Advances in Breeding for Winter Hardiness in Oats.

Avena sativa, or Common Cultivated Oat, has the poorest winter hardiness among the small grain cereals. Marker-assisted selection for improved winter survival in oat is difficult, as the number of SSR and other PCR based markers available in this species is limited. The objectives of this research were: 1) to increase the number of SSR markers on the Fulghum x Norline recombinant inbred population genetic map, and to scan for QTL associated with winter hardiness component traits, including winter field survival, crown freezing tolerance, vernalization response, and heading date, and 2) utilize an association mapping population to validate markers of interest from the Fulghum x Norline population that are most closely linked to the winter hardiness component traits. Phenotypic data for winter hardiness component traits in both the Fulghum x Norline population and the association population were obtained in field and controlled chamber experiments. All previously mapped markers and new SSR markers were evaluated and QTL identified. Only SSR and SNP marker loci were run on the association population for the ease of use in any program that would like to start a marker assisted selection (MAS) program previous studies have mapped 37 different markers on the population, 21 of which were SSR’s. The map now stands at 101 loci consisting of RFPLs and SSR’s from the previous work, along with 60 new SSR markers and 4 new SNP markers. After structuring the association population, the markers associated with QTL in the bi parental population were ran on the association population to better describe the effect of each allele. The information received for the association mapping population can then be used in MAS for early generation testing of new lines.