The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen nutrition on the content of fatty acids and selected qualitative parameters (nitrogenous substances, ash, crude fiber) in winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). The experiment was carried out at the Vígľaš—Pstruša Research and Breeding Station in 2008–2009 and 2009–2010 by complete block design with four repetitions. Nitrogen fertilization was applied at four levels, plus an untreated control (after agrochemical soil analysis) by DAN 27 (Dolomite Ammonium Nitrate): 100, 120, 140, and 160 kg/ha N. Application date was in BBCH scale phase 59–60. The fatty acid contents (MUFA—monosaturated fatty acids; PUFA—polyunsaturated fatty acids) were determined by gas chromatography in the extracted fat, which is determined by extraction method. Within the result evaluation, statistically significant increases in the contents of linoleic and linolenic acids were recorded in all variants treated by nitrogen fertilizer, which is positive in terms of the use of rapeseed oil for food and energy purposes. The statistically significant decrease of oleic acid after the application of nitrogen fertilizers is negative for industry use of rapeseed oil.

Adverse environmental conditions, such as various biotic and abiotic stresses, are the primary reason for decreased crop productivity. Oat, as one of the world’s major crops, is an important cereal in human nutrition. The aim of this work was to analyze the effect of inoculation with two species of the genus Fusarium on the selected qualitative parameters of oat grain intended for the food industry. Artificial inoculation caused a statistically significant decrease in the content of starch, oleic, linoleic, and α-linolenic acids in oat grains compared to the control. Moreover, artificial inoculation had no statistically significant effect on the content of β-D-glucans, total dietary fiber, total lipids, palmitic, stearic, and cis-vaccenic acids. An increase in the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in oat grains was observed after inoculation. The most important indicator of Fusarium infection was the presence of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol in the grain. The content of β-D-glucans, as a possible protective barrier in the cell wall, did not have a statistically significant effect on the inoculation manifestation in the grain.

This paper is a report on the nutritional composition (dry matter, total protein, fat, crude fibre, ash, β-glucan content, and selected mineral compounds), antioxidant (antioxidant activity with the DPPH method and total anthocyanin content), physical properties, and sensory profiles of prepared bread enriched with black oat flours (variety Norik and Hucul) in amounts of 3, 6, and 9%. In the enriched breads (especially with 9% addition), there was a significantly higher (p < 0.05) content of protein (~13.00%), fat (~1.35%), crude fibre (~0.55%), ash (~1.25%), and β-glucan (~0.17%) with comparison to the control bread (12.01%; 0.87%; 0.47%; 0.92%; 0.07%, respectively). Among mineral compounds, the amount of manganese (~73.00 mg/100 g), iron (~45.00 mg/100 g), and calcium (~40.00 mg/100 g) were the highest in enriched breads with 9% of oat flours. In the case of antioxidant potential and total anthocyanin content, the same tendency was observed, and the values obtained were the highest in the case of 9% addition, especially with the Hucul variety (1.98 mg TEAC/g; 21.01 µg/g). The sensory properties of the prepared enriched breads were overall evaluated as good with the best score in smell, taste, colour, and properties of bread crumb (soft and flexible) compared to the control sample. Consumption of enriched breads with black oat can also increase the assortment of bakery products in markets, which is now popular for consumers.

Oat is an important natural source of β-D-glucan. This polysaccharide of the cell wall of selected cereals is known for a number of health-promoting effects, such as reducing the level of cholesterol in the blood serum, stabilizing the level of blood glucose, or enhancing immunity. β-D-glucan has positive effects in the plant itself. There is a lack of information available, but the storage capacity of the polysaccharide and its importance as a protective substance in the plant during mild forms of biotic and abiotic stress are described. The accumulation of β-D-glucan during the ontogenetic development of oats (Avena sativa L.) was determined in the present work. Two naked (Valentin, Vaclav) and two hulled (Hronec, Tatran) oat varieties were used. Samples of each plant (root, stem, leaf, panicle) were collected in four stages of the plant’s development (BBCH 13, 30, 55, 71). The average content of the biopolymer was 0.29 ± 0.14% in roots, 0.32 ± 0.11% in stems, 0.48 ± 0.13% in leaves and 1.28 ± 0.79% in panicles, respectively. For root and panicle, in both hulled and naked oat varieties, sampling date was the factor of variability in the content of β-D-glucan. In stems in hulled varieties and leaves in naked varieties, neither the sampling date nor variety influenced the polysaccharide content. The content of β-D-glucan in the leaves of hulled and naked varieties decreased during the first three stages of plant development, but in the stage of milk ripeness the amount increased. The decreasing trend during milk ripeness, was also observed in the roots of both hulled and naked oats. However, in the panicle of hulled and naked oat varieties, the content of β-D-glucan increased during plant growth. Due to practical applications of natural resources of β-D-glucan and isolated β-D-glucan is useful to know the factors influencing its content as well as to ascertain the behavior of the polysaccharide during plant development.

An evaluation of polymorphism at the microsatellite loci was applied in distinguishing 85 oat (Avena sativa L.) genotypes selected from the collection of genetic resources. The set of genotypes included oats with white, yellow, and brown seeds as well as a subgroup of naked oat (Avena sativa var. nuda Koern). Variation at these loci was used to form potential heterotic groups potentially used in the oat breeding program. Seven from 20 analyzed microsatellite loci revealed polymorphism. Altogether, 35 microsatellite alleles were detected (2–10 per locus). Polymorphic patterns completely differentiated all genotypes within the subgroups of white, brown, and naked oats, respectively. Only within the greatest subgroup of yellow genotypes, four pairs of genotypes remained unseparated. Genetic differentiation between the oat subgroups allowed the formation of seven potential heterotic groups using the STRUCTURE analysis. The overall value of the fixation index (F_st) suggested a high genetic differentiation between the subgroups and validated a heterotic grouping. This approach can be implemented as a simple predictor of heterosis in parental crosses prior to extensive field testing or development and implementation of more accurate genomic selection.