Selection for Nutritional Function and Agronomic Performance in Oat

Abstract

<p>The soluble fiber (1→3),(1→4)-β-D-glucan has been identified as an active component of oat (<em>Avena sativa</em> L.) that lowers serum cholesterol, reduces the risk of heart disease and colon cancer, and alleviates the symptoms of diabetes. Those beneficial effects may be caused by the ability of β-glucan to generate viscosity in the digestive system. The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic components of variance for β-glucan content and oat slurry viscosity in a population derived from the cross of high β-glucan with elite agronomic oat lines. Twelve high β-glucan inbred lines were crossed with 12 inbred lines with good agronomic performance. The F_3:4 generation was evaluated in 2005 at two Iowa locations. The range in β-glucan content was 37.1 g kg⁻¹ to 73.5 g kg⁻¹ A positive correlation (<em>r</em> ² = 0.38) was found between β-glucan content and log-transformed viscosity. High β-glucan lines tended to have low grain yield and biomass. Significant variation among families and among lines within families were observable for most traits, suggesting selection for β-glucan content, viscosity, and viscosity deviation should be feasible.</p>