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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #152113
Title: MOVING BEYOND THE WINTER HARDINES PLATEAU IN U.S. OAT GERMPLASM.

Author
item Livingston, David
item ELWINGER, GERALD - PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
item MURPHY, J. PAUL - NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Crop Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/19/2004
Publication Date: 11/12/2004
Citation: Livingston, D.P., Elwinger, G., Murphy, J. 2004. Moving beyond the winter hardines plateau in u.s. oat germplasm.. Crop Science. 44:1966-969.

Interpretive Summary: Progress in the development of winter hardy oat germplasm has been slow. Data from 65 years of field testing of two freezing tolerant parents suggested that transgressive segregates for freezing tolerance would likely be produced when crossed. Mass selection using controlled freeze testing identified four freezing tolerant genotypes that were significantly more freezing tolerant than both parents and did not result in later flowering. This level of increase in freezing tolerance could result in significant northward movement of winter oat production.

Technical Abstract: Progress has been slow in the development of winter hardy oat cultivars; the latest freezing tolerant cultivar, Norline, was released in 1960. In an analysis of 65 years of field testing, Norline was not significantly hardier than Wintok which was released in 1940. An analysis of individual location-year combinations of Wintok and Norline suggested that progeny from a cross of these two cultivars might contain germplasm that was transgressive for freezing tolerance. Following three generations of seed increase and three generations of selection for freezing tolerance in controlled freeze tests, several F7 genotypes were identified with significantly higher levels of freezing tolerance than both parents. In the F9 generation two of the lines were still significantly hardier than either parent and the two lines were approximately as freezing tolerant as the moderately winter hardy barley, Trebi.