Oat Lines Research Articles

Virulence of Puccinia coronata var avenae f. sp. avenae (oat crown rust) in Canada during 2016 to 2020 and comparison of extensive vs intensive sampling methods

Puccinia coronata var avenae f. sp. avenae (Pca), the causal fungus of crown rust of oats, is a significant threat to oat production in the eastern prairie region (Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan; EPR), Ontario and Quebec (eastern Canada; EC), in Canada. Development of oat lines with effective resistance to Pca has been a priority for oat breeding programmes in Canada, and helped mitigate reductions in oat yield and quality. This requires knowledge of the virulence characteristics of the Pca population in Canada. Our objectives were to determine the incidence and severity of Pca in Canada, the presence and frequency of virulence and races in Pca populations and compare the traditional extensive sampling method (few isolates per field from many fields) to an intensive sampling method (many isolates per field from a few fields) for obtaining genetically diverse collections. The incidence and severity of crown rust of oat in Canada was lower in 2016 to 2020 than has been reported in previous years. Virulence to all the 24 Pc genes studied was observed over the 5 years in EC and the EPR. The most effective genes were Pc94, Pc98 and Pc101 in EC and Pc50, Pc96, Pc97 and Pc98 in the EPR. Approximately 81% of 424 races identified were of unique virulence phenotypes over the 5 years, indicating a highly variable Pca population in Canada. Races JTQG-91 and GTQG-91 were the most common races identified. Collections of Pca obtained using the extensive sampling method were observed to be more genetically diverse than collections obtained using the intensive sampling method in 2018 and 2020, but not in 2019.

A global view of oat immunogenicity for celiac disease, from genes to cellular response

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease triggered by the ingestion of gluten proteins and manifested in the small intestine. Celiac patients must keep a strict gluten-free diet. Although pure oats technically fulfil the criteria set for gluten-free products, the safety of oats in general or of distinct cultivars has been questioned. In this study we investigated 23 oat cultivars and lines that are commercially relevant, or have been suggested to induce adverse activity, or both. The oat seeds were investigated systematically for celiac epitope gene expression by RNA sequencing, peptide detection and quantification by mass spectrometry, and patient-derived T-cell activation to increase the knowledge on their risks. The RNA expression data showed three known avenin-specific T-cell epitopes to be expressed in low abundance in all cultivars with some degree of variation. Two of the three epitopes were also detectable in comparable amounts at the protein level in all cultivars, but their amounts were quite low, together averaging 2.6 mg/kg. Avenin preparations did not induce comprehensive IFN-γ secretion in celiac patients' peripheral blood cells. Any particularly ‘toxic’ cultivar and all commercial oat cultivars presented generally very low abundances of celiac epitopes on both gene and protein levels and are considered safe for consumption.

Virulence Patterns of Oat Crown Rust in Australia - Season 2022.

Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae (Pca) is an important foliar pathogen of oat which causes crown rust disease. The virulence profile of 48 Pca isolates derived from different locations in Australia was characterized using a collection of oat lines often utilized in rust surveys in the United States and Australia. This analysis indicates that Pca populations in Eastern Australia are broadly virulent, which contrasts with the population in Western Australia (WA). Several oat lines/Pc genes are effective against all rust samples collected from WA, suggesting they may provide useful resistance in this region if deployed in combination. We identified 19 lines from the United States oat differential set that display disease resistance to Pca in WA, with some in agreement with previous rust survey reports. We adopted the 10-letter nomenclature system to define oat crown rust races in Australia and compare the frequency of those virulence traits to published data from the United States. Based on this nomenclature, 42 unique races were detected among the 48 isolates, reflecting the high diversity of virulence phenotypes for Pca in Australia. Nevertheless, the Pca population in the United States is substantially more broadly virulent than that of Australia. Close examination of resistance profiles for the oat differential set lines after infection with Pca supports hypotheses of allelism or redundancy among Pc genes or the presence of several resistance genes in some oat differential lines. These findings illustrate the need to deconvolute the oat differential set using molecular tools.[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Selection based on the phenomenic approach and agronomic ideotic of white oat

AbstractThis work aimed to propose multivariate selection strategies reconciling the agronomic ideotype and vegetation indices to obtain genotypes with high tillering, early cycle, tolerant to lodging, and foliar diseases. The sowing of white oat lines was carried out on April 27, 2023, allocated in an experimental design of blocks augmented with interspersed controls. The regular treatments correspond to 593 lines of white oat and the common treatments were represented by the cultivars URS Olada, URS Altaneira, and IPR Artêmis arranged in four replications. The measurements of variables of agronomic interest took place in each experimental unit as follows: percentage of tillering, days to flowering, percentage of lodging, percentage of leaf rust, percentage of stem rust, and percentage of leaf spots. The phenomic analyses took place through flights carried out with a specialized drone, equipped with a 20 MP resolution camera and standard height (80 m). The best proposed indices were index for reducing the percentage of lodging with normalized green (NG), green–red ratio (IGR), soil color index (SCI), green leaf index (GLI), visible atmospheric resistant index (VARI), green leaf index 2 (GLI2), red–blue (RB), blue green pigment (BGI), normalized red–blue difference index (NRBDI), green–blue ratio, BIM, normalized green–blue difference index (NGBDI), and ExGR; index for reducing days to flowering with brightness index (BI), NRBDI, days to flowering (DF), gray (GRAY), IGR, average intensity (L), normalized red (NR), RGRI, SCI, BGI, BIM, GLI, NGBDI, and NG; and index for reducing the percentage of stem rust with NG, BI, Gray2, GLI2, RGRI, GLI, VARI, BGI, L, NR, RB, and coloration index. Only two lines were selected concomitantly with multivariate indices, line L167 (M5, SA) and L426 (M6, ETMS), that combine lodging tolerance and leaf rust genes.

New perspective hulled spring oat lines in Omsk agricultural research center

New perspective hulled spring oat lines in Omsk agricultural research center

Genome-Enabled Analysis of Population Dynamics and Virulence-Associated Loci in the Oat Crown Rust Fungus Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae.

Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae (Pca) is an important fungal pathogen causing crown rust that impacts oat production worldwide. Genetic resistance for crop protection against Pca is often overcome by the rapid virulence evolution of the pathogen. This study investigated the factors shaping adaptive evolution of Pca using pathogen populations from distinct geographic regions within the United States and South Africa. Phenotypic and genome-wide sequencing data of these diverse Pca collections, including 217 isolates, uncovered phylogenetic relationships and established distinct genetic composition between populations from northern and southern regions from the United States and South Africa. The population dynamics of Pca involve a bidirectional movement of inoculum between northern and southern regions of the United States and contributions from clonality and sexuality. The population from South Africa is solely clonal. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) employing a haplotype-resolved Pca reference genome was used to define 11 virulence-associated loci corresponding to 25 oat differential lines. These regions were screened to determine candidate Avr effector genes. Overall, the GWAS results allowed us to identify the underlying genetic factors controlling pathogen recognition in an oat differential set used in the United States to assign pathogen races (pathotypes). Key GWAS findings support complex genetic interactions in several oat lines, suggesting allelism among resistance genes or redundancy of genes included in the differential set, multiple resistance genes recognizing genetically linked Avr effector genes, or potentially epistatic relationships. A careful evaluation of the composition of the oat differential set accompanied by the development or implementation of molecular markers is recommended. [Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Effect of NaCl on physiological, biochemical, and ionic parameters of naked oat (Avena nuda L.) line Bayou1

Oat (Avena nuda L.) is a globally important cereal crop grown for its nutritious grains and is considered as moderately salt-tolerant. Studying salinity tolerant mechanisms of oats could assist breeders in increasing oat production and their economic income in salt-affected areas, as the total amount of saline land in the world is still increasing. The present study was carried out to better understand the salt tolerance mechanism of the naked oat line Bayou1. A soil experiment was conducted on 17 days-old Bayou1 seedlings treated with varying concentrations of NaCl for a period of 12 days. Bayou1 plants grew optimally when treated with 50 mM NaCl, demonstrating their salinity tolerance. Reduced water uptake, decreased Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, and guaiacol peroxidase activity, as well as increased Na+ concentration in leaves, all contributed to a reduction in shoot growth. However, the damage to ionic homeostasis caused by increased Na+ concentrations and decreased K+ concentrations in the roots of Bayou1 did not inhibit its root growth, indicating that the main salt-tolerant mechanism in Bayou1 existed in its roots. Further, a hydroponic experiment found that increasing Na+ concentration in root cell sap enhanced root growth, while maintaining the integrity of root cell membranes. The accumulated Na+ may have facilitated the root growth of Bayou1 exposed to NaCl by effectively adjusting cellular osmotic potential, thereby ensuring root cell turgor and expansion.

Evaluation of oat (Avena sativa L.) populations for autumn sowing production in Southwest China

AbstractMuch of Chinese animal husbandry relies on the continuous availability of forage crops, but climactic constraints in production regions cause seasonal shortages which threaten the industry. This study compares the major characteristics of different forage oat lines and cultivars to evaluate their suitability for cultivation in the winter fallow fields of southwest China. To achieve this goal, six oat populations (2 cultivars and 4 lines) were sown in autumn in three locations in southwest China. Yield‐related traits such as dry matter yield (DMY) and plant height (PH), as well as nutritional traits such as crude protein (CP), crude ash (ASH), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), and relative feed value (RFV) were measured during two consecutive growing seasons. Our results indicate that all measured traits, with the exception of CP, were significantly influenced by environment, genotype, year and their interaction (p < .05). Forage yield (DMY) had a positive correlation with PH and RFV, but a strong negative one with nutritional values, suggesting a trade‐off between yield and quality. Among the six oat populations, ‘WC109’ consistently displayed the highest DMY, PH, and CP mean values as well as lower ASH, NDF, and ADF compared to all the other cultivars/lines. Based on these findings, ‘WC109’ was selected as the ideal candidate for autumn‐sown forage oat in southwest China.

Macromolecular characterization of high β-glucan oat lines

Oat (Avena sativa) is a cereal grain rich in fibers, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Oats have been linked to several health benefits, such as lowering blood cholesterol levels, counteracting cardiovascular disease and regulating blood sugar levels. This study aimed to characterize two new oat lines with high β-glucan content emanating from ethyl methyl sulphonate mutagenesis on the Lantmännen elite variety Belinda. Two of the mutated lines, and the mother variety Belinda, were profiled for β-glucan, arabinoxylan, total dietary fiber and starch composition. In addition, total lipid and protein content, amino acid composition and β-glucan molecular weights were analyzed. The high levels of β-glucan resulted in a significant increase in total dietary fiber, but no correlation could be established between higher or lower levels of the assayed macromolecules, i.e., between arabinoxylan-, starch-, lipid- or protein levels in the mutated lines compared to the reference. The results indicate separate biosynthetic pathways for β-glucans and other macromolecules and an independent regulation of the different polysaccharides studied. Therefore, ethyl methyl sulphonate mutagenesis can be used to increase levels of multiple macromolecules in the same line.

Analysis of adaptability of oat varieties and lines by productivity elements in the conditions of Kirov region

The research was carried out in 2020-2022 in the central part of the Kirov region, under varying weather conditions. In the nursery of the competitive variety testing, 3 varieties and 8 lines of hulled oats were studied in order to analyze their adaptive ability according to the elements of the productivity structure. Varieties and lines were characterized based on the sum of the ranks of the evaluation results according to the methods of S. A. Eberhart, W. A. Rassel (1966), N. A. Plokhinsky (1961), L. A. Zhivotkov et al. (1994), A. A. Rosielle and J. Hamblin (1981). There was a direct statistically significant effect of the mass of 1000 grains, the mass of grain from the panicle, the number of grains in the panicle on the yield (r = 0.62…0.85). The formation of the elements of the productivity structure depended on the hydrothermal conditions of individual periods of vegetation (r = 0.63…0.72). The method of two-factor analysis of variance revealed that the influence of the "year" factor on the elements of the productivity structure was more significant (33.7...64.3 %) than the "grade" factor (8.5...24.6 %). There have been identified lines and varieties able to form consistently high yields in contrasting weather conditions due to certain structural elements or their combined influence. A high adaptive capacity with a minimum amount of ranks was obtained by the number of spikelets in the 41h18 line (Σranks = 17), varieties Kirovsky 2 (Σranks = 14); by the number of grains in the panicle and by the weight of grains from the panicle – line 41h18 (Σranks = 14 and 15); by the weight of 1000 grains – lines 25h18, 91h18, 41h18, 50h18, 162h15 (Σranks = 21…27), varieties Medved’ and Kirovsky 2 (Σranks = 18…22). According to the total lowest sum of ranks (71...97), the Kirovsky grade 2, promising lines 25h18 and 41h18 have been identified.

Grain Quality of Promising Oat Lines at the Final Stage of the Breeding Process in the Conditions of the Northern Trans-Urals

Grain Quality of Promising Oat Lines at the Final Stage of the Breeding Process in the Conditions of the Northern Trans-Urals

Evaluation of the Stability of Regenerant Oat Lines Developed from In Vitro Callus Cultures

Evaluation of the Stability of Regenerant Oat Lines Developed from In Vitro Callus Cultures

Breadth of resistance to powdery mildew in commercial Oat cultivars available in Ireland

Blumeria graminis f. sp. avenae (Bga) is the causal agent of powdery mildew in oats (Avena sativa). It is an important foliar disease which can cause yield losses of 10–40%. In this study, we assessed powdery mildew resistance in the commercial oat cultivars; Barra, Binary, Delfin, Elison, Husky Isabel, Keely and Yukon in the field in Ireland and under controlled glasshouse conditions using an Irish Bga isolate. Powdery mildew resistance was consistently observed in Delfin, Elison, Yukon and Binary while Barra was susceptible. The resistance response of each to Bga was further characterised by scoring papillae formation, haustorial encasements and programmed cell death (PCD) using microscopy. Finally, these cultivars were screened with a panel of Bga isolates, used together with oat lines containing known resistance genes (Pm1 and Pm3–Pm10), to assess the breadth of resistance and infer the presence of any Pm genes. This study suggests that Pm1, Pm3 and Pm8 are no longer effective in Ireland. This is likely due, in part, to the previous over-reliance on the cultivar Barra since 1985. While Pm4, Pm5, Pm6, Pm7, Pm9 and Pm10 were found to still confer resistance to an Irish Bga isolate. Using cultivars with different resistance genes could help to slow the erosion of powdery mildew resistance in the field.

Selection of oat (Avena sativa L.) lines with a determined level of manifestation of biological and economic traits

Purpose. Selection of breeding genotypes by biological and economic traits (high productivity, resistance to lodging, drought, shedding, and damage by diseases), enriching collections of the species diversity of oat Avena sativa.
 Methods. selective (hybridization, selection), measuring and weighting (determination of yield and biometrics), mathematical and statistical (assessment of the reliability of experimental data).
 Results. Lines of oat with a manifestation of certain traits that expand genetic variability, reduce costs for the selection of appropriate parental components and accelerate the breeding process have been identified. In the hybrid nursery, the average percentage of setting seed was 13.9%, ranging from 11.0 to 18.1%. 53.3% of oat offsprings demonstrated resistance to lodging and damage by diseases, uniformity of plants and panicle shape; they were selected for the the use in further selection process. Against a provocative background, the number of oat lines that showed immunity to crown rust was 23 (score 9), high resistantce — 20 (score 8), stable — 26 (score 7), moderately receptive — 29 (score 6), weakly receptive — 20 (score 5), receptive — 42 (score 3–4). Oat lines L445–1791, L399–38, L77–5, L620–13, and L399–38 with distinguishing traits (high manifestation of economic and biological features) were transferred to the National Center of Genetic Resources of Ukraine to enrich trait collection. The average yield of oat seeds was 6.30 t/ha in angiosperm oat and 4.55 t/ha in bareseeded oat. The highest yield was 9.60 t/ha. ‘Dalech’ variety of angiosperm oat was developed and transferred into the Register of Plant Varieties of Ukraine Siutable for Distribution in the Polissia and Forest Steppe Zones.
 Conclusion. Oat lines were selected by biological and economic traits and the collection of the species diversity of Avena sativa was enriched.

Black oat as an alternative forage species for the US upper Midwest

AbstractBlack oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.) is a cool‐season annual grass with Mediterranean origin. In contrast to other cool‐season grasses, black oat is more heat tolerant and disease resistant, making it an attractive option for the US upper Midwest, since it can be utilized during summer, when there is decreased productivity of cool‐season forages due to photorespiration. Black oat is recommended for USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 8b–10a, far away from the upper Midwest (zones 2a‐5b). The objective was to evaluate 10 black oat breeding lines (referred to as ‘UF1’ through ‘UF10’) for herbage accumulation, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) concentrations. The experiment was carried out on May–July 2021 and 2022 in Stratford, WI. Triticale (x Triticosecale Wittmack cv. ‘TriCal 342′) and ‘Legend 567′ oat (Avena sativa L.) were included as controls, as well as ‘Ogle’ oat as a regionally recommended cultivar. Herbage accumulation differed by treatment (P = 0.002) and averaged 5900 lb acre−1 among black oat lines, with ‘UF3’ and ‘UF10’ having greater herbage accumulation than oat checks Ogle and Legend 567, and Trical 342 triticale. Crude protein concentration of UF7 and UF3 was 8.5 to 9.5%, respectively. The IVDOM concentrations were above 58% for all black oat. Results indicate certain black oat have the potential to provide forage resources during the early summer in the upper Midwest, but further studies are warranted to evaluate how to best manage this species into cropping or pasture systems in the region.

Oat arabinoxylans and their potential glycemic index-lowering role: an in vitro study

ABSTRACT Oat (Avena sativa) is a cereal crop rich in dietary fibers, which are generally considered beneficial for human health. The objective of this work was to investigate the in vitro starch digestibility-reducing effect of the flour of a high arabinoxylan (AX) content (6.1%) oat line obtained from a random mutagenized oat population, compared to the original variety as a reference. The effect of the oat flours was tested on gelatinized potato starch as a dietary starch model, using a digestion dialysis method to calculate the predicted Glycaemic Index (pGI). The high AX flour reduced the potato starch pGI to larger extent than the flour from the original line. The pGI-lowering effect of the AX in the mutant line was confirmed by its attenuation following pre-treatment of the flour with xylanase. The larger pGI-lowering effect of the high AX oat line suggested this type of mutant as a potential functional food/ingredient for better management of postprandial glycemic responses.

Principal Component Analysis in advanced breeding lines of oat (A. sativa × A. sterilis)

Principal Component Analysis in advanced breeding lines of oat (A. sativa × A. sterilis)

Variation of some physical and chemical quality traits of Moroccan domesticated tetraploid oat lines of <i>Avena murphyi</i> Ladiz

A potential in improving nutrition and health is the consumption of high balanced whole grains. A breeding program was launched by the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA-Morocco), aiming to develop new domesticated tetraploid oat lines of Avena murphyi Ladiz., with high nutritional benefits. A sequence-based diversity study was conducted on ten tetraploid oat lines of A. murphyi to shed light not only on the importance of domesticating wild oat species for crop improvement but also to highlight the nutritional traits of those oat lines. In this study, we assessed the lines for some grain nutritional traits, such as groat contents of proteins and lipids as well as ash, fiber fractions, carbohydrates, and minerals.The obtained results showed a wide range of chemical contents among lines. The results revealed a high significant difference (P < 0.001) in the groat contents of proteins (11.46–15.12%), fat (4.14–10.14%), carbohydrates (48.68–57.38%), and ash (2.71–5.18%). Analysis of total fiber fractions (NDF, ADF, ADL and CF), showed the presence of significant differences between the assessed lines. The lines A. murphyi 8 and 9, recorded the highest groat protein contents of 15.12% and 13.66%, with an interesting macroelement profile, mainly magnesium and phosphorus, and iron and manganese as minor mineral profile.Due to their biochemical composition, Moroccan domesticated tetraploid oat lines of A. murphyi offer many opportunities to improve oat cultivation in Morocco and serve as an excellent raw material for foodstuffs formulation.

Population structure analysis and genome-wide association study of a hexaploid oat landrace and cultivar collection.

Oat (Avena sativa L.) is an important cereal crop grown worldwide for grain and forage, owing to its high adaptability to diverse environments. However, the genetic and genomics research of oat is lagging behind that of other staple cereal crops. In this study, a collection of 288 oat lines originating worldwide was evaluated using 2,213 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers obtained from an oat iSelect 6K-beadchip array to study its genetic diversity, population structure, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) as well as the genotype-phenotype association for hullessness and lemma color. The average gene diversity and polymorphic information content (PIC) were 0.324 and 0.262, respectively. The first three principal components (PCs) accounted for 30.33% of the genetic variation, indicating that the population structure of this panel of oat lines was stronger than that reported in most previous studies. In addition, accessions could be classified into two subpopulations using a Bayesian clustering approach, and the clustering pattern of accessions was closely associated with their region of origin. Additionally, evaluation of LD decay using 2,143 mapped markers revealed that the intrachromosomal whole-genome LD decayed rapidly to a critical r2 value of 0.156 for marker pairs separated by a genetic distance of 1.41 cM. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) detected six significant associations with the hullessness trait. Four of these six markers were located on the Mrg21 linkage group between 194.0 and 205.7 cM, while the other two significant markers mapped to Mrg05 and Mrg09. Three significant SNPs, showing strong association with lemma color, were located on linkage groups Mrg17, Mrg18, and Mrg20. Our results discerned relevant patterns of genetic diversity, population structure, and LD among members of a worldwide collection of oat landraces and cultivars proposed to be 'typical' of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. These results have important implications for further studies on association mapping and practical breeding in high-altitude oat.

Genetic mapping of the powdery mildew resistance gene Pm7 on oat chromosome 5D

Key messageThree independent experiments with different genetic backgrounds mapped the resistance gene Pm7 in the oat genome to the distal part of the long arm of chromosome 5D.Resistance of oat to Blumeria graminis DC. f. sp. avenae is an important breeding goal in Central and Western Europe. In this study, the position of the effective and widely used resistance gene Pm7 in the oat genome was determined based on three independent experiments with different genetic backgrounds: genome-wide association mapping in a diverse set of inbred oat lines and binary phenotype mapping in two bi-parental populations. Powdery mildew resistance was assessed in the field as well as by detached leaf tests in the laboratory. Genotyping-by-sequencing was conducted to establish comprehensive genetic fingerprints for subsequent genetic mapping experiments. All three mapping approaches located the gene to the distal part of the long arm of chromosome 5D in the hexaploid oat genome sequences of OT3098 and ‘Sang.’ Markers from this region were homologous to a region of chromosome 2Ce of the C-genome species, Avena eriantha, the donor of Pm7, which appears to be the ancestral source of a translocated region on the hexaploid chromosome 5D.