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

Abstract

Summary: Results 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.