Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

2000

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Agronomy

Abstract

Adding value to a grain crop by changing or enhancing a desirable trait is one method of creating new markets and uses. Increasing the oil content of oat would add value to the crop for producers and processors. Oil content in oat (Avena sativa L.) is primarily an additive to dominant genetic effect that is highly heritable and stable over environments. The objective of this study was to (1) investigate the relationship between oil content and kernel width/length ratio and hull percent, and (2) the combining ability of the parents for oil content. Eight parents were used for their varying degrees of oil content and kernel shape. The parents were crossed in a full diallel mating. Resulting F1 cross seed was increased in a greenhouse in single panicle rows to F1 progeny. The rows were harvested in bulk and planted in a randomized complete block design of two replications at two locations. Only F2 progeny from seven parents and one location were analyzed. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences between the F2 progenies for both oil content and width/length ratio. Higher oil parents conferred incomplete dominance over lower oil parents in most instances. Allelic and maternal-paternal effects were also observed. Incomplete dominance or transgressive segregation was observed between the progenies for width/length ratio. Correlation coefficients for kernel traits and oil content were small and primarily not significant for most comparisons. The general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were found significant. Reciprocal effects were observed in a few of the progenies. The high oil parent had the greatest GCA and was involved as a parent in four of the eight highest SCAs. The large GCA/SCA ratio indicated additive genetic action for oil content. I concluded that oil content in oat is of primarily additive and dominant genetic action with some maternal-paternal effects present and there is very little relationship between oil content and the kernel characters looked at.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Oats -- Varieties
Oils and fats
Oats -- Physiology

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

44

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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