Observed Gain from Visual Selection for Yield in Diverse Oat Populations1

Abstract

The effectiveness of visual selection for yield in four diverse oat (Avena sativa L.) populations was examined. Progenies from high and low visual selections from among random F3 lines were compared with progenies of a group of random lines in four trials over 2 years. Maturity, seed weight and number, and plant height were measured in addition to grain yield. High selections from three of the populations yielded more than their random group; however, high selections from a fourth population yielded less than random. Low selections from three of the populations yielded less than their random group but equaled the random group yield in a fourth population. Yield increases were accompanied by later maturity and yield decreases were generally associated with earlier maturity. Changes in other characters followed a pattern of favoring adapted parents for high selections and unadapted parents for low selections. Based on results from one of the populations we believe elimination of large portions of progeny of diverse crosses based only on visual observation of yield potential should be approached with caution.