Genetic variability in Avena sativa, Avena sterilis and in their hybrids through the agronomic evaluation

This study aimed to compare the genetic variability of the cultivated oat g roup and of the wild-type of this cereal. Several agronomic traits like pla nt stature, number of primary and secondary anthoecium on the main panicle, vegetative cycle (head date), number of kernel only on the main panicle, 1 000 kernel weight and tiller number were studied in the field in different groups of cultivated oat genotypes (UFRGS 7, UFRGS 8 and UPF 7) and wild-ty pes (I-303, I-320, I-325, I-377, I-378, I-428 and I-ARG). Statistical diffe rences were detected on all of the traits tested, except for the tillers nu mber. Higher interspecific than intraspecific genetic variability was also found. The action of natural selection on all of the Avena sterilis L. grou p and the selection pressure applied by man (artificial selection) on the A vena sativa L. group could be the main point of difference between the two species. The I-325, I-377 and I-378 introductions showed similar vegetative cycle to the cultivated group, and increased the possibility of interspeci fic hybridization. The I-ARG wild type showed to have intermediate agronomi c traits in relation to cultivated and wild oat types.