Path analysis on traits associated with oat milling yield

Abstract

Oat is an important winter cereal used for food and feed. The industrial crop yield is an important parameter to characterize the quality of the grain and the conversion of this in processed products. Thus, this study aimed to identify the phenotypic inter-relations of cause and effect between traits associated with the industrial yield of oat. The experiment was conducted in the growing seasons of 2013 and 2014. The experimental design was a randomized block, arranged in a factorial design: two (harvests) x 20 (genotypes), with six replicates. The oat genotypes formed different phenotypic classes for the measured traits. The industrial yield is directly associated with the test weight, grain yield and grain index. Phenotypic associations can be efficiently used in breeding programs aiming at oat indirect selection to improve industrial performance. Highlighted Conclusions1. Different phenotypic classes are observed for the measured traits. 2. Milling yield is associated with the hectoliter weight, grain yield and grain index. 3. The milling yield can be improved by indirect selection.