β-D-glucan is a soluble component of dietary fibre localised in the cell walls of cereal grains, especially oat and barley. This homopolysaccharide presents a wide spectrum of health-beneficial effects in human beings, and its higher concentration in oats makes it an essential component for human nutrition. Genetic and environmental factors influence the content of β-D-glucan. Four oat varieties (two naked and two hulled) were grown in experimental fields at Vígľaš-Pstruša (Central Slovakia) in two consecutive years (2007 and 2008). The experiment included five fertilisation treatments with application of nitrogen (N) (as ammonium nitrate with dolomite) before sowing, and with selenium (Se) at the end of the tilling period (in the form of sodium selenate). A higher average content of β-D-glucan and test weight were observed in naked oats, Avenuda and Detvan, compared with hulled Vendelin and Zvolen. By contrast, higher yield and thousand grains weight were detected in hulled oats. Fertilisation with N + Se increased the content of β-D-glucan, but significantly only in hulled oat grains. The warmer and drier climate in the year 2007 did not influence the content of β-D-glucan in oats, but caused a significant increase in thousand grains weight and test weight in both oat varieties, as well as grain yield in naked oats.

Plants have evolved to live in environments where they are often exposed to different stress factors. Being sessile, they have developed specific mechanisms that allow them to detect precisely environmental changes and respond to complex conditions, minimizing damage while conserving valuable resources for growth and reproduction. The cell wall polysaccharide β-D-glucan observed in some species of Poales can determine responses to various environmental factors in specific plant developmental stages. It is located in the outer epidermal layer, at the place of stress attack and therefore its metabolism could relate to response of plant to environmental factors within moderate, physiological range. Putative protective role of β-D-glucan during heat stress was indicated through naked oats with higher content of β-D-glucan. It appeared that oats with higher β-D-glucan content are better adapted to stress conditions. The presented article discusses the β-D-glucan as a possible protective mechanism in oat during (heat) stress conditions.

The aim of research was to analyse winter wheat of different grain colour and to compare newly bred coloured genotypes from our breeding in grain yield and technological and nutritional quality. The set of seven purple, five blue and four yellow wheats of different origin, including seven newly bred genotypes from Vígľaš-Pstruša, was evaluated in the field experiments established by randomised complete block design in two replications in Piešťany, in the vegetations 2012/13 and 2013/14. In seven wheat varieties differing in grain colours (selected after two of each colour plus control red variety Ilona) anthocyanin composition was evaluated by HPLC analysis. Significant differences were between growing years and among colour groups in most analysed traits. Blue grain newly bred K 3575 699/3 showed the highest anthocyanin content (by 33.5% higher compared to blue grain registered variety Scorpion). However, blue grain genotypes showed negative agronomic traits combined with low number and grain weight per spike and high plant height. In new purple variety PS Karkulka, declared grain yield and its quality were confirmed and the highest mineral content (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) was found in selected set. Purple grain newly bred PS 5711 had lower anthocyanin content (by 17.7%), but in quality it was comparable to PS Karkulka. Varieties with yellow endosperm showed the highest number and weight of grains per spike, however it was significantly lower to Ilona. The breeding goal of coloured winter wheat is still to improve the grain yield as well as additional agronomics traits.