Production and quality of seeds in forage oats

Abstract

This research was carried out at the UNESP-Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil, to evaluate the production and quality of the seeds of the bristle oat (Avena strigosa Schreb) an of three cultivar of A. byzantina C. Kock., namely UFP₂, UFP₃, and UFP₇. The seeds were harvested at 101 (T₁); 121 (T₂) and 128 (T₃) days after sowing (DAS); and 77 days of regrowth of plants cut at 60 DAS (T₄). The number of vegetative tillers did not change from 60 to 102 days of plant growth while the number (0.0 to 359.1) and the percentage (0.0 to 61.1%) of reproductive tillers increased. The bristle oat and the cultivars UPF₂, UPF₃, and UPF₇, showed different seed productions (646; 1388; 1486; 1959 kg/ha). Seed productions in T₁, T₂, T₃, and T₄ were 1196; 1699; 1262; and 1327 kg/ha, respectively. Seeds of the bristle oat were of lower quality than the seeds of cultivars UPF₂, UPF₃ and UPF₇ in all harvesting times. The seeds obtained in T₂ and T₃ presented higher germination and vigor when compared to those obtained in the other harvesting times.