Quantitative trait loci influencing β-glucan content in oat (Avena sativa, 2n=6x=42)

The β-glucan content of oat grain is of interest due to its positive human health role as a dietary component influencing serum cholesterol levels and its relation to the energy intake of livestock feed. Two recombinant inbred populations sharing a common parent (Kanota x Ogle and Kanota x Marion), and containing 137 individual lines each, were used to identify genomic regions that influence the β-glucan content in cultivated oat. Single-factor ANOVA, a backward elimination process, simple interval mapping (SIM) and simplified composite interval mapping (sCIM) were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Regions on linkage groups 11 and 14 of the hexaploid oat RFLP map influenced β-glucan levels in both populations and over environments. Other genomic regions were identified whose effects varied depending on the genetic background, but were significant over measurements for a given population. Kanota and Ogle exhibit similar β-glucan levels and each parent contributed about the same number of positive β-glucan alleles in the Kanota x Ogle cross. Marion is higher in β-glucan content than Kanota and contributed all of the positive alleles in the Kanota x Marion cross. Three of the β-glucan QTL regions identified have been previously implicated as having a significant influence on the groat oil content in oat. These correlated QTL regions were either in coupling phase, with a region from one parent having the same effect on both traits, or were in repulsion phase. Identification of coupling- and repulsion-phase QTL regions for β-glucan and oil content facilitates the use of markers in manipulating these traits in oat breeding.