An Intergenomic Reciprocal Translocation Associated with Oat Winter Hardiness Component Traits

Abstract

The reciprocal intergenomic translocation between hexaploid oat (Avena sp.) chromosomes 7C and 17 (T7C‐17) has been associated with the division of cultivated oat into A. sativa L. and A. byzantina K. Koch species and differences in crown freezing tolerance and winter field survival. The objectives of this experiment were: (i) to validate the association of T7C‐17 with crown freezing tolerance and winter field survival in a population derived from a cross of the non‐winter‐hardy ‘Fulghum’ (non‐T7C‐17) with winter‐hardy ‘Norline’ (T7C‐17); (ii) to determine if preferential selection for T7C‐17 occurred during inbreeding; and (iii) to examine the association of T7C‐17 with the winter hardiness component traits heading date, plant height, and vernalization and photoperiod responses. Crown freezing tolerance and vernalization and photoperiod responses were evaluated in controlled environment studies. Heading date, plant height, and winter field survival were evaluated in field experiments during two seasons. The presence of the translocation was associated with greater crown freezing tolerance, winter field survival, and days to flowering. Translocation status was not associated with vernalization and photoperiod responses or plant height. The T7C‐17/non‐T7C‐17 segregation ratio was 2:1. These results confirmed the importance of T7C‐17 in conferring winter hardiness traits in winter oat and preferential selection for the translocation during inbreeding.