| Abstract: | One hundred fifty-two teff genotypes and two checks (Filagot and Tesfa) were used
for the field experiment. The objective of this study was to characterize and assess
the genetic diversity for traits of teff genotypes during the cropping season of
2019/2020 at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center. The augmented design was
used with eleven blocks. Results obtained from the analysis of variance for
quantitative traits showed a highly significant difference for culm diameter and
panicle length of the main panicle; significant difference for traits such as days to
50% maturity, and plant height. These findings revealed that there was a significant
difference among most of the traits. There was a wide range of variations for days to
50% flowering and 50% maturity, plant height, panicle length, spikelet per panicle,
and grain yield. Higher Genotypic coefficient of variation, phenotypic coefficient of
variation, genetic advance (as % mean), and heritability in the broader sense were
observed for grain yield per plot, spikelet per panicle, grain yield per plot, and culm
diameter, respectively. Cluster analysis of teff genotypes in the formation of 4
clusters ranging with high inter and intracluster distances between them. The first
four principal components explained about 79.37% of the entire diversity among teff
population. Days to 50% flowering, days to 50% maturity, plant height, panicle
length, culm diameter, and spikelet per panicle showed greater loadings in the first
principal component. The observed genetic diversity suggested the importance of
further evaluation of these genotypes across locations and seasons to develop
varieties. |
