Molecular characterization and genetic diversity analysis β-glucan content variability in grain of oat (Avena sativa L.)

In grain of ten genetically divergent oat cultivars (Merkur, Minor Abed, Flaming-Kurz, Nuptiele, Prode, Pellerva, Emperor, Astor, Osmo, Simo) the variability ?-glucan content were investigated. The different value of content of ?-glucan was found. Among analyzed oat cultivars, the highest ?- glucan contents had Pellerva (6.597%), while the least had Simo (2.971%). The contents of ?-glucans were determined by ICC standard Method No 168. The value of ?-glucans varied and indicated the differences and similarities between analysed cultivars. The degree of cultivar similarity was determined by dendrogram on which was discriminated two clusters of similar cultivars toward to contents of ?-glucan . Within cluster 1, a small group of oats, are five cultivars with small distance (Merkur, Minor Abed, Flamings-Kurz, Nuptiele and Prode). The highest similarity in the range of 88 or the least distance in the range of 12. Within cluster 2 was four oat cultivars (Emperor, Astor, Osmo, Pellerva) in which the least differences was between Emperor and Astor with average distance in range 27. Cluster 1 and cluster 2 differed with an average distance of 63. The cultivar Simo expressed the greatest distance to all analysed oat cultivars grouped in two clusters.