Biochemical characterization of oat genotypes for beta-glucan content and powdery mildew resistance

A study was undertaken to select oat genotypes which were powdery mildew resistant and had high beta-glucan content during Rabi 2018-19. The data of beta-glucan and yield related traits were evaluated using several biometrical approaches. In both the experiments, it was found that there was negligible difference in beta-glucan content, indicating that beta-glucan content showed no reduction effect after single cut. Eleven genotypes were found most promising for beta-glucan content. Cluster analysis revealed that in both the experiments, genotypes EC523890, JPO-10, JPO-25, ALGERIAN and EC528889 could be considered as the best with respect to beta-glucan and related traits. Principal component analysis revealed that in both the experiments beta-glucan content, crude protein and tillers per plant were the major sources of variation among oat genotypes. Genotypes JPO-28, OS-6, PLP-1, JPO-46, JPO-36, KRR-AK-26, JPO-38, and IG-03-205 were found powdery mildew resistant under in vivo and in vitro conditions and confirmed using microsatellite marker AM-102 that was tightly linked to resistant gene Eg-5. Genotypes IG-03-205, JPO-38 and JPO-46 were selected as the best genotypes having disease resistance and potential 8-glucan content as well.