Comprehensive analysis of nutritional parameters and elemental diversity in oat genotypes: opportunities for crop improvement and food industry utilization

In the present study seed yield and biochemical parameters of 56 diverse oat genotypes for grain quality and their utilization in crop improvement were studied. The results obtained exhibited a wide range of variability for all the parameters i.e., β-glucan content (22.50–44.90 mg/g), crude protein (129.5–167.6 mg/g), total soluble sugar (21.6–64 mg/g), reducing sugar (7.8–21.7 mg/g), non-reducing sugar (12.00–42.3 mg/g), total phenol (4.3–15.1 mg/g), nitrogen (15.86–20.53 mg/g), potassium (9.96–16.6 mg/g), phosphorus (1.46–6.64 mg/g), iron (3.53–12.78 mg/100 g), zinc (3.83–7.83 mg/100 g) and magnesium (85.8–232.4 mg/100 g), respectively. Correlation analysis revealed that nitrogen content had a statistically significant positive correlation with total phenol, seed crude protein, magnesium, and total soluble sugar. However, Fe is positive and significantly correlated with N content. The genotypes HFO 419 and OS 346 were identified as the best performers for SCP, N, TSS, RS, and NRS. HFO602 recorded the highest Mg and K levels whereas HFO 862 and HFO 867 were found promising for the Fe and Zn content. Therefore, the best genotypes from the present study may be recommended for the food industries and may be utilized in heterosis breeding programs to enhance nutritional quality.