Effect of mass selection for seed density in populations derived from Avena abyssinica x A. sativa amphidecaploids

Abstract

Seed of two heterogeneous amphidecaploid Avena populations (NY79143 and NY79148) were separated into three groups based on seed density using a commercial gravity table . Bulk populations were evaluated in a field trial to test the effect of selection for seed density on agronomic characteristics, while chromosome behavior was studied on similarly selected individual plants grown in a coldframe . Selection for seed density was associated with improved agronomic characteristics for individual plants grown in coldframes but the treatment effect was not significant in the field trial . Population and treatment effects were significant for chromosome number . Mean chromosome numbers were higher in NY79148 than in NY79143, and increased with selection for seed density . Populations did not differ for mean somatic instability but did show interactive population*treatment effects . Several generations of selection for seed density is suggested .