Evaluation of Oat Varieties for Agronomic and Spectral Traits in Ireland: Preliminary Insight from OatFrontiers Project

Oat (Avena sativa L.) is the third major cereal crop grown in Ireland and is well-known for its resilience and a cereal break-crop in tillage rotation. Despite the potential, the availability of high-yielding adaptive varieties remains a major constraint for Irish oat cultivation. To address this knowledge gap, the OatFrontiers project (Interreg NPA funded : 2023-2026) is evaluating >390 oats from recurrent selection populations, genotyped by SNP markers, in multi-location trials. The project aims to assess agronomic adaptability and identify genes associated with key traits. In addition, 28 oat varieties from European breeders are also being evaluated for their agronomical and grain quality traits. In the spring of 2024, the first year of the two-years trial, 28 varieties were sown in a replicated trial in Teagasc, Carlow, Ireland. Critical phenological and agronomic data were recorded. Spectral data, collected by a multispectral sensor attached to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, was collected to calculate Vegetation Indices for critical growth stages. Preliminary first-year results show that yield varied among varieties, with Raven exhibiting the highest yield (approximately 8 t/ha), while Pol had the lowest (5.2 t/ha). WPB Isabel exhibited stable grain quality for multiple quality parameters. Varieties showed greater differences in panicle filling duration (PFD) (i.e. panicle emergence to maturity) than panicle emergence duration (PED). Regression analysis with the top and bottom five yielding varieties shows PFD had explained 37% of yield variation (r2=0.37), suggesting a moderate association compared to PED (r2=0.04). A regression analysis of NDVI/day at the grain filling stage showed a preliminary association with yield (r2=0.75). Notably, NDVI/day at GS80 distinguished between low- and high-yielding varieties. Preliminary data from a single-year trial suggest that a slower NDVI decline (canopy greenness retention) may lead to higher yields in Ireland’s cool climate. However, this needs further validation through studies of pre- and post-anthesis RUE variation among varieties.