Domestication of the protein-rich tetraploid wild oats Avena magna and A. Murphyi

The first stage in the domestication of the protein-rich tetraploid oats Avena magna and A. murphyi has been achieved by introducing seed non-shattering from the cultivated hexaploid oats A. sativa. A great variation in the protein content was encountered in the tetraploid domesticated types and plants having up to 27 31% protein were selected. The potential of these newly domesticated oats in increasing protein yields is briefly diseussed: also the significance of the tetraploids A magna and A. murphyi in improving the protein content of the hexaploid cultivars is stressed.