Osmotic stress tolerance in forage oat varieties (Avena Sativa L.) based on osmotic potential trials
¹Autonomous University of Chihuahua, Agrotechnological Sciences Faculty, V. Carranza y Escorza s/n, Col. Centro, Chihuahua, 31000 Chihuahua, México
²National Institute of Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock Research, Av. Hidalgo No 1213, Cuauhtémoc, 31500 Chihuahua, México
³Research Center in Food and Development, A.C., Cuauhtemoc Unit, Av. Rio conchos s/n, Parque Industrial, Apartado Postal 781, Cuauhtemoc, 31570 Chihuahua, Mexico
⁴Misión Biológica de Galicia, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Apartado 28, 36080 Pontevedra, Spain
*Correspondence: capacitadorortega.arraigate@gmail.com; cruz2477@yahoo.com.mx
Abstract:
Forage oats (Avena sativa L.) are globally important for milk and meat production, and, to a lesser extent, for the human diet. In Mexico, oats are a strategic crop, occupying the fourth place in cultivated area, only after maize for grain, bean, and sorghum for grain. Droughts are the main problem for oat production in Mexico. This study evaluated the germination and seedling growth of several oat varieties in response to drought stress simulated by PEG-6000 treatments of different osmotic pressure in order to identify drought-resistant genotypes. The Teporaca genotype was the most outstanding in the three levels of OP compared to its control with 0.0 of Osmotic Potential (OP). The Teporaca genotype showed the largest root length and the lowest diminishment of root length under osmotic stress conditions. This genotype also had the largest shoot length in the three osmotic stress levels. Regarding root fresh weight, Babicora stands out with 98.5% and Teporaca with 43% in the most severe level. Teporaca, Menonita, and Babicora showed the outstanding root dry weights of 346.5%, 327.2%, and 251.2%, respectively. These varieties had higher root dry weight than their own controls in water in the most severe level of OP. In conclusion, the Teporaca, Menonita, and Karma genotypes showed the highest osmotic stress tolerance and could be used as sources of favorable alleles to improve oat drought tolerance.
Key words:
Avena sativa, osmotic pressure, polyethylene glycol 6000