SUITABILITY OF QUANTITATIVE TRAITS IN IDENTIFICATION OF OAT (AVENA SATIVA L.) CULTIVARS FOR RAINFED ENVIRONMENTS
YOGESH RUWALI* AND J. S. VERMA
Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding,
G. B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology
Pantnagar-263145 (Uttarakhand), India
*(e-mail : ruwali.yogesh@gmail.com)
(Received: 8 December, 2012, Accepted: 20 July, 2013)
SUMMARY
The objective of this study was to check the efficiency of selection using quantitative traits in identification of oat cultivars suitable for rainfed environments in order to incorporate the high yielding genotypes in our oat breeding program. In our study plant biological yield decreased in rainfed plots compared to the timely irrigated plot. In general, it was found that yield of the oat plant (seed/ straw) can be an effective tool for preliminary selection of potent genotypes in stressed environments. The genotypes D. Sel.-1 and D. Sel.-5 with high susceptibility index values of 5.38 and 4.90 were identified as the most susceptible genotype. The genotype UPO 273 appeared better suited to rainfed conditions while, the genotype UPO 270 with susceptibility index value of 0.00 was recognized as the most stable genotype across the two different moisture level environments.
Key words : Suitable cultivars, rainfed environments, biological yield, Oat (Avena sativa)