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The aim of the study was to estimate susceptibility of Polish grasspea cultivars Derek and Krab to the effects of two chemomutagens, and to determine the suitable combination of mutagens to be used in grasspea mutagenesis. The grasspea seeds were treated with two chemomutagens: N-nitroso-N-methylurea (MNU) and sodium azide (SA) with either of the mutagens alone and in combinations: SA followed by MNU or MNU followed by SA, using different mutagen doses. For M1 progeny and control (non-treated) plants the plant height, number of lateral branches and yield structure were evaluated. The results of treatment indicate that chemomutagens applied alone or in combinations caused the decrease in value of the analyzed traits except the plant height. A rate of decrease depended on the initial form used, analyzed trait, kind and dose of mutagen, and the combination applied. Plants of cv. Derek, compared to those of cv. Krab, were found to be more susceptible to treatment with mutagens. Somatic injuries induced by MNU were more serious than those caused by SA, and the effects of treatment with the combination SA + MNU were more harmful than those caused by the combination MNU + SA. It may be concluded from the results obtained that to induce a desirable mutation in grasspea, the combination of two reagents acting in a different way in the process of mutagenesis is most effective.

Twenty grasspea forms obtained by mutagenesis from Polish cultivars Derek and Krab were evaluated for seven qualitative traits in field trials performed in the years 2002 and 2003. Two-factorial analysis of variance including objects and years was done. The interactions between these factors were significant for all the traits at the level α = 0.001. In most cases the values characterizing the traits in mutants were lower than those in the initial cultivars. The differences were marked in both years of the study, but they were largely pronounced in 2003, presumably because of the additional stress caused by the long-lasting drought. The environmental conditions of the year 2003 made possible to assess a reaction of mutants to the drought stress, and to select the most tolerant genotypes.

Buckwheat is a species of high yielding potential. The theoretically calculated crop amounted to 20 t/ha. Nowadays the crop ranges between 0.5 and 2.5 t/ha. Such large fluctuations are caused by biological features of the species (large variability of characters) and by weather conditions during vegetation. The aim of the study was to compare the variability of yield related characters of the Red corolla and Hruszowska varieties. The Hruszowska variety is one of the initial forms used to create Red corolla variety. The studies are a part of breeding work, aimed at a buckwheat variety with stabile crop and decreased amount of green mass used for harvesting. The results showed that the Hruszowska variety was characterized by a slightly larger variability of the tested characters than Red corolla variety. The largest variability was found in seed weight per plant, plant weight and number of seeds per plant. The most stable characters were as follows: number of nodes on main shoot (Hruszowska V = 14.50%, Red corolla V = 12.34%), plant height (Hruszowska V = 18.53%, Red corolla V = 12.74%), thousand seed weight (Hruszowska V = 17.74%, Red corolla V = 16.72%), height of the first inflorescence (Hruszowska V = 20.91%, Red corolla V = 20.14%) and length of florescence area (Hruszowska V = 20.06%, Red corolla V = 20.14%). The largest differences between coefficients of variation were proved in number of seeds per plant (Hruszowska V = 78.95%, Red corolla V = 50.93%), seed weight per plant (Hruszowska V = 71.25%, Red corolla V = 52.74%) and in the number of seeds in one inflorescence (Hruszowska V = 52.11%, Red corolla V = 46.11%). Correlation coefficients between selected characters were also calculated. Significant correlations between seed yield per plant and number of seeds per plant number of inflorescences per plant and number of seeds in one inflorescence were found in both varieties. Significant and negative correlations between thousand seed weight and seed weight per plant were also proved in the Red corolla variety, whereas the correlations were not significant in the Hruszowska variety.

In 2004, at the Młochów Research Centre of Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute, the ability of the diploid parental line DG.97-943 was assessed to generate valuable tetraploid breeding material of cold chipping type using interploid hybridization 4x–2x. The progeny of two families originated from crosses of the parental line DG.97-943 with tetraploid clones M-62741 and M-62805 was used for the study. Each family, represented by 15 clones was compared to the parents and two cultivars Saturna and Snowden, being the standards of good suitability for processing into chips. The following traits of tubers tested were: total and marketable yield, starch content, depth of eyes, colour of chips produced directly from tubers stored at 4–6°C for three months. The heterosis was found for total and marketable tuber yield in the tested progenies. Mean total yield of tetraploid hybrids from the 4x–2x crosses exceeded that for better parent by 8.8 per cent and that for tetraploid standard by 29.1 per cent. The frequency of cold chipping clones having light chip colour after cold storage at 4–6°C (scores ≥ 6.4, cv. Snowden) and the level of agronomic and resistance (PVY, PLRV) traits above target values in 4x–2x half sib family of the clone DG.97-943 was 12.6 per cent, while in the 4x-4x progenies of other 4x parents tested at the same time was 3.6 per cent on average.

The soft flesh fruits are a good raw material for juice and pulp production. The fruits of 50 genotypes F5 generation of interspecific hybrids Capsicum frutescens L. x Capsicum annuum L. were used as the experimental material. The ranges of variation of technological traits and correlation between the traits have been determined. The minimal and maximum levels of genotypes traits were as follows: fruit weight 13–141 g, length 34–193 mm, width 23–130 mm, placenta weight 0.6–6.3 g, seeds weight 1.11–3.81 g and wall thickness 2.42–7.31 mm. The largest variation was characteristic of the fruit weight and placenta weight. The coefficients of correlation between the traits analyzed in pairs differed for genotype groups of the mean fruit weight up to 40 g and above 40 g.

The level and uniformity of technological traits of the raw have a great significance for fruit processing. In the study, the fruits of three large-fruited cultivars of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were characterized. A level and range of variation of fruit weight, biological weight and performance as well as weight of cross-walls, their share in fruit weight and a number of chambers, were examined. The mean fruit weight ranged from 291 g in cv. Luba and 221 g in cv. Mino to 167 g in cv. Sono. Biological performance, i.e. the proportion of edible parts in the fruit weight, reached the highest level (88.2%) in cv. Mino. The greatest share of cross-walls, reaching 2.6% of fruit weight, was observed with cv. Sono. The investigated cultivars differed in the coefficients of variation for fruit traits. The highest level of fruit uniformity was characteristic of cv. Mino. In addition, significant positive relations between the mean and biological weight of fruit as well as between the cross-walls weight and the number of chambers were found. The correlation between the biological weight of fruit and the share of cross-walls was negative.

Oat yielding and contents of macronutrients in oat plants at broadcast and deep-band fertilization, and at conventional and no-tillage systems were compared in 3-year field trials. In the deep-band method the fertilizer was applied 5 cm below the seeds with the use of no-tilling disk drill made by the “Great Plains” company. Phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and magnesium (Mg) were supplied in the form of a multicomponent fertilizer — Polimag 305. The broadcast method effected better yielding than the deep-band one at both tillage systems. Unexpectedly, this effect was more pronounced at the no-tillage variant. Lack of rain in the periods critical for oat growth and development made no-tillage system more effective. In the whole period of the investigations, the plants at the shooting stage were found to be better supplied with P, K and Mg in the no-tillage trials than in the trials where the conventional tillage system was applied. The broadcast fertilization, compared with the deep-band one, generally resulted in higher concentrations of P and K in the above-ground part of oat plants, whether the conventional or no-tillage system was used. However, the positive effects of the broadcast method were more pronounced at the conventional tillage.

The present study was based on a field experiment carried out on a good rye type soil in 1999–2001 at the ATR Research Station at Wierzchucinek near Bydgoszcz. Two types of ammonium nitrate: traditional and Magmol — the nitrate enriched with magnesium (1.4%) and molybdenum (0.04%) were applied to fertilize the oat of Komes variety together with a multi-component fertilizer called Sonata. Investigation showed that mineral fertilization with both types of nitrates and with the Sonata fertilizer containing microelements significantly increased the yield of oat grain, protein content in the grain and the level of protein yield with reference to the control object. The highest average oat grain yield was obtained after using the ammonium nitrate and 3 kg·ha-1 of Sonata fertilizer — the reminder amounted to 1.56 t·ha-1 in relation to the non-fertilized object, which was 54.4%. No significant differences between fertilized objects were observed, considering the content of protein in oat grain. The use of Magmol permitted a protein yield in the tested oat grain to be higher by 5.5% than the yield achieved as a result of ammonium nitrate with no addition of other components. Considering the two doses included in our experiment, a dose of 3 kg·ha-1 appeared to be significantly more advantageous as regards the level of protein yield.

The work presents effects of nitrogen treatment, dosed 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg N·ha-1, on yielding of two oat cultivars: Akt (naked) and Chwat (husked). The field experiment was conducted in 2001–2003 on a soil of very good wheat type. The phosphorus and potassium fertilization was 50 kg P2O5·ha-1 and 60 kg K2O·ha-1 and wheat was grown as a forecrop. The applied nitrogen fertilization increased grain yield of the husked oat from 4.84 (control) to 6.50 t·ha-1 at the dose of 100 kg·ha-1. The naked form yield increased from 3.20 t·ha-1 to 4.53 t·ha-1, respectively. The protein yield ranged between 292 and 621 kg·ha-1, depending on the N-dose and oat form. Protein content grew constantly with the increasing nitrogen doses, from 8.81% to 10.24% in the husked oat grain and from 10.90% to 14.17% in the naked form.

A field experiment was conducted in 2001–2003, on the soil of very good wheat type, in order to study the uptake and utilization of nitrogen from mineral fertilizers by naked and husked oat forms. Fertilization with ammonium nitrate was dosed 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg N·ha-1. Phosphorus and potassium treatment was dosed 50 kg P2O5·ha-1 and 60 kg K2O·ha-1. Two oats cvs. were cultivated in the experiment: husked Chwat cv. and naked Akt cv. Nitrogen removal with grain and straw of husked oats was, on an average, between 74 kg and 128 kg·ha-1 and by naked oats between 58 and 113 kg·ha-1. An increase in nitrogen fertilization level caused a greater uptake of this element with yield and at the same time the share of fertilizer nitrogen increased regularly and the proportion of nitrogen from soil declined in the total amount of nitrogen removed with oats yield. Utilization of nitrogen from the fertilizer by naked oats was higher and reached between 55 and 80% while by husked oats was on average 7% lower and ranged between 46 and 90%, depending on fertilization level.

Test trials were carried out in the years 1988–2000 in order to determine the effects of N-fertilization on yield, its composition as well as protein and nitrogen content of grain of new cultivars of both naked and hulled oats. Positive growth responses to doses of nitrogen fertilization were observed. At the highest dose of nitrogen fertilization, of 90 kg×ha-1, the Sławko and Akt cultivars yielded 5.02 kg×ha-1 and 3.84 kg×ha-1 grain, respectively. The number of spikelets and weight of grains per panicle were mostly affected by the increasing nitrogen fertilization. The weight and number of 1000 grains, however, didn’t change with the fertilization increase.

The response of naked short-shoot oat STH 6503 to differentiated sowing density (3.0, 4.5, 6.0, 7.5 mln grains·ha-1) and nitrogen rates (20, 40, 60, 80 kg N·ha-1) was investigated in the field experiment carried out in the years 2003–2004. Grain yield and yield components (weight of 1000 grains, number of plants/m2, number of panicles/m2, productivity tillering, grain yield per plant, grain yield per panicle, number of grains per plant, number of grains per panicle and harvest index) were determined. The oat response to experimental factors depended on the year of study. In 2003 grain yield was highest at sowing density 7.5 mln grains/ha and 40 kg N·ha-1. In 2004 the highest grain yield was recorded at 6.0 mln grains /ha and 60 kg N·ha-1.

In the first series of the studies conducted in 2003–2004 at the Research Station Pawłowice, belonging to Wrocław Agricultural University, the dry matter yield of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.) and Westervold ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum var. wersterwoldicum Wittm.) sown as pure stand and in mixture, as well as That of a mixture pea + spring triticale was evaluated. Different levels of nitrogen fertilization were applied. In 2004–2005, the residual effects of the above factors on yielding of oats grown in traditional and reduced tillage systems were examined. Oat plants were cut the at milk-dough maturity to make silage or be fed to animals directly. In the reduced tillage system, the plough was replaced with a cultivator. The elimination of ploughing made the growth conditions at the beginning of vegetation worse, and a number of plants on 1 m2 was smaller by 44%, as compared to that following the full tillage. Similar differences were found in the yield of dry matter of oats, which decreased from over 1100 g (traditional tillage) to 639 g/1 m2 (reduced tillage). After Persian clover sown as pure stand, as well as after pea-triticale mixture, the plant density was higher. In the plot where Persian clover in pure stand was applied, the conditions were favorable throughout the vegetation period and the yield of dry matter of oats was higher by 21–26% than in the plots where the other fore crops were used.

The experimental trials on the border effect occurring in oat plots were carried out in 2002–2004. Four various densities of oat: 140, 280, 420 and 560 seed per m2 were investigated and the plots were separated with 30 cm wide paths. The oat individuals planted in the marginal rows adjacent to the path produced: greater biomass, longer stems, more abundant panicles, more productive tillers and they yielded higher than the oat in the center of the plots. The strongest response was noticed on the green biomass, grain yield and productive tillering. The border effects on the rye type good soil varied significantly in seasons with different rainfalls and were maximized in the drought. The increasing density from 140 to 420 of oat seed per m2 favoured the border effect, but there was no further reaction when oat was planted as 560 seed per m2. The assessment of yield on the harvested plots was overdone by the border effects giving 20.5% higher estimation (0.88 t·ha-1) then the real yield. To minimize the border effect in trials with oat experimental plots should be large and of square shape or the rows adjacent to the paths should stay not harvested.

Yielding, yield structure and grain chemical composition of naked and hulled oats at minimum and intensive chemical plant protection were compared in microplot experiments carried out in 2002–2004. The following oat traits were examined: panicle density, grain yield, weight and number of grains per panicle, and weight of 1000 grains. Chemical analyses of grain were also done. The yield of naked oats estimated in the study was lower by 22.2% than that of hulled oats. The difference essentially resulted from the lower weight of 1000 grains as well as from the smaller number of grains per panicle in naked oats. The protein content of naked oats exceeded that of hulled oats by 25.4%, and the oil content was twice as high in the naked oats. Moreover, the amount of crude fibre was five times smaller in naked oats than in hulled oats. The application of intensive chemical protection of plants significantly increased the panicle density as well as the oil content of grains in both oats varieties.

The field experiments were conducted on two cultivars of oats: a hulless cv. Akt and a hulled cv. Bajka grown on good rye complex soil at the Experimental Station Lipnik near Stargard Szczeciński in the years 2000–2002. The effects of four sowing rates (400, 530, 660 or 790 germinating seeds/1 m2), two variants of seed dressing: Sarfun T450 FS and Dithane 455 SC, compared to the variant with no dressing, upon grain yield and its components were evaluated. Grain yield of cv. Bajka was higher than that of cv. Akt. The change in a sowing rate from 400 to 790 seeds/m2 effected an increase in grain yield by 2.6 dt·ha-1. With rising sowing rates a number of panicles/1 m2 increased but both a number of grains per panicle and weight of 1000 grains decreased. Hence, only a relatively slight increase in total grain yield was recorded. No difference between the investigated oat cultivars in reaction to sowing rates was found. Seed dressing with Sarfun and Dithane resulted in a statistically significant but not considerable increase in grain yield (1.0 dt·ha-1). These results indicate no marked response of oats to seed dressing.

The content of amino acids was determined in grain obtained in the field experiment performed in 1999–2001, in which foliar fertilization of oat with individual solutions of microelements (Cu, Zn, Mn, Mo, B) in a form of inorganic salts and as a fertilizer containing these elements in a chelated form (Mikrochelat Gama) were tested. The research revealed that, under the test conditions, the content of amino acids was dependent on: molybdenum, boron and copper foliar applied. These elements caused an increase in: arginine, tyrosine, lysine and glutamic acid, in the oat grain with reference to the control not fertilized with microelements. Copper also increased the content of methionine. Total nitrogen content in oat grain was not modified by the microelements applied in this research. The changes in contents of the tested amino acids in grain were generally a consequence of the effect of the tested factors on the quality of the protein estimated from the content of total nitrogen in the tested grain. Molybdenum especially stood out above the tested factors, by inducing a clear increase in the total contents of the tested amino acids and an increase in the index of exogenous amino acids, a characteristic of the protein quality. Our research attracts with the fact that microelements applied together in chelated forms have a smaller effect on the contents of amino acids in oat grain than microelements used separately in ionic forms.

In the years 1999–2001, the one-factor field experiment was carried out, in which grain yield, content of proteins and total nitrogen in the oat grain were determined. The oat was foliar fertilized with solutions of microelements (Cu, Zn, Mn, Mo, B) in a form of individual inorganic salts and as a multi-component fertilizer (called Mikrochelat Gama) containing chelated constituents. Foliar applying of copper, manganese, zinc and molybdenum significantly increased yield of the oat grain. Foliarly applied molybdenum was the only microelement that significantly raised the total nitrogen content in the tested oat grain. Spraying with water solutions of copper, molybdenum, manganese and zinc resulted in a statistically proven increase in grain protein. Under the effect of microelements applied together as multi-component fertilizer Mikrochelat Gama, a significant increase in oat grain and protein yield was achieved.

The field experiment, concerning the effect of fertilization with ammonium nitrate with the addition of microelements on the oat grain protein, was realized in 1999–2001 at the ATR Research Station at Wierzchucinek near Bydgoszcz, on a good rye type soil. Oat of the Komes variety was fertilized with ammonium nitrate, the Magmol (i.e. ammonium nitrate enriched with magnesium and molybdenum), and with ammonium nitrate with the addition of the Sonata — a multi-component microelement fertilizer, in doses: 3 kg×ha-1 and 6 kg×ha-1. Fertilization with ammonium nitrate only resulted in a distinct decrease in quality of the oat grain protein, measured with the value of the essential amino acid index, lower by 13.21% with reference to the control object. The value of essential amino acid index in the objects with microelements supplementation was lower only by 7.96% on average, in comparison to the control. The application of microelements with ammonium nitrate significantly decreased the negative effect of nitrogen fertilization on the protein quality of the tested plant.

The field plot experiments were conducted in the years 2003–2004. In the first year 23 varieties were tested of dwarf and semi-dwarf naked oats (with dwarfing genes introduced form the Badicoot variety) together with the traditional — tall naked varieties Akt and Polar and hulled variety Chwat. In the next year 18 naked oat dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties and one dwarf hulled oat variety — STH 5630 were compared with the traditional tall oat varieties Polar and Chwat. The introduction of dwarfing genes caused the reduction of plant height from 31 to 50%, compared with the tall varieties Akt and Polar. The height reduction was not dependent on field and weather conditions. The following varieties were distinguished: STH 7091 (naked) — characterized by high panicle density, long panicle with low number of grains per panicle with high weight of 1000 grains; STH 7146 (naked) — with relatively lower panicle density but high grain yield per panicle, caused by higher number of grains per panicle; STH 5630 — characterized by high panicle density and high number of grains per panicle. Any effects of dwarfing genes on growth stages timing, plant development and number of hulled grains were not observed.

Field plot experiments were conducted in the years 2002–2004 with the following factors: growth regulators (Cycocel 750 SL — chloromequat chloride, Moddus 250 EC — trinexapac-ethyl and control); nitrogen doses (60, 90 (60+30), 120 (60+30+30) kg N/ha), oat varieties (Akt (naked) and Sławko (hulled)). In the absence of lodging, growth regulators Moddus and Cycocel inconsiderably affected grain yield, depending on weather conditions during vegetation, mainly soil water capacity. The increased nitrogen treatment, from 60 to 120 kg N/ha, caused higher grain yield only in the high rainfall years. The low yielding capacity of naked oat is the main factor restricting the increase of its cultivation area. Lowered grain germination and filling of naked oat are responsible for lower yielding ability in comparison with the conventional oat.

In 2000–2002, at Agricultural University at Wrocław a field experiment was conducted with the spit-block with four replications, on light alluvial soil of weak rye type. Five crop rotations with varying percentage of oats and option of stubble crop to be ploughed down were the factors of the experiment: 1) potato++ — oats – field pea — winter rye, 2) potato+ — oats — winter rye, 3) potato+ — oats — winter rye + stubble crop, 4) oats — winter rye, 5) oats — winter rye + stubble crop. White mustard (cultivar Salvo) was sown as a stubble crop. It was found that level of oat yielding in simplified crop rotations on weak rye soil was significantly affected by weather conditions during growing season. The lowest yields were recorded in 2000, when rainfall sum in June was almost 4 times lower than average. Simplification in crop rotations by shortening of rotation cycle and increasing proportion of oat decreased yielding of the plant. Yield of oat grown in cereal monoculture was lower by 25.5% than in four-course rotation. In general ploughing down stubble crop (white mustard) was conductive to improve the oat yielding, but it did not totally compensate negative results of simplification in crop rotations.

Oat response to boron fertilization was evaluated in three one-year exact field experiments. The results were compared with those obtained in large-area trials. Yield forming influence of boron was found in the years characterized by water deficit in spring time. The boron content of oats grown on boron deficient soil exceeded the optimum proposed by Bergmann (1986). Fertilization with boron significantly increased oat grain yield and resulted in further increase in boron content of the biomass. The results indicate the need to verify the criteria applied for soil and plants supply with this microelement. They also show that better effects in improving oat grain supply with boron were obtained with soil than with foliar application of this fertilizer. Based on the close correspondence between the results obtained in exact experiments and in large-area trials, direct recommendations as to how to fertilize oat with boron in agricultural practice, can be made.

The fungal populations isolated from seeds of 23 cultivars of dwarf naked oat were compared. The seeds derived from a field experiment conducted at the Agriculture Experimental Station Lipnik near Stargard Szczeciński in 2003. The fungi were revealed following the incubation of surface disinfected seeds in potato dextrose agar Petri dishes. A total of 462 fungal colonies were isolated, among which 14 species were recognized. The fungi most frequently identified were Alternaria alternata, Epicoccum purpurascens, Fusarium poae, Penicillium spp., and non-sporulating forms. There was a tendency to increasing infection of Fusarium poae when straw was shorter.

Two one-factored field experiments were carried out in the years 2003–2005. Yield levels and constituents in oats grown in a pure stand and in mixtures with spring barley and spring triticale were compared. The investigations were performed at the Mountain Experimental Station in Czyrna near Krynica and at the Experimental Station in Mydlniki near KrakĂłw. The yield of oats grown under better conditions of KrakĂłw surroundings was higher than that of oats grown in the mountainous region, whether the oats was cultivated in pure stand (about 61.6%) or in mixtures (about 30.3–52.3%). Rudnicki’s method applied in the work showed that the higher yield of oats grown in Mydlniki was the effect of the greater number of panicles / 1 m2 (about 66.0%), higher weight of 1000 grains (about 31.6%) and the greater number of grains per panicle (about 2.4%).

The aim of the studies was assessment of current state and prospects of oats breeding in Poland, based on performance of breeding strains in the joint preliminary field trials of the years 2002–2004. The experiments were situated in five localities: Kopaszewo, Małyszyn, Polanowice, Sobiejuchy and Strzelce, as three incomplete blocks, on 10 m2 plots. The testing embraced 78 strains and three standard varieties: Deresz, Chwat and Bohun. The investigated strains came from three plant breeding companies: Danko, MHR HBP and HR Strzelce. The evaluation of the strains was executed for 13 traits: grain yield, plant height, heading date, 1000 kernels mass, percentage of hulled grains, protein and fat content in grain, resistance to lodging and to the following diseases: powdery mildew, crown rust, leaf blotch and barley yellow dwarf virus. On this basis, the group of promising lines was distinguished, which outyielded the standards and showed other profitable agricultural traits. The results of the preliminary trials have proven a high efficiency of the selection work in the breeding stations, making possible successive substitution of the old varieties with the new ones, showing better parameters of agricultural usefulness.

A field experiment was performed with the oat cultivar German in the Agricultural Research Station in Minikowo near Bydgoszcz in the years 1995–1997. The effects were studied of sowing date (optimal and two weeks delayed) and nitrogen fertilization level (0, 60, 120 kg·ha-1) on grain yield, total protein content and yield, as well as on amino acid composition of the protein. The grain yield was significantly influenced by both sowing date and N-fertilization. The two weeks delay of seeding caused a 37.2% mean reduction of grain yield. Application of the 60 kg N-dose significantly raised grain yield. Significant increases of total protein content were parallel to the increasing N-fertilization, but the protein yield grew significantly only after application of the 60 kg N dose. The amino acid composition did not change significantly when sowing was late, however concentration decrease tendencies were observed for phenyloalanine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, threonine, valine, alanine and glutamic acid. The 60 kg N dose caused a significant increase of concentration of arginine and leucine, and decrease of that for histidine, lysine, threonine and glutamic acid. The doubled N-dose, 120 kg·ha-1, resulted in farmer small rise of the arginin level, but the concentrations of phenyloalanine, methionine, alanine, glycine and aspartic acid significantly dropped below the 0 kg N·ha-1 control level.

The grain harvested in the field experiment carried out in 2003 at Lipnik station was evaluated. The study included 7 objects: three dwarf strains of naked oat (STH 15944, STH 7091, STH 16316), two naked oat varieties (Akt, Polar) and husked var. Chwat. The naked oats contained more crude protein (20%) and crude fat (66%) than the covered form. The lower content of crude fibre and structural fibre fractions in naked oat grain make naked oats a valuable fodder for monogastric animals. Quality parameters of the dwarf oat strains were only sporadically poorer than those of the standard naked oat cvs Akt and Polar.

The properties of oat starch differ from those of other starches. The aim of the study was to analyze selected properties of starch extracted from Polish varieties and strains of oat. Starch granularity, and the content of phosphorus and apparent amylose were analyzed. Water binding capacity and solubility were also evaluated. Moreover, pasting profiles of water-starch suspensions were performed. The investigated starches were characterized by small size of granules. They considerably varied in the content of phosphorus. The average amylose content was 14.2%. Correlation between amylase content and viscosity was found. Pasting profiles confirmed particular properties of oat starch.

Oat starch, compared to the starches of other plants, is characterized by a high content of lipids, which strongly determines its properties. The aim of this work was to evaluate the properties of starch isolated from Polish naked oat cultivar Akt. In order to assess a role of lipids in determining starch properties, the starch was subjected to the fat removal process. Special conditions were set to minimalize harmful effects of the process upon a grain structure. Both, the native oat starch and the defatted starch were analyzed for their amylose, lipids and phosphorus content. Moreover, water binding capacity (WBC) and solubility as well as pasting ability and granules size distribution were characterized. In addition, oscillatory and hysteresis loop tests were carried out, and gelatinization parameters were determined using a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) method. The removal of fat effected in the increase in granules size and apparent amylose content as well as in the decrease in lipids and phosphorus content. Also, the increase both in WBC and solubility, and the decrease in gelation enthalpy and broadening of enthalpy peak were observed. Moreover, the decrease in gelatinization temperature and viscosity parameters was recorded. Starch gel prepared from the defatted starch was characterized by lower values of loss and storage modules, but shapes of curves were similar to those obtained with gel prepared using the native starch. These changes indicate the partial destruction of starch granules structure in the process of fat removal.

White wheat flour was substituted with up to 40% of oat bran to determine the effects on dough and bread quality. Physical dough properties of the wheat flour and the oat-wheat blends were determined with a Brabender farinograph by the constant flour weight. The wheat and wheat-oat breads were produced by one-stage method and oat bran ‘soak-stage’ method, respectively. 20%–40% of oat bran in flour blends increased water absorption, improved dough development, dough stability and mixing tolerance index as the amounts of oat bran in the blends increased. Oat bran in dough mass increased dough yield and decreased fermentation of dough pieces compared with the wheat dough. Replacing up to 40% of wheat flour with oat bran decreased the loaf volume. The decrease probably resulted from the lower gas retention rather than gas production. The higher moisture and acidity of wheat-oat crumb were found. Some differences in scores for overall acceptability of breads containing oat bran were observed.

The experimental material consisted of commercial wheat flour (type 550) and grains of 6 oat cultivars: Akt, Bajka, Borowiak, Chwat, Cwał and Kasztan. Analyses were done to characterize the material, and both farinograph and extensigraph measurements as well as baking tests were performed to evaluate the properties of dough containing 5% or 10% of ground oat grain. The wheat flour type 550 was characterized by a good baking quality. The content of total protein in the oat was high, whereas that of starch, pentosans and ash was low. The cultivars showed a high activity of proteolytic enzymes, and a high level of the falling number. Ground oat grain added to wheat flour increased the water absorption of the mixture. With increasing content of ground oat, the time of dough development lengthened, the time of dough stability shortened, and the mixing tolerance index increased. The dough with 5% share of ground oat had the highest valorimetric value. The best farinographic values, of those recorded for all the types of wheat-oat dough, were obtained with the dough containing the grain of oat cvs Bajka and Chwat. The extensographic assessment showed that the addition of oat grain decreased the quality of dough. The oat cultivars differed in their effects upon the extensographic properties at different amounts of grain in the mixture. The best results for the mixtures containing 5% of oat were obtained with the ground grain of cvs Kasztan and Akt, and for the mixtures with 10% oat share — with cv. Bajka. The wheat-oat baker’s products were well risen and had a pleasant aroma. The bread containing 5% of ground oat was characterized by a slightly higher loaf volume as compared to that of the wheat bread. The 10% share of oat grain in dough effected the lowest loaf volume. The largest loaves were made with the addition of grain of cvs Cwał and Borowiak. Bread overbake was not affected by the additives used. The replacement of 10% of wheat flour with ground oat grain resulted in the improvement of the bread crumb structure.

Yellow hull oat, variety Kasztan and black hull oat cultivar D2244 were ground with hull, and sieved. The resulting wholemeal was used as a replacement of 5%, 7% and 10% of flour in the recipe for wheat bread. The quality and chemical composition of loaves were assessed after baking. Based upon an organoleptic evaluation all bread types were qualified as I quality class, in spite of the lower volume of bread with oats wholemeal. The differentiated share of oats did not significantly influence the texture parameters during a 3-day of storage. However the oat replacer effected a significant increase in the content of dietary fibre (soluble and insoluble fractions) and of Fe and Mn, especially in bread with black hull oats wholemeal.

The main purpose of this study was to determine chemical composition of the most popular assortments of oat breakfast cereals, available in the market in Lublin. Detailed examinations were performed on: stabilized oat bran, oat flakes, two assortments of RTE oat flakes (named A & B), two assortments of mountain oat flakes (A & B), two assortments of ordinary oat flakes (A & B), and prepared oat bran. These products were compared with corn RTE products: corn flakes and corn chocolate — milk coextrudates. In the samples, the contents of moisture, crude ash, crude protein, crude fat and crude fibre were assessed. A fractional composition of dietary fibre was analyzed using both a detergent and an enzymatic method. The results obtained showed that the examined oat products greatly differed in chemical composition from ready -to-use corn breakfast cereals. Oat products were characterized by a very low WSI value. The protein content was twice as high as that in corn cereals. The analyzed oat breakfast cereals were found to be very reach in dietary fibre, particularly in a soluble one. Hence, they can be numbered among the cereals products constituting the basis of a nutrition pyramid.

Mixtures of the whole grain meal of naked oat and corn semolina were extruded with a single-screw extrusion-cooker under different processing conditions to determine the effects of the oat meal constituent and extrusion cooking process on chemical composition of extrudates. It was found that the mixtures of corn semolina and naked oat whole grain meal are a valuable raw material for extrudate production. An increase in the oat whole grain meal share in the mixture decreased the WSI value and increased the content of protein and dietary fibre in extrudates. The extrusion cooking process resulted in the decrease in the content of dietary fibre (TDF) and its insoluble fraction (IDF), and effected the lowered content of a soluble fraction of fibre (SDF). These changes depended on: the composition of the mixture subjected to extrusion, temperature during the process and moisture content of raw material. Only a slight increase in the content of Fe, Mn and Ni in the extrudates compared to the amounts of these microelements in the raw material was found.

The influence of exchanging fat (2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5%, 10.0%) by oat (Polar) on oxidation-reduction changes during meat storage (1, 7, 14 days) was the object of the investigation. The oat, after hydrothermal processing (90°C / 80 min.), was added to the model meat product (65% thin beef meat, 25% pig's fat and 10% water) with a suitable reduction of fat material. The oxidation-reduction changes in the final product were measured by means of oxidation-reduction potential as well as by the TBA index. Replacement of fat by suitably prepared oat (after hydrothermal processing) increased the oxidation-reduction stability of the product during 14 days of storage.

Blood circulation diseases, which are known to be frequently due to obesity, make us search for diets with a reduced content of lipids. Maltodextrins obtained from starch of various plant origin (potato, corn, tapioca, rice, oat or pea) may be successfully used as fat replacers. Their application greatly diminishes the content of lipid components in foodstuffs, at the same time making possible to remain textural and sensory characteristics of food. Maltodextrins have an influence upon food moisture, both by co-acting with some food components (fibre and gums) and by affecting the ability of water binding and retention. However, they can decrease the duration of food storage, and enhance the food susceptibility to infestation by microorganisms. Moreover, when applied in the excessive doses, maltodextrins can make the food have a starchy aftertaste. Nevertheless, both harmlessness of maltodextrins as food compounds, their availability and a broad spectrum of applications make these components very useful as fat replacers in foodstuffs industry.

Biscuits Piccolino were prepared with oat maltodextrin, obtained from the milled oat grain by treatment with bacterial α-amylase. The maltodextrin was used to replace 5, 10 or 15% of margarine. The obtained pastry was characterized by a reduced calorific value, and a higher dietary one as compared to the standard. The highest consumer scores were obtained with the products containing 5% of oat maltodextrin. In the biscuits with maltodextrin, compared to the standard ones, a significant increase in the content both of protein and soluble dietary fibre was recorded. The amounts of Zn and Ca were also higher. Partial replacement of fat with maltodextrin lengthened the shelf life of the products.

An experiment was conducted with rotation systems for winter wheat at the Agricultural Experimental Station of Uhrusk in the years 2003–2004. It was set in the randomized blocks design with four replications, on plots 10 m2. The grey-brown rendzina soil, formed from light loam, weak sandy, was classified into a very good rye-type soil utility complex. The experiment concerned four crop rotations with varying proportion of winter wheat (25, 50, 75, 100%) and two agrotechnical level: minimized (nitrogen 90 kg×ha-1, harrowing) and intensive (nitrogen 140 kg×ha-1, harrowing, herbicides, fungicides). The minimized agrotechnical level decreased content of total protein in grain, wet gluten and sedimentation value in relation to the intensive agrotechnical level.