PRODUCTION AND QUALITY OF SEEDS IN FORAGE OATS

This research was carried out at the UNESP-Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil, to evaluate the production and quality of tile seeds of the bristle oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) an of three cultivars of A. byzantina C. Kock. , namely UFP2, UFP3, and UFP7. Tile seeds were harvested at 101 (T-1); 121 (T-2) and 128 (T-3) days after sowing (DAS); and 77 days of regro wth of plants cut at 60 DAS (T-4) The number of vegetative tillers did not change from 60 to 102 days of plant growth while the number (0.0 to 359.1) and the percentage (0.0 to 61.1%) of reproductive tillers in creased. The bristle oat and the cultivars UPF2, UPF3, and UPF7, showe d different seed productions (646; 1388; 1486; 1959 kg/ha). Seed produ ctions in T-1, T-2, T-3, and T-4 were 1196; 1699; 1262; and 1327 kg/ha , respectively. Seeds of the bristle oat were of lower quality than th e seeds of cultivars UPF2, UPF3 and UPF7 in all harvesting times. The seeds obtained in T-2 and T-3 presented higher germination and vigor w hen compared to those obtained in the other harvesting times.