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Sorghum is being produced primarily as a food grain throughout the world. It is one of the major traditional food crops in Ethiopia. However, the productivity of the crop is very low and poor seed quality is one of the major determinants. An experiment study was conducted in laboratory and glasshouse to evaluate the effect of seed priming on seed quality parameters of three sorghum varieties:(Muyra-I, Muyra-II and Fendisha) with different storage of one year and two years using different priming agents with different soaking time for each priming agent (1.0mM KNO3, 1mM NaCl and distilled water for 72, 48 and 12 hours respectively) in 2012 at Haramaya University Seed laboratory. Completely randomized design in 2 x 3 x 4 factorial arrangement with three replications was used to carry out the germination and vigor tests. The priming concentrations and durations were based on previous work, which was effective in hydro and osmo-conditioning of sorghum seed. In the experiment, seed priming increased germination percentage (GP), Mean Germination Time (MGT) and improved seedling shoot (SSL) and root length (SRL), seedling dry weight (SDW) and seedling vigor indices in all varieties of both storage durations compared to their respective control. Priming with NaCl and KNO3 showed positive response followed by hydropriming for all varieties of different storage duration. When treated with sodium chloride, almost all the varieties of each storage year demonstrated an increase in germination and the degree of increment was higher for Muyra-I(__) and Fendisha (___), the lowest being for Muyra-II which was significantly lower for both storage year. In case of mean germination time Fendisha exhibited better with hydropriming for older seeds (___) and with KNO3 for newer seeds(___) while Muyra-II and Muyra-I showed better with KNO3 (____) for older seeds and with hydropriming for newer seeds. Responses of varieties for the remaining parameters were intermediate. Therefore, sorghum seed priming with osmo-media and water can compensate storage deterioration of sorghum seeds in addition to significantly improving the seed germination and vigor quality parameters

The eastern Africa region, Ethiopia and its surroundings, is considered as the center of origin and diversity for sorghum, and has contributed to global sorghum genetic improvement. The germplasm from this region harbors enormous genetic variation for various traits but little is known regarding the genetic architecture of most traits. Here, 1425 Ethiopian landrace accessions were phenotyped under field conditions for presence or absence of awns, panicle compactness and shape, panicle exsertion, pericarp color, glume cover, plant height and smut resistance under diverse environmental conditions in Ethiopia. In addition, F1 hybrids obtained from a subset of 1341 accessions crossed to an A1 cytoplasmic male sterile line, ATx623, were scored for fertility/sterility reactions. Subsequently, genotyping-by-sequencing generated a total of 879,407 SNPs from which 72,190 robust SNP markers were selected after stringent quality control (QC). Pairwise distance-based hierarchical clustering identified 11 distinct groups. Of the genotypes assigned to either one of the 11 sub-populations, 65% had high ancestry membership coefficient with the likelihood of more than 0.60 and the remaining 35% represented highly admixed accessions. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified loci and SNPs associated with aforementioned traits. GWAS based on compressed mixed linear model (CMLM) identified SNPs with significant association (FDR ≤ 0.05) to the different traits studied. The percentage of total phenotypic variation explained with significant SNPs across traits ranged from 2 to 43%. Candidate genes showing significant association with different traits were identified. The sorghum bHLH transcription factor, ABORTED MICROSPORES was identified as a strong candidate gene conditioning male fertility. Notably, sorghum CLAVATA1 receptor like kinase, known for regulation of plant growth, and the ETHYLENE RESPONSIVE TRANSCRIPTION FACTOR gene RAP2-7, known to suppress transition to flowering, were significantly associated with plant height. In addition, the YELLOW SEED1 like MYB transcription factor and TANNIN1 showed strong association with pericarp color validating previous observations. Overall, the genetic architecture of natural variation representing the complex Ethiopian sorghum germplasm was established. The study contributes to the characterization of genes and alleles controlling agronomic traits, and will serve as a source of markers for molecular breeding.

Determination of appropriate row spacing and phosphorus rate of mung bean can increase its productivity. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at Fedis Agricultural Research Center during main growing season to evaluate the effect of phosphorus rate and row spacing on yield and yield related traits of mung bean. Factorial combinations of four phosphorus rate (0, 23, 46, 69 kg P2O5 ha-1) and three row spacing (20, 30, and 40 cm) laid out in RCBD with three replications. A total of 12 treatments and Borda variety was used for the experiment. The results revealed that there were significant (P

Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. is one of the most important pests of sorghum in storage causing severe economic damage to the grain. Twenty-one sorghum varieties obtained from Haramaya University Sorghum Improvement Research Program were investigated for their relative resistance to S. zeamais attack. The Dobie index of susceptibility was used to group the varieties into different reaction categories. Among the twenty one sorghum varieties evaluated, only one variety, ‘WB-77’, was regarded as resistant to the weevil. All the remaining varieties were categorized as moderately resistant. Weevils reared on the resistant variety produced a few number of F1 progeny (20.00), had a high median developmental time (42.00 days) and a low percentage of seed damage (2.67) and seed weight loss (0.30). Percentage seed damage and weight loss are significantly and positively correlated with the mean number of F1 progeny emergence and are inversely associated with median developmental time. Consequently, those varieties with high number of F1 progeny scored high percentage of seed damage and weight loss. These results indicated that high lysine content was found to be the predominant factor in sorghum resistance to S. zeamais. Key words: Sorghum varieties, resistance, insect infestation, Sitophilus zeamais, susceptibility index.

The study was carried out to evaluate the productivity of maize - soybean intercropping system and to identify the best combination that maximize productivity of the system. Maize hybrid (BH540) at 44,444 plants ha-1 and three soybean varieties (AFGAT, Awassa-95 and Crawford) in a factorial combination of three planting densities (25%, 50% and 75%) of the recommended population density of soybean with the respective sole of each variety of component crops were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Sole cropped maize grain yield (3189.80 kg ha-1) was non-significantly greater than intercropped (2753.70 kg ha-1) by means of 13.67%. Soybean seed yield of 1993.61 and 747.48 kg ha-1 was obtained from sole and intercropped soybean, respectively. In all combinations, LER was greater than one justified that a yield advantage of (14-32%) and (6-28%) as depicted by LER 1.14-1.32 and 1.06 -1.28 due to varieties and planting densities, respectively. Generally, as LER was superior in all intercrops evaluating that the productivity of maize-soybean intercropping showed a higher relative yield advantage of 32% over sole cropping. The GMV of the intercrops was increased with an increase in planting density of soybean. Furthermore, the GMV of intercrops (ETB 12176.00 per ha) was greater by means of 41.05% over sole cropped maize whilst lower than that of soybean sole cropped GMV by ETB 3772.90 per ha or 23.66%. However, MA had not significantly varied due to varieties and planting densities and cropping system. In additive intercropping system, maize intercropped with Awassa-95 at 50% planting density showed a yield advantage of 23.71% over sole cropped maize.

The effect of germination time (48, 96 and 144 h) on malt quality of six sorghum varieties was investigated to determine the potential of grain sorghum cultivars in the local brewery industry. Six sorghum varieties (Gambella 1107, Macia, Meko, Red-Swazi, Teshale and 76 T1#23) were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that both germination time and variety had a significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) on sorghum malt quality. The hectolitre weight (kg hL−1 at 12.5% moisture), germination energy (%), crude protein (%) and flour starch amylose content (%) were: 75.8–82.9, 96–99, 7.0 − 11.9 and 16.0 − 23.0, respectively. The sorghum malt diastatic power (DP, °L), free amino nitrogen (FAN, mg L−1), hot water extract (HWE, %) and malting loss (%) were: 18.96 − 31.39, 185.67 − 343.29, 41.85 − 85.08 and 8.68 − 27.56, respectively. Malting loss, HWE and FAN increased with germination time. The DP increased as the germination duration increased from 48 to 96 h, but the difference between 96 and 144 h was not significant. Considering the excessive malting loss and marginal increase in HWE beyond 96 h, this study suggests that the optimum malting duration would be around 96 h. Among the varieties tested, Teshale and Gambella 1107 produced the better malt quality. Copyright © 2012 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling

Vernonia galamensis is a new potential industrial oilseed crop originated in eastern and southeastern parts of Ethiopia. Its unique properties make it economically and environmentally interesting. No effort has been made so far in Ethiopia to improve this crop. Therefore, an evaluation work for 17 yield and yield component traits was conducted at three contrasting agroclimatic zones. The considered traits showed significant differences at all locations except for the characters days to emergence and days to maturity. The best producing accessions in terms of yields of kg oil/ha (kg/ha of seed multiplied by oil%) for Alemaya were varieties collected at Bedeno, Chirro and Gelemso which produce 1627.45, 1593.46 and 1582.95 kg oil/ha, respectively. Accessions from Chirro (1194.75 kg oil/ha), Bedeno (1187.14 kg oil/ha), and Metta (1157.49 kg oil/ha) were superior at Harar, while Harar Zuria, Metta and Chirro which produce 274.48, 244.33 and 230.74 kg oil/ha, respectively, were superior at Babile. These materials could be used as parent materials to start breeding programs for each specific location. There was a wide range of variation between the minimum and maximum values of most characters. Thus even within the limited germplasm studied, selection for improved characteristics appears to be possible in V. galamensis var. ethiopica.

A field experiment was conducted at Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center in order to estimate the extent of genetic variation in Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun). In this study, genetic diversity in 60 Ethiopian mustard genotypes, collected from 16 regions of Ethiopia, were assessed using the techniques of cluster and principal component analyses based on 16 traits. All traits were significantly (P and 19% of the variations, respectively. Days to flowering, days to maturity, seed yield/plot, oil yield/plot and biomass/plot were the most important traits contributing to the total variation of the first principal component, implying the existence of great potential to improve these traits through selection. Keywords: Brassica carinata; Cluster Analysis; Ethiopian Mustard; Genetic Diversity

Due to decreasing land units and decline in soil fertility integrating soybean in to the maize production system is a viable option for increasing productivity and protein source. In view of this, field experiment was conducted during 2012 at Mechara Agricultural Research Center with theobjectives of identifying best compatible combinations of maize with soybean varieties and N rates for maximum yield and yield components of the associated cropsand productivity of intercropping system. Three varieties of soybean (Awasa-95, Cocker-240 and Crowford) were intercropped with early maturing maize variety Melkasa-2 with three rates of nitrogen (32, 64 and 96 kg N ha-1). The experiment waslaid out in factorial arrangement in randomized complete block design in three replications. Highest maize grain yield (2196kg ha-1) was obtained from soybean variety Crowford and 32 kg N ha-1 and lowest yield (1352 kg ha-1) was recorded from maize intercropped with soybean variety Awasa-95 at 96 kg N ha-1. The grain yield of intercropped soybean was increased from 586 kg ha-1 to 842kg ha-1 as the nitrogen rates increased from 32 kg N ha-1 to 96 kg N ha-1. The higheist LER (1.10) was obtained from maize intercropped with soybean variety Crowford and lowest LER (1.08) was from maize intercropped with variety Cocker-240 due to main effects of soybean varieties while due to main effects of N, the highest (1.16) and the lowest (1.1) LER were obtained from higher rate of nitrogen (96 kg N ha-1) and lowest rate of nitrogen (32 kg N ha-1), respectively. On the other hand, the highest Gross Monetary Value (17315 Birr ha-1) was recorded from interaction of Cocker-240 at highest rate of nitrogen (96kg N ha-1) which was not significantly different from Awasa-95 at 32 kg N ha-1 (15304 birr ha-1) and Crowford at 32 kg N ha-1 (15103) while lowest GMV (12362birr ha-1) was obtained from variety Cocker-240 at 32 kg N ha-1. Therefore, variety Awasa-95 at lower rate of nitrogen (32 kg ha-1) could be best in intercropping system to reduce cost of fertilizer and maximize total productivity.

Noug (Guizotia abyssinica (L.f.) Cass.: 2n = 30), a member of the Compositae family, is grown as an oilseed crop in Ethiopia. The crop grows best on poorly drained heavy clay soils. In this experiment, 157 noug accessions randomly sampled from different parts of the country were evaluated in a field test at Adet, Ethiopia in 1993, to estimate the phenotypic diversity index (H') for phenological (days to flowering, days to maturity) and morphological (leaf colour, leaf margin, stem hairiness, stem colour, angle of branching, plant height) characters. The phenotypic diversity was calculated using Shannon-Weaver diversity index (H') for the regions, provinces, characters, after pooling together all characters. The results of this study indicated that the phenotypic diversity index (H') of noug accessions was 0.61 for Western, 0.56 for Northern, 0.54 for Southern and 0.51 for Central and Eastern Ethiopia Province, while the highest diversity index was from Gojjam H' = 0.60, Welega H' = 0.57, and Shewa H' = 0.53. The phenotypic diversity index for the Nation was H' = 0.40. Most of the variations were due to differences among provinces for different characters than among regions. Based on the characters studied and small collections evaluated, the centres of diversity for noug appears to be in Gojjam, Welega and Shewa, and further exploration efforts should be undertaken in these regions. Key Words: Diversity index, genetic diversity, germplasm, Guizotia abyssinica Cass., oilseed (African Crop Science Journal: 2000, 8(2): 137-144)