Phytohormones influence biochemical metabolites and quality traits of oats (Avena sativa L.) genotypes

A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of exogenous application of phytohormones on different biochemical metabolites (proline, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), melanodialdehyde (MDA), water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) and nutritional quality traits) in oats genotypes at different growth stages. A field experiment was conducted using four genotypes (OL-9, OL-10, OL-125 and Kent) and three phytohormones (salicylic acid, jasmonic acid and abscisic acid) at different concentrations (500μM, 75μM and 75μM respectively). The foliar application of phytohormones was given to each genotype at 30 days after sowing (DAS). The leaf samples were collected at three growth stages i.e. 40, 50 and 60 DAS. The foliar application of phytohormones resulted in significant increase in the mean proline, WSC and total phenol content in all oats genotypes. The level of H₂O₂ and MDA decreased with phytohormone treatment and declined level was more at 60 DAS than 50 and 40 DAS. The nutritional quality parameters were evaluated at 60 DAS for all genotypes. All quality traits showed non-significant interaction between phytohormone and genotype except neutral detergent fibre (NDF). The overall results showed that foliar application of phytohormones influences the levels of proline, H₂O₂ MDA, WSC, total phenol, NDF in oats, genotypes. But crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF), crude fibre (CF), ether extract (EE), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), nitrogen free extract (NFE) and ash content showed non-significant interaction with phytohormone treatment.