Sivas Science and Technology University (SSTU), which carries out breeding studies on 174 oat genotypes brought from different regions of Türkiye, aims to develop new varieties that can be planted in winter, much more productive and high quality than existing varieties.

With the initiatives of the SSTU Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, breeding studies were started on the oat plant, which is widely cultivated in Türkiye but has a limited number of varieties, about 2 years ago.

Studies aiming to develop new varieties that are more productive and high quality, resistant to changing climatic conditions, and can be cultivated in winter, are carried out in the laboratories of the faculty on 174 different oat genotypes.

It was observed that the morphological development of oat seeds, which were also trial planted in the Agricultural R&D Center within the faculty, was at a good level.

Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, SSTU vice-chancellor Prof. Dr. Tolga Karaköy said that they are working to develop more productive varieties than the limited number of oat varieties available in the market.

Pointing out that oats is an agricultural plant planted in the summer, Karaköy said, "We also continue to work on the development of winter oat varieties. In our region, our farmers grow oats on a contractual basis, especially under the leadership of some private companies, but this consists of a few varieties. We are working on the development of productive and high quality new varieties. We have 174 different genotypes, we are comparing all of them with trial cultivation."

"We aim to increase the income of our farmers"

Expressing that the oat variety called "Albatross" is cultivated in Karaköy, Sivas and its environs, he said, "This variety is grown in summer. Therefore, the vegetation period (the part of the year where the average daily temperature exceeds a certain limit) is short, and therefore its yield is low. By taking into account the changing climate situation, we aim to increase the income of our farmers by developing new varieties that are much more resistant to drought and cold in these conditions."

Explaining that they brought the genotypes from 40 different regions and that the DNA structure of each was different, Karaköy said:

"We identify parents with high yield potential among these genotypes and we do crosses on them. After crossbreeding, we determine whether they have the characteristics we want by DNA isolation and testing in our molecular genetics laboratories. We also use methods. We take care to develop new varieties that are taller and of higher quality.”

 

Source: Anadolu Ajansı