Abstract
Avena magna Murphy et Terrell (2n = 4x = 28), a tetraploid oat species endemic of Morocco, has a high groat protein content (more than 20%), good resistance to diseases and good adaptability to the Mediterranean edaphic and climate conditions. Moreover, this taxon is morphologically similar to the hexaploid oat species A. sativa and promising for interspecific crosses with A. sativa in order to transfer the domestication syndrome into it. Four hybridization cycles employing four accessions of A. magna and five Moroccan hexaploid oat cultivars of A. sativa were accomplished to domesticate A. magna. Morphological characterization and cytogenetic analysis of derivative hybrid seeds were made to determine their ploidy level and select the seeds with 2n = 28. The overall combinations yielded 81 hybrid plants with 2n varying from 28 to 29, with 58% having 2n = 28, and pollen fertility over 85%. However, 27 hybrids yielded a seed set ranging from 20 to 80%. Selected hybrid plants were subjected to pedigree selection in the field until they reached the 8th generation and assessed for agronomic performance. Three domesticated lines of tetraploid oat A. magna were selected for their good disease resistance. Analysis of groat protein content in the selected hybrids using the Kjeldahl method showed that it was 2 to 3% higher than in their parents.
Highlights
Since the first century of our era, oats have become a major crop in Europe and in certain other Mediterranean regions
Two plants had the tetraploid chromosome number (2n = 4x = 28), pollen fertility of 94% and 97%; and a seed set of 36% and 87%, respectively
Oat has attracted more attention as a crop used for human consumption, and the release of new lines with a high nutritive value becomes of great importance
Summary
Since the first century of our era, oats have become a major crop in Europe and in certain other Mediterranean regions. (Ladizinsky, Fainstein, 1977) in addition to other components, such as oil which can reach 18.1% in some lines of A. sativa (Welch et al, 2000) Nutritive quality of this cereal has increased, in contrast to wheat and barley; lysine and tryptophan concentrations in oats are significantly high and adequate for a balanced nutritive diet designated for non-ruminant animals such as horse. In Morocco, oats are used as forage and seem to play a role for dairy cattle breeding mainly in the North-West of Morocco. It remains the most important cultivated crop for populations living in marginal lands in developing countries (Al Faiz et al, 1997)
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