Release of two hexaploid oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars with high nutritive value of groat for human consumption: an innovation at the Moroccan national level

Moroccan oat breeding has traditionally targeted forage yield, yet the wild tetraploid oat species Avena murphyi Ladiz. possesses protein- and β-glucan-enhancing alleles largely absent from cultivated germplasm. The two decades of research, exploiting the wild tetraploid oat species A. murphyi through backcross introgression led to the release of the first Moroccan improved hexaploid oats cultivars, ‘Al Fawze’ and ‘Abtah’, developed for human consumption. Peer-reviewed papers, institutional reports and breeder datasets were screened for local Avena L. diversity and conservation, interspecific hybridization procedures, multi-environment performance under rainfed Mediterranean conditions, and nutritional and techno-functional traits relevant to food, feed and industrial use. Introgressed lines achieved 17% groat protein content, 5% groat β-glucan content and 38 g thousand-kernel weight while sustaining 34–43 q ha^-1 grain yield in addition to broad resistance to crown rust, powdery mildew, and BYDV. A 20% substitution of bread-wheat flour with ‘Al Fawze’ flour increased loaf protein by 14% without altering dough rheology, signaling immediate value for bakery and cereal products. Leveraging endemic wild germplasm fast-tracked the creation of climate-adapted, nutrient-dense oats for human consumption. Next steps include certified-seed scale-up, processor partnerships, and consumer-focused validation of sensory quality, sustainability, and health benefits.