Transgressive segregation for frost resistance in hexaploid oats (Avena spp.)

Abstract

SummaryResults are presented from freezing tests on five varieties of winter oats from diverse origins, on their crosses in the F1and F2generations and on selected F3lines from six of the crosses.Analysis of the F1results indicated that frost resistance was mainly determined by recessive genes, additive in their effect, but in the F2experiment there was evidence of non-allelic gene interaction. Significant general combining ability (GCA) effects were obtained in both the F1and F2experiments but specific combining ability (SCA) effects were significant only in the F2crosses. The variety Novosadsky II displayed consistently high general combining ability.Tests on F3lines derived from selected F2plants revealed considerable transgression for frost resistance in all six crosses studied. The results are discussed in relation to breeding for improved frost resistance in oats.