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Multi-location Screening of Tef (Eragrostis tef) Lines Targeted to Variety Release for Midlands of Southern Ethiopia

Mathewos Ashamo, Mathewos Chumamo and Alemayehu Balcha

Tef (Eragrostis TefM) is one of a few endemic crops of Ethiopia having very attractive nutritional profile. Gluten free nature of Tef grain has been highly advocated by consumers outside of Ethiopia. However, wide use of unimproved cultivars and poor management practices, combined with inherent low productivity nature of the crop itself has been a major challenge in Tef production. Since Ethiopia is source of origin and diversity for Tef, there are an enormous opportunity to breed and develop relatively better yielding Tef varieties. In the present study, 18 Tef Recombinant Inbred Lines (RILs) and two check varieties such as Quncho and Ajora were evaluated at three selected Tef based research sites (Areka, Hossana and Halaba) of Southern Nations Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR), Ethiopia in 2014 and 2015. The RILs were evaluated for grain yield and other yield related traits; however, the present article focused on grain yield potential of Tef lines. Two RILs such as DZ-01-974 x DZ-01-2788 and DZCr- 37 x DZ-01-2786 with overall mean grain yield of 1681 (ranged from 1701 to1877) and 1600 (ranged from 1545 to 1649) kg/ha, respectively were promoted to Variety Verification Trial (VVT). The two selected RILs and two check varieties such as Quncho and Boset were further evaluated at VVT-phase at the three research stations and on two farmers’ fields nearby each of the three-station using large plots in 2017. All trials under VVT-phase across locations were evaluated by group of farmers, group of researchers and National Variety Releasing Committee (NVRC). During evaluations at VVT-phase, a line DZ-01-974 x DZ-01-2788 was realized by all evaluators to exhibit overall better field performance across the three research stations and farmers’ fields. Thus, it was decided to release the line DZ-01-974 x DZ-01-2788, which was later given a breeder name “Areka-1”. Therefore, we recommended Areka-1 for production to midlands of SNNPR.