,Maja Boczkowska,Boguslaw Lapinski,Paulina Bolc

doi:10.1186/s12870-019-1819-6

Abstract

BackgroundSand oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.), one of the four cultivated species of the genus Avena, could be considered as another alternative crop. In gene banks 865 germplasm samples of this species have been preserved that have not been thoroughly investigated so far. The results of phenotyping (36 traits), isoenzymatic (12 systems) and genetic (8 pairs of Sequence-related amplified polymorphism markers) variation were used to obtain the complete description of 56 accessions diversity originated from different parts of world.ResultsBreeded and weedy forms represented similar pool of morphological traits that indicated a short-term and extensive breeding process, albeit all accessions which we classified as cultivated were characterized by better grain and green mass parameters compared to the weedy ones. Isoenzymes showed relationships with geographical origin, which was not possible to detect by SRAP markers. There was no similarity between morphological and biochemical results. The polymorphism level of SRAP markers was lower than indicated by the available literature data for other species, however it may result from the analysis of pooled samples of accessions with a high internal variability. The extensive type of breeding and its relatively short duration was also reflected in the population structure results. Joint analysis revealed that a secondary centre of diversity is being created in South America and that it has its genealogy from the Iberian Peninsula.ConclusionsDespite the relatively large representation of this species is in various gene banks, it is highly probable that the vast majority of stored worldwide accessions are duplicates, and the protected gene pool is relatively narrow. Sand oat meets all the requirements for an alternative crop species, but further studies are needed to identify the genotypes/populations with the most favourable distribution of utility and quality parameters.

Highlights

Sand oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.), one of the four cultivated species of the genus Avena, could be considered as another alternative crop
Basing on the botanical diversity, seven botanical varieties of sand oat were identified within the set of accessions
Research on 1005 accession of A. sterilis showed that out of 134 alleles, obtained by the use of 23 isoenzymatic systems, only 10 were not polymorphic and 54 alleles occurred in less than 10% of accessions [43]. These markers showed relationships with geographical origin, which was not possible to detect by Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers in the course of our study

Summary

Introduction

Sand oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.), one of the four cultivated species of the genus Avena, could be considered as another alternative crop. Global climate change implicates search for alternative crops that will be more stable in yielding in conditions of increased temperature and drought stress, will be less resource-dependent, resistant to pathogens and pests, and will be rich in nutrients. One of these alternative crops may become sand oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.). It is one of the four cultivated species of the genus Avena besides A. sativa. Sand oat is a carrier of resistance genes for Ustilago avenae (Pers.)

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