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Publication #SS AGR 279

 

Horizon 314 -- A New Winter Oat Cultivar for Both Grain and Forage1

Ann Blount, Ronald Barnett, Jerry Johnson, Cheryl Mackowiak, and Yoana Newman2

Horizon 314 is a new winter oat cultivar that was co-developed by University of Florida (UF) and University of Georgia (UGA). Horizon 314 is an excellent grain and forage oat adapted to the southern U.S.

Horizon 314 winter oat was derived from a single cross of Florida 502/Coker 84-15. This oat is early maturing and high yielding with moderate lodging resistance. At the time of its release in 2000, Horizon 314 exhibited excellent resistance to prevalent races of crown rust and was moderately resistant to Helminthosporium leafspot. Horizon 314 is susceptible to prevalent races of stem rust and is moderately susceptible to barley yellow dwarf virus. Delaying planting until cooler weather prevails tends to alleviate the spread of the virus since it is aphid vectored. When planted early fall for forage, Horizon 314 is very disease resistant although BYDV infection may result in some stunting and leaf discoloration.

Horizon 314 has a winter growth habit, with a low vernalization requirement. Horizon 314 is relatively tall in height, with good winter survival, moderate straw strength and excellent crown rust resistance. It has short, moderately plump seed with the white color of Florida 502. It is similar in appearance to GA-Mitchell, but matures about 5 days earlier.

Grain Production

The mean grain yield for Horizon 314 has generally exceeded or equaled other oat cultivars in multiple location-year trials. In the USDA-ARS Uniform Winter Oat Yield Trials conducted at a number of locations throughout the southeastern USA, Horizon 314 was among the highest in grain yield of the experimental lines and it exceeded all the commercial varieties in 1994 and 1995. Across 17 locations in 1994, it had an average yield of 3046 lb/A and ranked second in the trials. Horizon 314 averaged 2380 lb/A across 18 locations and ranked sixth in 1995. A severe crown rust epidemic in 1995 greatly reduced yields of most commercial varieties in the trial, but Horizon 314 exhibited excellent field resistance. Among the entries, Horizon 314 had the highest grain yield in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama with average grain production outside these states.

Forage Production

In forage trials conducted in Florida, Georgia and Alabama, it had a mean yield of 3898 lb/A, considerably above the overall test mean of 3552 lb/A. Horizon 314 has been a reliable forage producer and has been recommended for grazing and hay production. This oat also fits well in dairy silage operations where high quality cool-season forages are utilized for greenchop or silage.

Horizon 314 is sold as a class of certified seed by variety name only. Horizon 314 was released exclusively to Plantation Seeds, Inc., Newton, GA.

Horizon 314 oat is considered to be an excellent choice for grain and forage use across the southeastern U.S.

Footnotes

1.

This document is SS AGR 279 one of a series of the Agronomy Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date October 2007. Reviewed December 2010. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

Ann Blount, associate professor, Agronomy Department, North Florida Research and Education Center--Marianna, FL; Ronald Barnett, professor, Agronomy Department, North Florida Research and Eduction Center--Quincy, FL; Jerry Johnson, University of Georgia; Cheryl Mackowiak, assistant professor, North Florida REC - Quincy, FL; Yoana Newman, assistant professor, Agronomy Department; Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.