Analysis of the genetic and environmental factors affecting grain quality in oats (Avena sativa)
Maria
Abstract
Developing high value oat varieties to meet milling industry requirements is constrained by a lack of detailed information on how genetic and environmental differences and interactions, management conditions and levels of N fertilizer impact on grain quality. Focusing on key milling quality characters, i.e. specific weight, kernel content, hullability and thousand grain weight, four winter oat varieties were grown under conventional and organic regimes at six geographical locations in 2012-13 and 2013-14. In addition, grain yields and oil, protein and β-glucan content of the groat was determined, and grain and groat shape parameters were measured using non-destructive methods. Results showed that there was a differential effect of environment on grain chemical and physicalparameters and st