Multi-location Based Evaluation of tef Genotypes for Grain Yield Stability and Agronomic Performance in Western Ethiopian High Lands

Abstract

Tef [Eragrostis  tef  (Zucc.) Trotter] is extensively cultivated and most important cereal crop in Ethiopia in terms of production, consumption and cash crop value and grown on about 3 million hectares annually. Because of its gluten-free proteins and slow release carbohydrate constituents, tef is recently being advocated and promoted as health crop at the global level. However, the productivity of tef is very low compared to other cereals mainly due to lack of high yielding and lodging tolerant cultivars. For this purpose, several genotypes were evaluated under different breeding stages in multi-locations so as to screen and reach at stable, high yielding and stress tolerant varieties. Accordingly, the year 2017/18  twenty five  recombinant inbred- lines were tested in preliminary variety trial out of which sixteen genotypes were advanced to regional variety trial and tested in 2018/19 and 2019/20 in multi-locations. Finally the combined analysis of variance across the three locations revealed highly significant (p<0.01) difference among genotypes for grain yield, days to mature, plant height, panicle length, lodging %, effective tiller, and crop stand. Among tested genotypes three, RIL 76B, RIL 46 and RIL 43A  found to be stable, high yielder and lodging tolerant across the tasted locations with grain yield advantage of 26.62%, 19.77% and 12.72% over the standard check respectively. Therefore based on their high yield and stable performance, genotypes RIL 76B, RIL 46 and RIL 43A were promoted to Variety Verification Trial (VVT) evaluation and for possible release.

Keywords: Eragrostis, Genotypes, stability, tef

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-17-06

Publication date:September 30^th 2020