by PressCanadian scientists unveil high-yielding oat variety
High-yielding oat variety tested in different climates
Scientists around the world are continuing to develop new varieties of agricultural plants. A key goal is to improve productivity in order to meet the growing needs of the global population. Canadian breeders have shared their successes. They have introduced a high-yielding oat variety. Farmers will have access to this variety in the near future.
The new variety, named OT3125, has attracted interest from producers due to its 7% increase in yield. Such growth can significantly impact farm profitability while reducing production costs. Researchers emphasise that OT3125 delivers consistently high yields under different soil and climatic conditions. This makes it particularly valuable for farmers across the country.
To create the new variety, scientists used classical breeding methods rather than genetic engineering. Although genetic engineering produces faster results, the scientists deliberately opted for a more predictable approach.
One of the creators of the new OT3125 species was Aaron Beatty. He develops oat and barley varieties at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. He noted that tests on the plant were conducted over a period of two years. During these tests, OT3125 performed better than several commercial oat varieties. Of particular note was the stable yield growth, regardless of the growing region. This adds to the variety’s value for farmers across the country.
According to Beattie, a recorded increase in yield is unusual. Canadian breeders have not achieved such a result for the last ten years. This emphasises the importance of the discovery.
Development features
The creation of OT3125 took a long time and required many factors to come together:
1. Scientists worked on crossing two lines of oats for about 8 years.
2. The parent varieties of the plant had a number of positive characteristics for the new species, such as the potential for increased yields.
3. The plant inherited a short stem from its parent varieties. This increased lodging resistance and consequently improved yield.
The new variety has undergone the necessary trials and been granted registration. FP Genetics holds the licence to sell OT3125. It has also involved intermediaries in the seed multiplication process to provide growers with the necessary amount of seed. However, farmers will have to wait a few years for the variety to come to market.
Currently, OT3125 does not have an official name. FP Genetics has assigned the task of naming it to the Centre for Crop Development (CDC). The variety will probably take the name of a famous serviceman or notable figure. For example, the Anson variety was named after the Canadian Mounted Police officer, Douglas Anson.
The success of the variety motivates breeders to continue working towards higher yields. They also want to intensify their research in order to make the plant more resistant to pests. In this area, the breeders are paying special attention to resistance to crown rust, which impairs the quality of oats.