Anatomical and hormonal factors determining the development of haploid and zygotic embryos of oat (Avena sativa L.)

A critical step in the production of doubled haploids is a conversion of the haploid embryos into plants. Our study aimed to recognize the reasons for the low germination rate of Avena sativa haploid embryos obtained by distant crossing with maize. Oat cultivars of ‘Krezus’ and ‘Akt’ were investigated regarding embryo anatomy, the endogenous phytohormone profiles, and antioxidant capacity. The zygotic embryos of oat were used as a reference. It was found that twenty-one days old haploid embryos were smaller and had a less advanced structure than zygotic ones. Morphology and anatomy modifications of haploid embryos were accompanied by extremely low levels of endogenous auxins. Higher levels of cytokinins, as well as tenfold higher cytokinin to auxin ratio in haploid than in zygotic embryos, may suggest an earlier stage of development of these former. Individual gibberellins reached higher values in ‘Akt’ haploid embryos than in the respective zygotic ones, while the differences in both types of ‘Krezus’ embryos were not noticed. Additionally to the hormonal regulation of haploid embryogenesis, the poor germination of oat haploid embryos can be a result of the overproduction of reactive oxygen species, and therefore higher levels of low molecular weight antioxidants and stress hormones.

Reproductive performance of sows inseminated with diluted semen treated with homeopathic medicine

Aims: this study sought to assess the reproductive performance of sows inseminated with sperm treated with homeopathic medicines. Materials and methods: the semen of 2 sexually mature boars age 18 months Pietrain and Duroc cross-bred with similar genetic and reproductive performance were chosen, as well as 125 sows. Sixteen samples of semen were collected and standardized through semen evaluation. Three homeopathic preparations and a placebo (control) were tested on the sperm (n=31/32 per group): Avena sativa 6cH, Pulsatilla nigricans 6cH and Avena sativa 6cH + Pulsatilla nigricans 6cH. Sows were inseminated 3 times with the same estrous diagnostic procedures. Results: there was significant difference (p

Investigations on the Source Material of Oat Seeds, Avena sativa through the Multidimensional Ranking Method in Natural Conditions of Yakutia, Siberia, Russia

Eighty-three collection samples of oat seeds (Avena sativa L.) of various ecological, geographical, and breeding origins were studied in the conditions of Central Yakutia during 2017-2019 by the method of multidimensional ranking according to six economically valuable characteristics, namely, the duration of the growing season, grain yield, grain weight from the plant and panicles, the weight of 1.000 grains, and yielding tillering capacity. According to the results of the multidimensional ranking, the varieties were divided into three groups: the best, average, and worst. At that, from the data entered for 83 samples, the program determined priorities based on a combination of the duration of the growing season and yield. The group of best samples, based on a combination of economically valuable features, included 63% of samples from Europe, 30% from Russia, and 7% from Asia. The main share in the average group was made up of samples from Europe (63%), Russia (33%), and Asia (4%). The local zoned variety – Pokrovsky standard is included in the average group with a rank limit of 118.8. The worst group included the most samples from Europe (41%), Russia (26%), America (26%), Africa (3.7%), and Asia (3.7%). According to the precocity, 11 samples were identified that ripened earlier than the standard by 7-11 days. These are K-15062 (Omsk Region), K-15108 (USA), K-15111 (Colombia), K-15184 (Kemerovo Region), K-15191 (Slovakia), K-15357 (Norway), K-15375, K-15416, K-15418 (Germany), K-15392 (Sweden), and K-15408 (Belarus). Samples with high grain yield were included in the group of the best varieties. Among the selected varieties, cultivars K-15293 from Poland and K-15415 from Germany had the most stable yield over the years

Anthocyanin content in grains of barley and oat accessions from the VIR collection

Background. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.) are grain crops belonging to one of the main sources of food and forage in the Russian Federation. They contain proteins, various groups of vitamins, fats, carbohydrates, β-glucans, minerals and different bioloactive compounds, including anthocyanins. Recently, much attention has been given to anthocyanins due to their various valuable properties. Therefore, the grain of barley and oat is a potentially promising economic product and a component of functional nutrition. The aim of this work was to estimate the content of anthocyanins in barley and oat accessions with different pigmentation of kernels and lemma. Materials and methods. 32 barley and 11 oat accessions were studied by spectrophotometry. Anthocyanins were extracted from barley and oat kernels with a 1% HCl solution in methanol. Results and discussion. As a result of the study, accessions and varieties with the highest content of anthocyanins were identified: for barley these are k-15904 (China), k-19906 (Mongolia), k-18709 (Japan), k-18723, k-18729 (Canada), k-17725 (Turkey) belonging to var. violaceum; k-29568 (Japan) – var. densoviolaceum; k-8690 (Ethiopia) – var. griseinigrum; k-28205 (Germany) – var. nudidubium; and for oat these are k-15527 (A. ayssinica Hochst. var. braunii Koern., Ethiopia) and k-15245 (A. strigosa Schreb. subsp. brevis var. tephera Mordv. ex Sold. et Rod., Poland). Conclusion. The obtained results demonstrated that the VIR collection includes accessions with potential value for the development of varieties with an increased anthocyanin content, which can be used as functional food products.

Mitigating the Negative Effect of Drought Stress in Oat (Avena sativa L.) with Silicon and Sulphur Foliar Fertilization

A field experiment was carried out in the 2020–2021 growing season, aiming at investigating the abiotic stress tolerance of oat (Avena sativa L.) with silicon and sulphur foliar fertilization treatments and monitoring the effect of treatments on the physiology, production and stress tolerance of winter oat varieties. In the Hungarian national list of varieties, six winter oat varieties were registered in 2020, and all of the registered varieties were sown in a small plot field experiment in Debrecen, Hungary. The drought tolerance of the oat could be tested, because June was very dry in 2021; the rainfall that month totaled 6 mm only despite a 30-year average of 66.5 mm, and the average temperature for the month was 3.2 °C higher than the 30-year average. Foliar application of silicon and sulphur fertilizers caused differences in the photosynthesis rate, total conductance to CO2, transpiration, water use efficiency, leaf area, chlorophyll content, carotenoid content, thousand kernel weight (TKW) and yield of winter oat. The application of silicon significantly increased the photosynthesis rate (16.8–149.3%), transpiration (5.4–5.6%), air–leaf temperature difference (16.2–43.2%), chlorophyll (1.0%) and carotenoid (2.5%) content. The yield increased by 10.2% (Si) and 8.0% (Si plus S), and the TKW by 3.3% (Si) and 5.0% (Si plus S), compared to the control plots. The plants in the control plots assimilated less CO2 while transpiring 1 m3 water more than in the Si, S or Si plus S fertilized plots. The effect of the silicon varied from 9.0 to 195.4% in water use efficiency (WUE) in the three development stages (BBCH52, BBCH65 and BBCH77). A lower leaf area index was measured in the foliar fertilized plots; even so, the yield was higher, compared to that from the control plots. Great variation was found in response to the foliar Si and S fertilization among winter oat varieties—in WUE, 2.0–43.1%; in total conductance to CO2, 4.9–37.3%; in leaf area, 1.6–34.1%. Despite the droughty weather of June, the winter oat varieties produced a high yield. The highest yield was in ‘GK Arany’ (7015.7 kg ha−1), which was 23.8% more than the lowest yield (‘Mv Kincsem’, 5665.6 kg ha −1). In the average of the treatments, the TKW increased from 23.9 to 33.9 g (41.8%). ‘Mv Hópehely’ had the highest TKW. Our results provide information about the abiotic stress tolerance of winter oat, which, besides being a good model plant because of its drought resistance, is an important human food and animal feed.

High dilutions of acetone affect the Avena sativa growth in vitro

Introduction: Acetone is an organic solvent with molecular structure CH3(CO)CH3, its endogenous production in the animal body is called ketosis. The production of this compound increases with the fat. Acetone influences the lipid membrane, altering its fluidity and lipid composition [1], causing cell damage and leakage and can cause cell death. The use of herbicides in organic farming is not accepted by the Brazilian legislation [2]. So the weed control becomes a problem for organic farmers. The aim of this study is to evaluate the herbicide potential of high dilutions of acetone on Avena sativa L. Materials and Methods: The preliminary tests were conducted at the Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Homeopathy, State University of Maringá (UEM). The seeds of Avena sativa are placed in Petri dishes. Fitty seeds were germinated and grown in Petri dishes containing 15ml of high dilution of acetone and maintained at 25°C ± 2 and 12h photoperiod. Acetone dilutions (6, 12, 18, 24 and 30cH) were obtained according to the Brazilian Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia [3]. Were evaluated the shoot length (cm), total length (cm), fresh root (mg) and total dry mass (mg). The plants growth was measured after 7 days. The control consisted of distilled water. The experiment evaluated 4 replicates of each treatment and the data were analyzed by ANOVA and means were compared by Scott-Knott test (P ≤ 0.05). Results and Discussion: Dilutions 6, 24 and 30 cH inhibited the growth of the shoot and total seedling of A. sativa. The root fresh weight was significantly reduced by 4 dilutions (6,12,24 and 30x), with no difference of 24x compared to the control. The total dry mass of plants of A. sativa was reduced in all the dilutions studied, showing an inhibitory effect on growth of seedlings subjected to treatment. Somehow, acetone diluited inhibited the growth and accumulation of biomass of these seedlings, suggesting an imbalance in metabolism that resulted in a reduction in the variables values. Conclusion: The results suggest that high dilutions acetone interfere on the growth and accumulation of biomass of A. sativa.

Selection for seed size has uneven effects on specialized metabolite abundance in oat (Avena sativa L)

Plant breeding strategies to optimize metabolite profiles are necessary to develop health-promoting food crops. In oats (Avena sativa L.), seed metabolites are of interest for their antioxidant properties, yet have not been a direct target of selection in breeding. In a diverse oat germplasm panel spanning a century of breeding, we investigated the degree of variation of these specialized metabolites and how it has been molded by selection for other traits, like yield components. We also ask if these patterns of variation persist in modern breeding pools. Integrating genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic and phenotypic analyses for three types of seed specialized metabolites – avenanthramides, avenacins, and avenacosides – we found reduced heritable genetic variation in modern germplasm compared to diverse germplasm, in part due to increased seed size associated with more intensive breeding. Specifically, we found that abundance of avenanthramides increases with seed size, but additional variation is attributable to expression of biosynthetic enzymes. In contrast, avenacoside abundance decreases with seed size and plant breeding intensity. In addition, these different specialized metabolites do not share large-effect loci. Overall, we show that increased seed size associated with intensive plant breeding has uneven effects on the oat seed metabolome, but variation also exists independently of seed size to use in plant breeding. This work broadly contributes to our understanding of how plant breeding has influenced plant traits and tradeoffs between traits (like growth and defense) and the genetic bases of these shifts.

Composición química de los componentes del cultivo de avena (Avena sativa L.), variedad Chihuahua

Por su importancia como cultivo estratégico de invierno parcialmente caracterizado, se estudió la composición química de avena forrajera variedad Chihuahua. En hoja, tallo, maleza, panícula y planta completa, se determinaron (g 100 g-1) fibra detergente neutro (FDN), fibra detergente ácido (FDA), lignina cruda (LC), cenizas (Cen), proteína cruda (PC) y grasa cruda GC), y se evaluaron sus correspondientes rendimientos (kg ha-1). La PC disminuyó (p < 0.05) y los contenidos de FDN, FDA y LC aumentaron (p < 0.05) en hoja, tallo, maleza y planta completa al avanzar la edad de corte. El contenido de GC aumentó con la edad en hoja y panícula (p < 0.05), pero no se observaron cambios en tallo ni en maleza (p > 0.05). En panícula el contenido de FDN disminuyó fuertemente, 21.6% y el de PC disminuyó levemente, 1.0% (p < 0.05), mientras que los de LC y GC aumentaron (p < 0.05) al avanzar la edad. Se detectó un máximo rendimiento de PC en hoja y maleza a los 75 días de edad, mientras que, en tallo el rendimiento máximo de PC se produjo a los 90 días. Para que el forraje de avena, variedad Chihuahua, no contenga tanta fibra y a fin de que los contenidos y rendimientos de proteína no sean tan bajos, se sugiere cosechar esta planta entre 75 y 90 días de edad.