Avena byzantina

Avena byzantina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Clade:	Commelinids
Order:	Poales
Family:	Poaceae
Subfamily:	Pooideae
Genus:	Avena
Species:	A. byzantina
Binomial name
Avena byzantina K.Koch
Synonyms
Avena sativa subsp. byzantina (K.Koch) Romero Zarco

General/Origins:

Avena Byzantina, red oats, are the southern relatives of Avena Sativa, white-colored “common oats” (JSTOR)¹. A. Byzantina is a species of cultivated oat native to Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, the Transcaucasus, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Cultivated for thousands of years, it is better suited to warmer conditions than “common oats” (Avena sativa), but is often sown as a no‑till winter crop. There are 564 landraces and 203 cultivars  of red oats listed in the European Plant Genetic Resources Search Catalogue (EURISCO)². Approximately 10% of the [5.3 million] hectares worldwide under oats are devoted to red oats, principally for fodder [animal feed].” A. Byzantina belongs to the Poaceae family, one of the largest families of flowering plants, it also belongs to the Avena genus (Selina Wamucii).³

“Oats date back about 32,000 years” (K state)⁴. During the paleolithic period, hunter gatherers would have ground wild oats by hand. The Romans passed on oats to the British Isles which contributed the success of this crop for human consumption. Today A. Sativa are sold for human nutritional intake primarily, while red oats “A. Byzantina” are used for animal feed and other purposes such as ground cover crops, which help protect soil quality and are typically not for harvesting. Red oats are also frequently used for their fiber content as well as for mulch and paper production (Wag).⁵

Appearance:

Red oats contain two sub-groups: rust-resistant oats and non-rust-resistant red oats. Crown rust is a disease that can impact the growth of oats. Although all A. Byzantina share a reddish/brown hue, there are some differences in characterization between the two sub-groups. The first sub-group, consisting of rust-resistant red oats is distinguished by its more brownish red or dark red color. These oats contain two florets and a grain shape which is long and slim. Rust-resistant red oats also have a large basal scar, at the site that was previously attached to the stem, as well as prominent awns and numerous basal hairs. The second sub-group, consisting of other, red oats that are non-resistant to rust, can be spotted as yellowish red or yellowish white. They contain three florets, and their grain shape is broader than the previous sub-group. Non-resistant red oats have a small basal scar. The awns on this sub-group are less prominent or sometimes these oats fully lack awns. Basal hairs are absent in this sub-group. (JSTOR)⁶  

(parts of oats)

Climate and Growing Conditions:

Oats in general have proven to be successful in climates that are cold and wet, although A. Byzantina shows some different climate preferences than A. Sativa. Red oats adapted to warmer climates via selective breeding, with their greatest genetic diversity appearing through the Mediterranean, although a specific region is difficult to pinpoint (Science Direct).⁷ The Mediterranean climate is well suited for red oats because it is dry and subtropical. A. Byzantina also thrives in temperatures between 59-77 degrees Fahrenheit; however, it can tolerate a range of 60-90 degrees Fahrenheit (Botanikks).⁸  

The soil conditions most favorable for growing red oats include drainage and fertility. Drainage is important for growing red oats as poor drainage could lead to root rot or other complications, especially since oats are highly susceptible to fungal diseases. Oats are made vulnerable to these diseases since they are generally in rotation with other cereal crops, and continuous crop rotation of cereals can cause a buildup of pathogens in the soil. The type of soil is less important as red oats can be successful in various types of soil “including sandy loam , sandy clay loam, and clay loam, with a pH ranging from 6.5 to 8.5” (Botanikks).⁹

References

"AVENA BYZANTINA - RED OAT." Botanikks, www.botanikks.com/plants/avena-byzantina/586935/1. Accessed     6 Mar. 2024.

"Avena byzantina." Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avena_byzantina. Accessed 6 Mar. 2024.

Blakeslee, Karen. "History of Oats." K-State Research and Extension, 17 Dec. 2020,   newsletters.k-state.edu/youaskedit/2020/12/17/history-of-oats/. Accessed 6 Mar. 2024.

Boczkowska, Maja. "OATS." Science Direct, 2003, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/     agricultural-and-biological-sciences/avena. Accessed 6 Mar. 2024.

Henry, Mildred V. "THE IDENTIFICATION OF OAT VARIETIES BY SEED CHARACTERS." Quarterly Journal of the     Florida Academy of Sciences. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/24313305. Accessed 6 Mar. 2024.

"Oat Allergies in Dogs." Wag, wagwalking.com/condition/oat-allergies. Accessed 6 Mar. 2024.

Parts of Oats. CNPS-SLO, cnpsslo.org/2011/09/avena/. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.

Pragna Kotni, Theo van Hintum, Lorenzo Maggioni, Markus Oppermann, Stephan Weise. "EURISCO update     2023: the European Search Catalogue for Plant Genetic Resources, a pillar for documentation of genebank material." Nucleic Acids Research.

Sabir, Freeha. "Oats." CropforLife, 16 Dec. 2022, cropforlife.com/oats/     #:~:text=In%202020%2C%20the%20global%20production%20of%20oats%20was, million%20hectares%20%2813.1%20mi     llion%20acres%29%20of%20land%20worldwide. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.

Selina Wamucii. "Avena byzantina - Uses, Benefits & Care." Selina Wamucii, www.selinawamucii.com/     plants/poaceae/avena-byzantina/. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.