Variability of tocopherols, tocotrienols and avenanthramides contents in European oat germplasm

A broad spectrum of European oat genetic resources representing crop wild relatives, landraces, traditional, obsolete and modern cultivars, was observed in a multi-location field study all over Europe. Here analyses results of 173 accessions for tocopherols and tocotrienols, and of 137 accessions for avenanthramides from groat samples are reported. Genotype, environment and interaction effects, as observed on a set of standard cultivars, were highly significant for most of the targeted traits. Environment effects were often dominant. Higher contents of these compounds than previously reported in oat have been frequently found. High values of a-tocotrienol and avenanthramides were detected in grains of Avena strigosa. Also few cultivars of A. sativa reached more than 100 mg kg-1 a-tocotrienol. Contents of ß, c- and d-tocols were low; the latter often close to the detection limits. Presence of avenanthramides in Avena species other than A. sativa is shown for the first time.