Kedir Jaleto’s research while affiliated with National Research Centre on Seed Spices and other places

The study was conducted to estimate the effects of genotype, environment, and their interaction on yield and to assess the stability of white cumin genotypes for yield across different testing environments. Nine white cumin genotypes were evaluated using RCBD with three replications at four locations in Ethiopia. The result of combined analysis of variance showed highly significant (p<0.01) differences among genotypes for all traits, the genotype × environment interaction showed highly significant differences for all traits except the number of umbels plant-1. The variances accounted for by the environment, genotypes, and interaction were 87.57%, 1.74%, and 10.66%, respectively. Kulumsa-2020 was the highest yielding (1617.98 kg ha-1), environment; Robe Arsi-2021 was the lowest yielding (165.63 kg ha-1), environment. The higher mean seed yield was recorded from G1 (2,160.4 kg ha-1) at environment 1 (E1), while the smallest mean seed yield was obtained from G8 (80.2 kg ha-1) at environment 2 (E2). The GGE biplot analysis explained 74.39% (IPC1=51.91and IPC2 =22.48%) of G+GEI and divided the eleven environments into three major groups: Group 1 includes E3, E7, E9 and E11;Group 2 were E1,E2,E5 and E10 ; while E4,E6 and E8, were in Group 3. The AMMI analysis of variance for seed yield showed a highly significant (p<0.01) difference among genotypes, environments, and genotype × environment. The environmental effect accounted for 64.03% of the total variation, whereas the genotype × environment and genotype effect accounted for about 1.65% and 10.27% of total sum squares respectively. The first IPCA captured about 50.4% of genotype × environmental interaction sum square, while the second IPCA explained about 25.2%. The two IPCs cumulatively explained 75.6% of genotype × environmental interaction sum square. Environments within the same group gave redundant information about the genotypes and were more correlated. The vertex genotypes G1, G3, G5, G8, and G9 are displayed in the corner of the polygon. G5, G1, and G8 are the most unstable genotypes, whereas G3, G4, and G6 are the most desired and closest to the center of the best genotypes. Environment (E5) was identified as an ideal environment and powerful to discriminate genotypes while environment E8 and E11 was the list discriminating environment. The result gives more information on the stability and genotype × environment interactions; therefore, special considerations should be given for those selected genotypes to future breeding programs in order to develop wide adaptive and yielding genotypes.

The goal of potato breeding is to develop widely adaptable, highly productive cultivars that farmers would prefer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and stability of potato varieties linking the preferences of smallholder farmers in rain-fed and irrigated environments. Using a randomized complete block design in three replicates, twelve potato cultivars were assessed in 10 settings in Southeast Ethiopia during the Meher and Belg seasons in 2019 and 2020. The environments, genotypes, and GEI all revealed significant differences (p<0.001) in the pooled analysis of the variance of tuber yield. The tuber yield variances for GEI, environment, and genotypic impacts were 15.48%, 7.61%, and 59.49% explained by the AMMI analysis, respectively. The environments were grouped into three distinct categories. A total of 99.6% of the variance was the cumulative contribution of PC1, PC2, PC3, PC4, and PC5 sharing 80.8%, 11.3%, 4.3%, 2.2%, and 1.0%, respectively High-yielding and widely adapted were Gera, Gudanie, Bubu, Belete, Shenkolla, Guassa, and Maracharre varieties, according to the AMMI, BLUP, GGE biplot, and WAAS. However, dynamic types that were particularly affected by environmental variations include Jalenie, Dagim, Gorebella, Awash, and Zemen. A stability measure of metric and preference based on various traits identified Gudanie and Guassa varieties. The scores of the small holder farmers were consistent throughout the test environments. The canonical correlation analysis indicated the significant association between the metric traits collected by the breeder and the small- holder farmer preferences. The study provides baseline data for potato breeding, and the varieties must be evaluated in the nation's mega-environments for additional recommendations. Int. J. Agril. Res. Innov. Tech. 14(2): 85-98, December 2024

The experiment was conducted to select the best yielder and widely adaptable white cumin genotypes across different testing environments during the 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 main cropping seasons. Nine white cumin genotypes were evaluated in RCBD design using three replications at eleven environments. The combined mean performance recorded a higher mean seed yield from genotype G3 (1,031.3 kg ha-1) followed by genotype G7 (1,011.2 kg ha-1). The AMMI analysis of variance for seed yield showed a highly significant (p<0.01) difference among genotypes, environments, and genotype × environment. The environmental effect accounted for 64.03% of the total variation, whereas the genotype × environment and genotype effect accounted for about 1.65% and 10.27% of total sum squares respectively. The first IPCA captured about 50.4% of genotype × environmental interaction sum square, while the second IPCA explained about 25.2%. The two IPCs cumulatively explained 75.6% of genotype × environmental interaction sum square. Based on ASV scores G7 and G4 have the lowest ASV and they are the most widely stable genotypes across environments. In contrast, genotypes G5 and G1 score relatively the highest ASV and are considered unstable genotypes. E3 scored the least negative IPCA1 values, while environments E5, E8, and E9 scored maximum positive and negative IPCA1 values.

In Ethiopia, tomatoes are one of the most economically important vegetable crops. However, a number of factors, including a lack of improved and adapted tomato varieties, limit their productivity and production. A field study was conducted during the 2020 -2021 cropping season at Arsi areas, Tiyo, and Zuway Dugda districts and aimed to evaluate the performance of released tomato varieties, on-farm demonstrations, and varietal selection based on farmers’ preferences. Six released tomato varieties, Chali, Melkashola, Melkasalsa, Eshete, ARP-D2, and Fetan were planted on basic plots at farms and replicated at the research station. Data were collected on growth, yield and yield related traits from the mother trials and farmers perception on the demo varietal trials. The analysis of variance revealed that the tested varieties had significant differences (P≤0.05) in yield and yield-related traits. As a result, Gelilema variety had significant marketable yield (55.91 t ha-1) and total yield (65.24 t ha-1), followed by Melkashola variety with marketable yield (47.42 t ha-1) and total yield (59.12 t ha-1). Total fruit yield correlated positively and significantly with marketable yield (0.89), average fruit weight (0.87), number of fruit per cluster (0.65), number of cluster per plant (0.97), and was negatively associated with plant height (-0.05). Farmers' preferred traits, such as higher fruit yield, better disease tolerance, fruit size, shape, transportability, and higher market demand, were used to rank the most preferred varieties at both distinct areas. At Golja kebele, Gelilema was the most preferred and best-performing variety, followed by Melkashola. At Zuway Dugda, Melkashola and Melkasalsa were selected as the first and second choices, respectively. As a result, in order to address the demand of the farming community public agricultural extension and other stakeholders should promote the selected improved tomato varieties from smallholder farmers to large-scale production in the area of study and comparable agro-ecologies.

An experiment was conducted at Bekoji in southeastern Ethiopia during the 2021 and 2022 cropping seasons to evaluate different N and P fertilizer rates on agronomic performance, tuber yield, and economic profitability of potato tuber production. The treatments used consisted of four levels of nitrogen (0, 46, 92, and 138 kg ha-1) and phosphorus (0, 46, 69, and 92 kg ha-1) combined Original Research Article Fufa et al.; Asian J. 96 with factorial arrangements and laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results revealed that almost all parameters were significantly affected by the main effect of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer rates, still their interaction did not affect yield except potato plant height. As a result, in both seasons, the highest total tuber yield was obtained at the combined application of 138 kg N with 92 kg P2O5 ha-1. However, the partial budget analysis indicated that the combined application of 92 kg N and 92 kg P2O5 ha-1 gave the highest net benefit with an acceptable marginal rate of return (MRR) of 644.68%, which might be taken as a profitable rate for the test area. Therefore, based on economic performance, it can be concluded that the fertilizer application at the rate of 92 kg N ha −1 in combination with 92 kg P2O5 ha −1 fertilizer rates is more economical and hence, recommended for potato production in the study area.

Experiments under field conditions were conducted in the Meher season from mid-July to December 2019 and 2020 at Kulumsa and Arsi Robe, Southeast Ethiopia. The study intended to evaluate white cumin accessions for agronomic and quality traits. Fifteen genotypes were laid out in a randomized complete block design in three replications. The analysis of variance pooled over the two locations and years showed highly significant differences (p < 0.001) for ten agronomic and two quality traits. The top seven accessions, namely, Shirka 001/2007, Sole-007, Akiya-2007, Tena-2007, Bale-2007, Shirka-2007, and Silingo-2007, were the high yielders compared to Takusa-1 and Dembia-1 cultivars and could be advanced to the national variety trial. The highest essential oil content was recorded from the Dembia-1 (6.5%) cultivar, followed by Takusa-1 (6.42%), Shirka-2007 (6.23%), Sagure-2005 (6.23%), and Gedgeda-026 (6.23%), while the highest oleoresin content was recorded from Takusa-1 (28.3%), Gedgeda-026 (27.73%), and Shirka 001/2007 (27.54%). Shirka-2007 and Shirka 001/2007 matured earlier in 144 and 153.58 days, respectively, and could be used in crossing blocks. There was strong and positive association between the number of umbels plant⁻¹ and the number of umbellets umbel⁻¹ (r = 0.98***), the days to 50% flowering and physiological maturity (r = 0.9***), the days to 50% emergency and flowering (r = 0.89***), the seed yield plant⁻¹ and the 1000 seed weight (r = 0.87***), and the days to 50% maturity and the number of umbels plant⁻¹ (r = 0.86***). Hence, stable accessions in potential growing regions of Ethiopia could be selected for the release.