Cereal Chem 59:333 - 335.  |  VIEW ARTICLE
Use of Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy and Dye-Binding Techniques for Estimating Protein in Oat Groats.

R. Biston and G. Clamot. Copyright 1982 by the American Association of Cereal Chemists, Inc. 

The techniques of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) and dye-binding (DB) were applied for determination of protein in oat groats. Samples (584) ranging from 9.00 to 26.40% protein (N x 6.25) were subdivided into 37 standard samples to develop the calibration equations and 547 independent samples. Parameters a and b of the regression equations of NIRS and DB values on Kjeldahl values for the independent samples differed statistically from the same parameters of the theoretical calibration line (a = 0, b = 1). However, the observed deviations have no practical significance. Coefficients of determination of Kjeldahl and NIRS values were 0.992 and 0.943 for standard and independent samples, respectively, whereas for Kjeldahl and DB values, they were 0.994 and 0.977. Precision of analysis for the NIRS method, as measured by the residual standard deviation (Sy,x) was 0.344 and 0.540% protein for standard and independent samples, respectively. Similarly, for DB method, the precision was 0.284 and 0.334% protein. Performances of the DB method indicate that the precision is less for high-protein samples than for low- or medium-protein samples. For the NIRS method, precision is not related to protein level. In conclusion, NIRS and DB are satisfactory techniques for estimating the protein content of oat groats in a breeding program.