Some lakes in the Rift Valley of East Africa are among the most productive in the world, while others are dystrophic, possessing a stable, opaque suspension of fine silt or clay. Understanding the causes of flocculation and sedimentation of this material could provide insight into why these lakes are so turbid. We collected samples of suspended clay from three turbid lakes (Langano and Abaya in Ethiopia, and Baringo in Kenya), measured the size-distribution and organic content of their suspended sediment, and performed laboratory studies of sedimentation rate as a function of pH and salinity. Most of the turbidity in the two Ethiopian lakes was due to particles between 0.5 and 1.5 μm, and the suspended material had a low organic content and C/N ratio in all the three lakes. Sedimentation velocity of the material increased with both salinity and pH, with velocities varying from near 0 at neutral pH and low salinity, to 3 cm h-1 as pH approached 12 or salinity approached 25 ppt in the case of Lake Abaya. These results may explain why it is only freshwater lakes that demonstrate these turbid clay suspensions, and suggest mechanisms through which their turbidity might be altered.
This study examined the actions and involvement of stakeholders in the management of wetland resources in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Data were generated through interview conducted with 78 key informants selected from different stakeholders using snowball sampling technique. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data using NVivo 8 qualitative data analysis software. The result revealed that wetland management is in the dominion of many stakeholders that are categorized into local community, government institutions, private sectors, research institutions and civic societies. The stakeholder arena was characterized by weak coordination, conflicting and/or overlapping roles, responsibilities, and influence power asymmetry. Stakeholders’ collaboration and engagement in wetland management is challenged by weak institutional frameworks typified by inconsistency, vague provisions on wetlands, and weak enforcement. The common property notion and the lack of clear property rights regime for wetland resources exacerbated the challenge for proper management of wetland resources. All these factors have contributed to the lag in the management of wetland resources of the area which probably may lead to unsustainable resources outcomes. Hence, there is a need to integrate institutions to avoid conflicting or contradictory issues, enact wetlandspecific institutional frameworks, and design multi- stakeholder platforms at various levels via public-private partnership for effective, proactive and synergetic involvement of stakeholders. Key words/phrases: Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia, Institutions, Stakeholders, Wetlands.
This study aimed to assess changes in spatial cover of Lake Abijata and impacts of land use/land cover changes on the floristic composition and herbaceous biomass in and surrounding Abijata Shalla National Park. Data were collected using systematic sampling method from 64 quadrats of 400 m2 established along eight line transects. Land use/land cover changes over time (from 1978 to 2018) were determined from satellite images of the study area using ArcGIS 10.5 and ENVI 5.0 software. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. A total of 60 plant species belonging to 49 genera and 27 families were documented. Most species had mean Diameter at Breast Height (DBH)/Diameter at Stamp Height (DSH) less than 10 cm, few species (four) were in higher diameter classes (27.6–32.5) and only one species (Acacia tortilis) was in the 32.6– 37.5 and 37.5–42.5 diameter classes. Most species (77%) had low importance value index which imply the need for conservation attention in the area. Spatial cover of Lake Abijata decreased by 58.6% as its cover decreased from 20,676.51 ha in 1978 to 8,558.1 ha in 2018. Similarly, grassland, wetland and forest/shrub land decreased by 87.6%, 48.9% and 40.9%, respectively. Human settlements, crop land and bare land increased by 517.7%, 105.1% and 81.1%, respectively. Protected area had higher mean biomass (289 g/m2 ) than the open access sites (71 g/m2). Coordinated and multidisciplinary interventions are recommended to restore the degraded terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and conserve the diverse biodiversity in the study area. Key words/phrases: Ecosystem restoration, Herbaceous biomass, Land use/land cover change, Species richness
Although the most direct impact of cities on biodiversity is the change in land cover associated with urban growth, large number of species have been recorded to live, and even thrive, within urban centers. The present study was conducted from August 2018 to March 2019 and aimed to investigate the seasonal diversity and habitat association of birds in Bahir Dar city. Semi-forest, wetland, waste dumping site and residential area were habitats identified based on topographic map and ground truthing survey. A total of 100 point count stations within 10 plots of the semi-forest habitat and 550 line transects within 55 blocks of open habitats were used to collect data. Diversity indices, chi-square and ANOVA were employed for data analyses. A total of 186 bird species belonging to 21 orders and 59 families were recorded. The highest diversity of bird species was observed in the residential area during the wet season (H’ = 3.78) and the lowest was in waste dumping site during the dry season (H’ = 2.11). Test of association between season and habitat types as a function of birds’ abundance also confirmed the presence of strong association between season and birds abundance. Availability of food, water and nesting sites were the main players to determine the diversity and abundance of birds within Bahir Dar city. The study area supports large number of bird species that confirms the area’s potential for bird watching tourism. Therefore, there must be a collaborative work with the city administration for protecting the urban ecosystem to conserve the biodiversity therein.
Lake bioassessment is routinely done using one biological community such as macro-invertebrates, diatoms, macrophytes or fish. Theuse of at least two assemblages has been suggested as they are believed to be more robust indicators, because each community responds differently to potential stressors in waters. This study aimed to use macroinvertebrate and diatom assemblages to identify metrics and temperate indices that could discriminate between reference and impacted sites of the littoral zone of Lake Ziway, Ethiopia. The Lake Habitat Quality Assessment (LHQA) method was used to categorize the sites in the littoral zone of the lake. Lake water, macroinvertebrate, and diatom samples were collected from 3 reference and 6 impacted sites between September 2015 and April 2016 with standard methods and following the Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Protocol. A total of 34 macroinvertebrate taxa and 39 diatom species were recorded. 32 macroinvertebrate and 18 diatom indices were tested for their ability to discriminate between the reference, intermediate and multiple-stressed sites using correlations between metrics, similarity values with SIMPER and boxplots overlaps. Further, correlation of the metrics with physico-chemical parameters extracted metrics and indices with high discrimination efficiency(≥3). The indices remaining were 5 macroinvertebrate (NT, PTI, PETI, PDT and CLI) and 4 diatom (CEE, PTV, TDI, and IBD) indicators which clearly discriminated between the impacted (intermediate and multiple stressors) and reference sites, but not within the impacted sites, in the lake. These data can also possibly serve as core metrics for multi-assemblage index development for this shallow, tropical lake. Key words/phrases: Diatom, Discriminatory efficiency, Lake bioassessment, Macroinvertebrate, Multi-assemblage, Omnidia, SIMPER
Zanha golungensis Hiern. is one of the commonly used species of Sapindaceae in Nigeria owing to its medicinal properties; however, taxonomic data on the species are limited. In this study, morphological, anatomical and phytochemical characters of the leaf and stem of Z. golungensis were assessed with a view to add to existing literature on the species. Vegetative morphology, light microscopy as well as phytochemical examinations were performed. Taxonomically useful characters were recorded which can be applied in the identification of Z. golungensis in pharmacognostic crude drug research without ambiguity. This is a contribution to already existing literature on the species.
In Ethiopia, Lantana camara is listed among the top ten worst invasive weeds. Lantana has become a chronic environmental, social, economical and health problem in different parts of the country, mainly in the eastern escarpments of Hararghe, Somali and Wollo. Understanding the potential distribution of this invasive species will give useful information in planning effective strategies to control its invasion. This study aimed to examine the current (2020) and future invasion potential of L. camara in the Central Rift Valley (CRV), Ethiopia, under climate and land cover change using an ensemble ecological niche modeling approach. Under the current climate scenario, 90.5% of the study area was unsuitable for the establishment and invasion of L. camara, while 1.4% was highly suitable. The model predicted that the rate of L. camara invasion will increase across the CRV as increasing temperature undermining the competitive power of indigenous species. In 2050, a highly suitable area for L. camara establishment is expected to increase by 22.2%, while the moderately suitable area is projected to increase by 11.4% under RCP4.5 climate scenarios. Compared to the current climatic condition, in 2070, a highly suitable area for the species is projected to increase by 41.7%. With the current cover, this invasive species had already caused a significant impact in many parts of the country. Further invasion of the species would lead to serious environmental and socio-economic damage, thereby threatening the livelihood of the community. Thus, a well-coordinated management strategy should primarily target areas that are suitable for L. camara. Key words/phrases: Biodiversity, Climate change, Ecological niche modelling, Invasion, Lantana camara, Suitability.
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are opportunistic pathogens that can be acquired from the environment like water and soil. They can cause pulmonary and extrapulmonary diseases in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals. There is no information in Ethiopia on the identity and diversity of NTM in clinical specimens. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize NTM from clinical samples stored between November 2016 to May 2017 at Adama TB reference laboratory. A total of 47 NTM isolates were grouped using Runyon system and speciation was determined using molecular method of GenoType Mycobacterium CM/AS assays. Of the 47 isolates, 24 (51%) were found to be slow growers while 23 (49%) were rapid growers (Group IV). Of the slow growers, 4(16.7%) were photochromogen (Group I), 7(29.2%) scotochromogen (Group II) and 13 (54.2%) non-photochromogen (Group III). NTM species distribution among identified isolates revealed the following groups: M. intracellulare (n=6), M. abcessus/M. immunogenum (n=4), M. gordonae (n=4), M. simiae (n=3), M. fortuitum (type 1) (n=3), M. chelonae/M. immunogenum (n=1), M. scrofulaceum/M. paraaffinicum (n=1), M. avium (n=1) and M. mucogenicum (n=1). The study showed that there are different species of NTM that were known to cause NTM infection as well as disease. Mycobacterium avium complex (Mycobacterium avium and intracellulare 29.2%) was found to be the most common species out of the identified stains. Based on our findings, we suggest that due emphasis should be given to NTM while diagnosing TB and laboratories should be capacitated to properly identify NTM.
Soil salinity is an environmental threat that impedes productivity of crops particularly in arid and semi-arid areas. This research aimed to assess the status, causes, effects and ameliorative measures of soil salinity in irrigated fields in Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. A total of 40 composite soil samples were collected from groundwater and river irrigated farm plots and corresponding rain-fed plots, and analyzed for pH, EC, TDS, CEC, ESP, Exchangeable Na, bicarbonate, and sum of anions. Similarly, a total of 12 composite water samples from the groundwater and rivers were collected and analyzed for pH, EC, TDS, Na, K, Ca, Ma, Cl, B, SO4 and CO3. In addition, focus group discussion and interviews were conducted with irrigation user farmers. The result showed that farm plots irrigated with groundwater from sodic soil environment with Exchangeable Sodium Percentage (ESP) >15 and areas irrigated with Bulbula River are becoming sodic with an average ESP value of 13.5. Irrigation user farmers who participated in the social survey indicated that soil salinity-sodicity adversely affected growth of vegetables, land productivity and household economy. The social survey also indicated that farmers lack knowledge, skills and capital to apply various ameliorative measures of soil salinity and sodicity. This requires monitoring of irrigation water, planting salt tolerant crops, designing environmentally friendly irrigation practices and empoweringfarmers on farming practices in order to mitigate and ameliorate soil salinitysodicity problems, and to enhance sustainability of irrigation farming in the study areas.
This study was undertaken in Kelala Dalacha Mountain in Oromia, Ethiopia to determine the impacts of ecosystem rehabilitation on vegetation cover, woody species structure and soil chemical properties. A random sampling method was used to collect vegetation data from a total of 31 quadrats of 400 m2 each. Four satellite images of the study area, distributed between 1988 and 2018 were analyzed using Arc GIS software to assess the Land Use Land Cover (LULC) changes of the area. Composite sampling was used for soil sample collection and soil was analyzed for selected chemical properties. Data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Result indicated that the vegetation cover was 58.1% in 1988, 64.47% in 1998, 80.32% in 2008 and 88.43% in 2018, showing the positive contribution of area closure in ecosystem rehabilitation. The bare land in 1988 was changed to either woody species or grasses nowadays. Similarly, area closure had a positive impact on vegetation structure. Woody species in the study area displayed an inverted J-shaped pattern of distribution. The lower DBH classes were found to have relatively higher number of individuals than that of the middle and the top classes indicating the importance of area closure. Mean values of soil pH, EC, CEC, OC, TN, P and K were 6.64, 0.082, 30.92, 2.44, 0.213, 3.91 and 219.38, respectively. Area closure is a viable strategy for restoring degraded ecosystems as it had positive impact on vegetation cover, woody species structure and soil chemical properties. Therefore, it was recommended to ensure wide scale applications of area closure on all mountains for restoration of ecosystem function and biodiversity conservation.
Moringa oleifera Lam. is one of the most important plants that serve as medicinal and functional food. It is found in very limited areas in Ethiopia and traditional propagation is by seeds where it is difficult to get uniform plants of superior genotypes. The objective of this study was to develop efficient in vitro propagation protocol of M. oleifera from shoot tip. Seeds of M. oleifera were sterilized with calcium hypochlorite. The sterilized seeds were germinated on growth regulators free Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Shoot tips of M. oleifera were excised from in vitro grown seedlings and cultured on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l kinetin or 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). The initiated shoots were transferred to shoot multiplication medium containing different concentrations of BAP in combination with indole butyric acid (IBA) or kinetin. The multiplied shoots were transferred to half strength MS medium containing different concentrations of IBA in combination with α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) for rooting. Seeds sterilized with 10% calcium hypochlorite for 30 min showed 100% germination. All cultured shoots were initiated and the highest shoot number per explant (5.66±0.44) was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l BAP in combination with 0.5 mg/l IBA and 94% of shoots rooted on half strength MS supplemented with 0.25 mg/l NAA. After acclimatization, 90% of plants survived. This in vitro propagation protocol can be used for clonal propagation of superior genotypes of this tree plant in short period of time contributing to its conservation and genetic improvement.
Tannery wastewater is one of the most hazardous industrial pollutants containing organic and inorganic substances. For this reason, tanneries are required to treat their wastewater before discharging into the environment. The objective of this study was to evaluate efficiency of Batu tannery wastewater treatment plant and the impact of the tannery affluent on the quality of the Little Akaki River. The physico-chemical characteristics of tannery wastewater before and after treatment were determined based on triplicate measurements for each sample. The data showed that raw tannery wastewater has high loads of pollutants. The highest COD, TDS, ammoniaN, sulfate, total nitrogen, sulfide and total chromium observed in the raw tannery wastewater was 7213 mg/l, 6236 mg/l, 228 mg/l, 352 mg/l, 310 mg/l, 294 mg/l and 26 mg/l, respectively. Average removal efficiency of the treatment system for the COD, sulfide, ammonia-N, TDS, total nitrogen was 51%, 62.6%, 48%, 47%, 59.5% and 52.7%, respectively. The pH, temperature and electrical conductivity was reduced by less than 10% in treated tannery effluent, but COD, TN, sulfide, total chromium, sulfate and TDS exceeded the national discharge limit for the tannery effluent. Analysis of similar parameters in the Little Akaki River showed that insufficiently treated tannery effluent caused an increase in the river water physicochemical characteristics except for temperature and pH. However, one-way analysis of variance showed that only the COD, total chromium and sulfate of downstream LAR water were significantly (p<0.05) different from upstream similar parameters. This showed that impact of the tannery effluent on the river water quality is insignificant for most of the studied parameters. Nevertheless, the physico-chemical data of upstream LAR water showed that the river is severely polluted by other upstream sources and the river water is beyond the recommended water quality values for human, animal and agricultural uses. Keywords/phrases: Leather, Little Akaki River, Physico-chemical characteristics, Tannery, Wastewater
In this study, the impact of physical parameters and disinfection on the availability of bacteria in treated water delivered to Addis Ababa residents was assessed. Thirty-four water samples were purposively collected from different points and physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters were analyzed following standard methods. The results showed that all physico-chemical parameters analyzed were in the standard ranges of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Ethiopian National Standards (ENS) whereas residual chlorine (0.2–0.7 mg/l) were not within the limit set by WHO and ENS at a few sampling points. Regarding bacteriological parameters, significant number of coliforms (TC (3–299 CFU/100 ml) and FC (2–36 CFU/100 ml) and HPC (26–308 CFU/ml) were detected at allsampling sites although residual chlorine was maintained. Moreover, HPC was significant positive correlation with TC (r = 0.934 at P value of 0.01 and r = 0.599, at P value of 0.05) and FC (r = 0.614 and a significant negative correlation with RCl (r = -0.620 at P value and r = -0.792 both at P value=0.01). On the other hand, TC and FC had a significant positive correlation with each other (r = 0.643 and r = 0.811 both at P =0.01) and significant negative correlation with RCl (r = -0.638 and r = -0.614) and (r = - 0.545 and r = -0.094), respectively. The study indicated that residual chlorine in some sample sites might not be efficient in killing microbes and there might be regrowth of microbes along the various distribution systems in the supply lines. Keywords/phrases: Coliforms, Disinfection, Distribution systems, Drinking water, Residual chlorine
The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a cultivated legume, important source of protein, vitamins and micronutrients. Common bean is a relatively permissive host, nodulated by different genera and species of fast-growing and slow-growing rhizobia. This study was aimed to evaluate symbiotic and phenotypic diversity of common bean nodulating rhizobia in various areas of East Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Soil samples were collected from 11 representative kebeles and transported to Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU) for nodule trapping and isolation of rhizobia, and evaluating for their symbiotic effectiveness in pot experiments under greenhouse condition. The isolates were tested for their physiological characteristics such as substrate utilization, inherent antibiotic resistance, and tolerance to different pH, temperature and concentrations of NaCl. Thus, twenty-two isolates were collected, and most of them changed YEMA-BTB media to yellow colour showing that they are acid producers and fast growers. More than 73% of the isolates showed the ability to solubilize tricalcium phosphate on Picovaskaya agar medium with solubilization index ranging from 1.04 to 2.4. Twenty-seven percent of the isolates were highly effective, and more than 36% of the isolates were effective. Our results demonstrated the presence of compatible indigenous rhizobia, some of which could have high potential of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and can be evaluated under field condition for inoculant production. Keywords/phrases: Highly effective, Nodule trapping, Phosphate solubilisation, Physiological characters
The diversity and relative abundance of fishes from Tekeze Reservoir, Ethiopia, was studied from January 2016 to December 2017. Samples were collected from six sites using gill nets with different stretched mesh sizes (0.5–5.5, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 cm). Fish were identified to family and species level. Ecological indices such as Shannon-Weaver diversity index, Simpson’s diversity index, Species Evenness and Richness were used to analyze the data. All environmental variables were found in the optimum condition for fish production. The fish belonged to 15 species within four families: Cyprinidae, Bagridae, Claridae and Cichlidae. Shannon-Weaver and Simpson’s diversity indices ranged from 1.447 to 1.697 and 0.7333 to 0.7925, respectively, and Equitability ranged 0.6957–0.8718. Values for fish species diversity and equitability were higher (H′ = 1.715; J′ = 0.746) during the wet and dry-cold seasons, respectively. The index of relative importance(%IRI) in the gill net landings were: Oreochromis niloticus, (35.5%), Bagrus docmak (22.6%), Labeobarbus intermedius (20.5%), Labeo niloticus (10.6%)and Labeo forskalii (10.2%). The species with low relative importance (< 1%) include Clarias gariepinus, Labeobarbus nedgia, Raiamas senegalensis, Labeobarbus crassibarbis, Heterobranchus longifilis, Garra dembeensis, Bagrus bajad, Labeobarbus bynni, Labeo cylindricus, and Labeobarbus beso. The river mouth habitats had more catch composition than the pelagic. Physico-chemical parameters played a key role in the spatial variation of the fish. The study indicated decline of the fish stock in the reservoir, therefore, management plan and strategy should be in place to maintain the fish species and increase their sustainable utilization. Keywords/phrases: Abundance, Diversity, Evenness, Seasons, Tekeze Reservoir
Rennet (acidic proteases) are used to be traditionally extracted from animals as commercial sources of milk clotting (MC) enzymes for cheese production. However, the ever increasing demand of these enzymes necessitates search for alternative sources from fungi and bacteria. In this study, 49 bacterial strains were screened for milk-clotting (MCA) and protease (PA) activities in vitro using plate assay technique and further studied under Solid-state fermentation (SSF) and submerged fermentation (SmF). The result showed that 14 (29%) bacterial strains produced MCA on Skim milk agar forming clear zone diameter between 5.25 mm and 21 mm. Most of these MC bacterial strains were identified into the genus Bacillus; showing 100% sequence similarity with Bacillus tequilensis KCTC 13622, Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis NCBI 3610, Bacillus paramycoides NH24A2, Bacillus siamensis KCTC 13613. All of the strains induced MCA on SmF, and only 11 (79%) of the strains produced the enzyme under SSF. The strains produced enzymes on SmF ranging from 133.33 U/mL to 480 U/mL with MCA: PA ratio of 0.1–0.36. The MCA significantly increased during culture profiling upon partially optimized conditions with a maximum MCA production of 2533 U/mL and MCA/PA ratio of 14.05 recorded from Bacillus subtilis SMDFS 2B, which is a remarkable characteristic in the selection of commercially important rennet enzyme. Thus, Bacillus subtilis SMDFS 2B, together with B. siamensis 29B, can be further studied for enzyme purification under different optimization conditions to fully realize their potential for rennet enzyme production. Keywords/phrases: Bacillus, Milk-clotting activity, Milk-clotting protease, Submerged fermentation
Ensete ventricosum is one of the species in the genus Ensete whose species composition is not yet known. This paper attempts to trace the origin of domesticated enset and early food production in Ethiopia, historical evidence of its distributions, botanical and genetic diversity of cultivated and wild enset forms. Based on ecological distribution of wild enset in Ethiopia, the highly dissected terrain of lower altitudes of South and Southwestern drier zones might be the initial sites of enset domestication. The complexity of enset culture and its use value and in South and Southwest of Ethiopia indicate longer period of enset cultivation. The existence of an early and dynamic root and tuber crop-based agriculture before seed and fruit-based crop system also support the early domestication of enset in South and South West of Ethiopia. A molecular genetic data from RAPD, chloroplast and ITS DNA sequence suggest that different clones of cultivated enset seem to have originated from different clones of wild enset suggesting the existence of several microcentres of domestication in the region. The wild enset forms and the cultivated forms seem to introgress and escape to the wild and domesticated sites of enset, respectively. RAPD and ITS molecular data as well as complete sequences of transcribed spacers and introns from trnT terF region of chloroplast DNA from thirteen species of Musa and three species of Ensete , including the cultivated and wild species of Ensete ventricosum indicated that Ensete glaucum and Mussa beccarii represent ancestral forms of Ensete and Musa , respectively. The data also showed that E. ventricosum cannot be reduced to E. glaucum , nor can E. gilletti be reduced to E. ventricosum , as some authorities have suggested. Ensete gilletti or a species very close to it appears to be the ancestral species of E. ventricosum . Keywords/phrases: Centre of origin and domestication, Ensete ventricosum , Molecular data, Musa species
Climate change is one of the major threats to bird populations. Its effects on birds include range shifts, changes in population sizes, earlier breeding and changes in breeding performance. Under climate change, conservation of birds will require an understanding of the present status and responses of birds to future climates. However, our knowledge of the future distribution of bird species is limited especially in developing countries like Ethiopia where avian research is still in its infancy. Here, we used the MaxEnt model to predict the current and future distribution of four-bird species (Bostrychia carunculata, Columba albirtoques, Corvus crassirostris, and Lybius undatus) in Ethiopia under different climate scenarios. The results indicated that maximum temperature, annual precipitation, and human population density were the main factors that determined the distribution of these species. Further, suitable areas for these species were projected to decline under future climate scenarios with the greatest declines being experienced in 2070 under RCP 8.5. However, highland areas experienced low geographic range losses for the four-bird species under climate change. These findings suggest that conservation measures that protect and maintain important highland habitats can ensure the persistence of these bird species under future climates. Key words/phrases: Bird species, Climate change, Ethiopia, MaxEnt, Species distribution.
Fifteen malt barley genotypes, along with the standard check (Miscal 21), were evaluated at Geregera, Kon and Estayish testing sites of Sirinka Agricultural Research Centre during 2013 and 2014 cropping seasons, with the objectives of evaluating the performance of malt barley genotypes for grain yield, yield stability and grain quality traits. The experiment was carried out using Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD), replicated three times. Data were recorded and subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using Genstat 18th software package. Analysis of Genotype by Environment Interaction (GEI) was carried out using Additive Main effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model. ANOVA depicted significant variations among malt barley genotypes for all the traits considered. AMMI1 and AMMI2 analyses plainly assigned genotypes and environments in biplots graphs. G6 (Libra T95/Diamalt) and G11 (E.Acacia/ Defra//Atah92/Gob) were plotted at the far right hand side of the AMMI1 biplot graph, indicating their best performance in grain yield over the rest of the tested malt barley genotypes. G6 was plotted with Geregera 2014 and Kon 2014 environments while G11 was plotted with Estayish 2014 in AMMI2 biplot graph, showing their specific adaptability to the environments where they were plotted with. However, G11 was found susceptible to scald and was excluded from further evaluation. On the other hand, G6 was advanced to variety verification trial and evaluated for agronomic and quality traits at North and South Wollo major barley growing areas in 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons. G6 yielded above average grain yield and fulfilled the minimum TKW, HLW, PC and EC quality standards, and was relatively tolerant to Scald and Net Bloch diseases. Therefore, G6 (Libra T95/Diamalt) was found superior to the rest of the tested malt barley genotypes for both agronomic and malt quality traits under terminal moisture-stressed barley growing areas of North Wollo and similar environments, and officially released by the National Variety Releasing Committee (NVRC) for commercial production in 2019 cropping season with a local name Waro. Key words/phrases: AMMI, GEI, Grain quality, Malt barley
Yeheb (Cordeauxia edulis Hemsl.) is a multipurpose and evergreen shrub plant endemic to southeastern corner of Ethiopia and extends through central Somalia. In spite of its importance as a food security plant, there is no information on the genetic diversity of this plant. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze genetic diversity of C. edulis using inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Genetic diversity of six populations of yeheb, each represented by ten to twelve individuals, was analyzed. Eleven primers were tested and four primers were selected. The four primers amplified 37 loci of which 32 (86.49%) were polymorphic bands with eight polymorphic bands per primer. There were high levels of polymorphism at the population level with polymorphic bands ranging from 32.43% to 59.46%. The highest level of diversity with Jaccard’s similarity coefficient of 0.490 was observed between Gambare and Maned populations whereas the lowest level of diversity with similarity coefficient of 0.620 was observed between Godir Woyis and Mirafadle populations. The Nei’s gene diversity and Shannon’s information index were 0.278 and 0.423, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that within populations genetic variation (71.03%) was found to be much higher than among populations (28.97%). Gambare population showed the highest genetic diversity indicating that this population should be considered as the primary sites in designing conservation areas for this plant as well as for its future improvement. Key words/phrases: AMOVA, Cluster analysis, Genetic similarity, Multipurpose tree.
