Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to assess protein and lipid contents in Avena sativa L

Protein and lipid content are two of the main chemical traits of interest for genetic breeding of oat (Avenasativa L.). The purpose of this study was to determine whether NIRS could substitute conventional methods of determinationof protein and lipid contents, and to verify any correlation of the two with each other and with physical grain traits. Theestimates for protein and lipid content based on NIRS showed that the traits are selected more easily and quickly by thismethodology. The low correlations between physical and chemical grain traits make the selection of inbred lines with largegrains and high lipid levels possible. In the evaluated population the lipid and protein contents were not associated, i.e., itis possible to obtain genotypes with high levels of both traits.