The collection and evaluation of oat (Avena sative) in China
China is the origin of naked oats. The collection and management of oats commenced at the end of 1950s in our country. At present, there are 2 977 accessions of oat germplasm documented, of which naked oat germplasm and covered oat germplasm are 1 699 and 1 127 accessions respectively. Over 1 400 accessions of oats are still out of inventory. Of the oat germplasm documented, 1 142 accessions have been conserved in the national gene banks for long term conservation and 504 accessions have been conserved in some local research units in our country. This paper summarized the situation of evaluation of agronomy traits, resistance, quality character of seed and genetic characters. It provides great help for studies on oat germplasm in the near future.