Genetic progress in oat associated with fungicide use in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Plant Breeding
• Genetics

Background:

• The State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) is Brazil's leading oat producer, supported by established breeding programs releasing new cultivars.
• Evaluating genetic progress and disease resistance in oat cultivars is crucial for agricultural advancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the annual genetic progress in oat grain yield and hectoliter weight in RS.
• To determine the effectiveness of oat breeding programs in incorporating disease resistance genes.
• To compare breeding program efficiency with and without fungicide application.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 89 oat cultivar field trials conducted between 2007 and 2014 in RS.
• Trials were divided into those with (44) and without (45) aerial fungicide application.
• Employed Vencovsky's (1988) methodology to study annual genetic progress.

Main Results:

• Annual genetic progress for oat grain yield was 1.02% with fungicide use and 4.02% without.
• Annual genetic progress for hectoliter weight was 0.08% with fungicide use and 0.71% without.
• Higher genetic gains were observed in trials without fungicide, indicating progress in disease resistance.

Conclusions:

• Network yield trials with and without fungicide application are effective for evaluating oat breeding programs.
• Breeding programs in RS are successfully introducing disease-resistant genes into new oat cultivars.
• Prioritizing disease resistance in breeding contributes to greater genetic gains in yield and quality.