‘FLLA11019‐8’: A New Dual‐purpose Facultative Oat Cultivar for Grain and Forage Production in the Southern United States

Abstract‘FLLA11019‐8’ (Reg. no. CV‐386, PI 700040) is new facultative oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivar for the southern United States for forage, grain, cover, and wildlife food crop uses. It was co‐developed by the University of Florida and Louisiana State University Agricultural Center and was released in 2020 under the SunGrains, a cooperative small grain breeding program among seven Southern Universities. This line was derived from a single cross between two advanced breeding lines, FL0564‐Ab13 and LA06071SBSB‐S1. Exclusive marketing rights were granted to Ragan & Massey, Inc., and the line is currently commercializing under the names of RAM Forage Oats and PlotSpike Forage Oats. The University of Florida is the lead institution in this release. FLLA11019‐8 (originally named FLLA11‐19S‐8) was developed using the selected bulk breeding method and was selected as an F5:6 head row. The line was evaluated in observation, preliminary, advanced, regional, and state grain and forage yield trials from 2016 to 2021. FLLA11019‐8 was released based on the merits of its broad adaptation, excellent grain yield, volume weight, forage potential, and winter survival. It is resistant to crown rust and stem rust and moderately resistant to Barley yellow dwarf virus. It is a mid‐maturing and mid‐tall height variety. FLLA11019‐8 has semi‐prostrate plant type with vigorous early‐season growth and high tillering capacity. It has performed very well in both grain and forage trials and is broadly adapted to the southern and southeastern United States.