Genetic Variation Analysis of Avenin Components in the Population of F2 Common Oat Hybrids

The use of avenins as biochemical markers successfully complements the use of molecular markers in oat breeding. Currently, the genes controlling the synthesis of oat prolamins are insufficiently studied. The purpose of the work was to study the genetic variation of avenin components in populations of F2 common oat hybrids and to describe new allelic variants of component blocks. The avenins component of F2 grain in 19 hybrid oat populations was studied using the native electrophoresis method. Cultivars with new combinations of avenin components were used as parental genotypes to produce hybrids. The protein separation was conducted in vertical plates of 13.2% polyacrylamide gel. The number of avenin components in the spectra of cultivars varied from 8 to 12. The observed ratio of the grain number that compose the phenotypic classes for allele pairs at each of the loci corresponded to the theoretically expected one for codominant monohybrid inheritance. Our results confirm the assumption that avenin synthesis is controlled by three independent gene clusters located on three chromosomes. In the course of the studies, hybrid combinations were not identified in the spectra of which avenin components were manifested that were absent in both parents. The prolamin component blocks in oat are formed by 2–5 components, are characterized by high stability, and are inherited unchanged. Fifteen new allelic variants of blocks of components of the avenin electrophoretic spectrum have been identified: six for the Avn A locus, six for the Avn B locus, and three for the Avn C locus. This expands the possibilities of using prolamins as biochemical markers of economically valuable oat traits and certification of new cultivars and valuable breeding lines.