Department of Agronomy

USDA-CSREES

Oat Project for Enhancement of Beta-glucan

Oat ß-glucan Project (PDF 840 KB)

Oat Project

Scientists from Iowa State University and USDA-ARS are collaborating on a project to enhance the quality and quantity of ß-glucan in oats. The funding is generated from a USDA-CSREES integrated grant that pairs research with the development of educational components. The research will involve completing the association mapping of ß-glucan in oat germplasm for food and nutritional function. Oat breeders will use this information in field breeding projects. Educational materials on plant breeding, ß-glucan benefits in oats, and marker-assisted selection techniques will be developed for a variety of student groups. For details on the project, see here (PDF 840 KB).

Objectives of the Oat Project

  • Association mapping of ß-glucan content and structure in elite oat germplasm and replicated comparison of phenotypic with marker-assisted selection
  • Association mapping of ß-glucan content from the National Plant Germplasm System: complementation of elite oat
  • Educational initiatives to pipeline students into plant breeding and to educate professionals

Graduate Assistantships Available for Project

Plant Breeding, Iowa State University. Two Ph.D. assistantships available at Iowa State University, Ames. A research and education team is being assembled for association mapping of ß-glucan in oat germplasm for food and nutritional function. Cutting-edge marker technologies and statistical analyses will be applied. Educational materials on plant breeding and marker-assisted selection will be developed. An M. S. degree in plant breeding, genetics, or closely related field with a strong background in math is preferred. A demonstrated interest in working on educational projects is desired. For more information, please contact Dr. Lance Gibson, Department of Agronomy, 515-294-2143 or lgibson at iastate dot edu. More

A Request for Oat Lines

As a part of the project, researchers plan to apply markers, through the newly developed DArT marker resource, to all lines entered into the UOPN (both early and mid-season) for the last decade or so. They plan to get marker data on 470 lines (that is, five plates of 94 lines). Assistance in obtaining germplasm for this use is requested from participants in the Uniform Oat Performance Nurseries. Please contact Jean-Luc Jannink to participate in the project.

 

Principal Investigators
Jean-Luc Jannink, USDA-U.S. Plant, Soil and Nutrition Research, Cornell University
Lance Gibson, Department of Agronomy, Iowa State University
Pam White, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Iowa State University
Paul Scott, USDA-ARS, Iowa State University

 

Beta-glucan, a component found in oats, has been shown to improve health.
Nutritional Benefits of ß-glucan. ß-glucans are the gelatinous water-soluble dietary fiber components that occur in certain cereal grains, particularly oats and barley. In 1997, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a health claim that "a diet high in soluble fiber from whole oats and low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease." Consumption of ß-glucan has also been shown to assist in weight loss programs by increasing satiety (the feeling of fullness) after eating. ß-glucan has also been linked to improvements in glucose control for individuals with diabetes.