Developing enhanced breeding methodologies for oats for human health and nutrition HGCA AHDB

The overall aim of the project is to develop strategies to improve yield and other targets which are currently difficult or impossible to select for at early stages of breeding cycles.

This project will use a range of unique genetic material developed in previous HGCA-funded research to dissect the genetic and environmental factors contributing to variation in yield, grain quality and grain composition, and use that information in an innovative oat breeding programme. The work will provide an unrivalled opportunity to use detailed phenotype information on genetically defined material to identify component traits which can be screened directly or indirectly to allow early generation selection.

Field trials will be conducted to validate the genetic improvement in agronomic traits achieved in different environments and to confirm improvements in milling quality and grain composition through partnership with industry collaborators. Nitrogen (N) is a vital nutrient for plant growth and yield formation, and this will provide valuable information for growers to use as N management must balance yield improvement against maintaining grain quality. The use of a range of environments will provide information on trait stability which is an important attribute for new varieties.