Variation in Grain Mineral Contents of Oat Genotypes Grown at Six Locations

Oat is an important widely grown crop and gained popularity as a functional food around the world. The study aimed to identify and interpret the variability of some mineral contents in oat genotypes at six locations over two years. Forty-nine different oat genotypes were grown for two years in six various locations. According to the combined analysis of variance over locations, genotype and location had highly significant effects on all minerals. Also, the effect of years was significant on other elements except for phosphorus, calcium and sodium. While potassium (K) contents of oat samples changed between 3937.18 and 4645.44 mg kg⁻¹, phosphorus (P) contents of oats ranged from 2342.40 to 3303.93 mg kg⁻¹. The magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca) and sodium (Na) contents of grains were ranged from 1193.90 to 1352.88 mg kg⁻¹, 898.62 to 967.72 mg kg⁻¹, and 177.08 to 249.97 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) contents of grains were ranged from 45.58 to 63.84 mg kg⁻¹, 34.03 to 42.31 mg kg⁻¹, 22.22 to 28.44 mg kg⁻¹, and 4.75 to 5.75 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The prominent C7, C9, L5, L6, L7, L9, L12, L23, L28, L29, L30, L31, L34 and L40 genotypes in terms of many minerals in the present investigation could serve as potential genetic resources which can be used in further breeding to improve the nutritional quality of oat grain.