Abstract
The relative importance of growth rate and harvest index in determining grain yield of oats was studied in various backcross generations of all possible matings between two strains of Avena sativa and eight collections of A. sterilis. Eight interspecific matings evaluated in 1972 showed maximum heterosis for growth rate in Bc0 (original cross), whereas the eight tested in 1974 showed maximum heterosis for this trait in Bc3. Pooled correlations for growth rate and harvest index with grain yield were 0.76 and 0.54, respectively. The associations of harvest index and growth rate were nearly equal in Bc0, but with repeated backcrosses the association between growth rate and yield intensified, whereas that between harvest index and yield diminished. Variation for grain yield within backcross.mating combinations was determined almost completely by growth rate and harvest index (R2 from 0.92 to 0.97). An increase of 0.1 g/day/plot (0.09 m2) in growth rate gave the same grain yield improvement (14%) as a 4% increased in harvest index.
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