title: Association of two measures of vegetative growth rate with other traits in inter and intraspecific matings of oats.
abstract: F2-derived oat lines from inter (Avena sativa L. x A. sterilis L.) and intraspecific (among A. sativa cultivars) matings were evaluated in the F3, F4, and F5 generations for heading date, grain and straw yields, biomass, vegetative dry weight at anthesis, vegetative growth rates until anthesis (GRA) and until maturity (GRM), and harvest index. The associations of GRA and GRM with harvest index ranged from zero to slightly negative. The positive correlations of GRA and GRM with grain yield were stronger in inter than in intraspecific matings. Grain yield was positively associated with harvest index in both inter and intraspecific matings. The results suggest the use of A. sterilis x A. sativa matings to improve vegetative growth rate, grain yield, and, to a certain extent, harvest index simultaneously without affecting the growth duration of the crop.
authors.affiliation: Sorghum and Millet Improvement Project, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Frey