Júpiter-INIA: A new oat variety with improved β-glucan and protein contents

Júpiter-INIA is a new oat ( Avena sativa L.) cultivar selected in preliminary field trials for higher β-glucan and protein content, resistance to disease and lodging, and similar yield than the other cultivated oat varieties. The objective of the present research was to compare agronomic, industrial performance and groat nutritional quality of 'Júpiter-INIA' with the widespread commercial 'Supernova-INIA' in southern Chile. Field trials were conducted at four different locations during four seasons in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. 'Júpiter-INIA' had about 20% more β-glucan (4.25 vs. 3.31 g 100 g-1, P < 0.0001) and protein (16.14 vs. 12.78 g 100 g-1, P < 0.0001) contents than 'Supernova- INIA'. The overall plant height, lodging, and disease reaction to crown rust were lower in 'Júpiter-INIA' than in 'Supernova-INIA'. Grain yield, 1000-grain weight, and hectoliter weight, were lower in 'Júpiter-INIA' than in 'Supernova-INIA'; however, its mean values were within the range for oat cultivars. Dehulled-grain yield and stained grains were similar to 'Supernova-INIA'. This results point out that 'Júpiter-INIA' groat had superior nutritional quality than 'Supernova-INIA', and thus it could be an important contribution to be included in the development of healthy oats-containing food products.