Agronomic and Bioenergetic Consequences of Selection for High Groat‐Oil Content and High Protein Yield in Oat*

Abstract

AbstractFew studies have examined the effects of selection for high oil or protein content on the chemical composition of cereal seeds. This study was conducted to examine agronomic and bioenergetic consequences that result with changes in the chemical composition of groats of oat (Avena sativa L.). Oat lines with low and high groat‐oil content (GO) and with low and high groat‐protein content (GP) were chosen from each of five cycles of a recurrent selection program for increasing GO and from each of four cycles of a recurrent selection program for increasing protein yield via elevating GP, respectively. These lines were evaluated at three Iowa locations in 1988. The results indicated that GP was not significantly affected by selection for high GO and that GO significantly increased during selection for high protein yield via elevating GP. Both selection procedures resulted in oat lines with higher groat‐energy contents. A bioenergetic cost analysis showed that for GO in the oil population and GP in the protein population to be increased, additional photosynthate needed to be available.