Genetic Variation for Grain Yield and Yield Related Traits in Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.)Trotter] under Moisture Stress and Non-Stress Environments

Wondewosen Shiferaw, Alemayehu Balcha, Hussen Mohammed

Department of Plant and Horticultural Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Jinka Agricultural Research Centre, South Agricultural Research Institute, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
School of Agricultural Science, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia.

DOI: 10.4236/ajps.2012.38124                

Abstract

Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.)Trotter] is an ancient and major cereal crop in Ethiopia. Increasing tef grain yield partly requires developing cultivars that are adapted to drought stress environment. An experiment was carried out using 18 tef genotypes grown during September to December, 2010, under two water supply environments (stress during grain filling period, and non-stress) to identify genetic variation, heritability and correlations of grain yield and yield related traits. Broad-sense heritability values under respective stress and non-stress environments were grain yield (g/m²) 0.80 and 0.89, total biomass (g/m²) 0.89 and 0.73, harvest index 0.69 and 0.79, panicle weight (g/plant) 0.93 and 0.92, and seed weight (g/plant) 0.96 and 0.86. The correlations of grain yield under respective stress and non-stress environments were total biomass r_p = 0.64, r_g = 0.70, and r_p = 0.48, r_g = 0.56, harvest index r_p = 0.70, r_g = 0.64, and r_p = 0.87, r_g = 0.90, panicle weight r_p = 0.98, r_g = 1.00, and r_p = 0.96, r_g = 1.00, and seed weight/plant r_p = 0.98, r_g = 1.00, and r_p = 0.90, r_g = 1.00. The present experiment showed that either grain yield per se, or seed weight/plant could be used to improve grain yield under stress and non-stress environments.

Keywords

Variability; Broad-Sense Heritability; Correlations; Moisture Stress; Eragrostis tef

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	S. Ketema, “Phenotypic Variations in Tef (Eragrostis tef) Germplasm-Morphological and Agronomic Traits,” A Catalon Technical Manual No. 6, Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa, 1993.
[2]	CSA (Central Statistical Authority), “Agricultural Sample Survey, 2001/02 Area and Production for Major Crops Private Peasant Holdings,” Vol. I, Statistical Bulletin No. 227, 2003.
[3]	B. Shiferaw, “A Study of Drought Tolerance in Tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter),” Ph.D. Thesis, University of London, London, 1991.
[4]	M. Ayele and S. Ketema, “Potentials of Physiological Traits in Breeding of Tef (Eragrostis tef) for Drought Resistance with Emphasis on Excised-Leaf Water Loss,” Proceedings of the Sixth Annual Conference of the Crop Science Society of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, 1995.
[5]	D. S. Falconer, “Introduction to Quantitative Genetics,” 3rd Edition, Longman Scientific and Technical, Essex, 1989.
[6]	N. Ahmed, M. A. Chowdhry, I. Khaliq and M. Maekawa, “The Inheritance of Yield and Yield Components of Five Wheat Hybrid Populations under Drought Conditions,” Indonesian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Vol. 8, 2007, pp. 53-59.
[7]	H. Khan, H. Rahman, H. Ahmed and H. Ali, “Magnitude of Heterosis and Heritability in Sunflower over Environments,” Pakistan Journal of Botany, Vol. 1, 2008, pp. 301-308.
[8]	K. Assefa, S. Ketema, H. Tefera, H. T. Nguyen, A. Blum, M. Ayele, G. Bai, B. Simane and T. Kefyalew, “Diversity among Germplasm Lines of the Ethiopian Cereal Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter],” Euphytica, Vol. 106, No. 1, 1999, pp. 87-97. doi:10.1023/A:1003582431039
[9]	F. Hundera, H. Tefera, K. Assefa and T. Kefyalew, “Genetic Variability and Correlation of Morpho-Agronomic Characters in Tef Landraces,” Tropical Science, Vol. 39, 1999, pp. 140-146.
[10]	A. Balcha, R. Gretzmacher and J. Vollmann, “Estimation of Genetic Parameters for Grain Yield and Yield Related Traits in Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter],” Journal of Genetics and Breeding, Vol. 57, 2003, pp. 251-257.
[11]	SAS Institute, “The SAS System for Windows, V6.12,” Carry, NC, 1996.
[12]	G. W. Burton, “Quantitative Inheritance in Pearl Millet (Pennisetum glaucum S. & H.),” Agronomy Journal, Vol. 43, No. 9, 1952, pp. 409-417. doi:10.2134/agronj1951.00021962004300090001x
[13]	A. Kumar, S. C. Misra, Y. P. Singh and B. P. S. Chauhan, “Variability and Correlation Studies in Triticale,” Journal of Maharashtra Agricultural University, Vol. 10, 1985, pp. 273-275.
[14]	S. Kibite, and L. W. Evans, “Causes of Negative Correlations between Grain Yield and Grain Protein Concentration in Common Wheat,” Euphytica, Vol. 33, No. 3, 1984, pp. 801-810. doi:10.1007/BF00021906
[15]	T. Tefera, H. Tefera, B. Simane and M. Tuinstra, “The Influence of Drought Stress on Yield of Tef (Eragrostis tef),” Tropical Science, Vol. 40, 2000, pp. 40-45.
[16]	M. Golabadi, A. Arzani and S. M. M. Maibody, “Evaluation of Variation among Durum Wheat F3 Families for Grain Yield and Its Components under Normal and Water-Stress Field Conditions,” Czech Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Vol. 41, 2005, pp. 263-267.
[17]	A. Nouri-Ganbalani, G. Nouri-Ganbalani and D. Hassanpanah, “Effects of Drought Stress Condition on the Yield and Yield Components of Advanced Wheat Genotypes in Ardabil,” Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment, Vol. 7, No. 3-4, 2009, pp. 228-234.
[18]	K. Al-Khatib and G. M. Paulsen, “Mode of High Temperature to Wheat during Grain Development,” Physiologia Plantarum, Vol. 61, No. 3, 1984, pp. 363-368. doi:10.1111/j.1399-3054.1984.tb06341.x
[19]	L. Shpiler and A. Blum, “Heat Tolerance to Yield and Its Components in Different Wheat Cultivars,” Euphytica, Vol. 51, No. 3, 1991, pp. 257-263. doi:10.1007/BF00039727
[20]	N. Khan and F. N. Naqvi, “Heritability of Morphological Traits in Bread Wheat Advanced Lines under Irrigated and Non-Irrigated Conditions,” Asian Journal of Agricultural Sciences, Vol. 3, 2011, pp. 215-222.
[21]	S. Taheri, J. Saba, F. Shekari and T. L. Abdullah, “Effects of Drought Stress Condition on the Yield of Spring Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Lines,” African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol. 10, 2011, pp. 18339-18348
[22]	M. A. Shah, and V. S. Deora, “Genetic Variability and Association Studies in Wheat for Grain Yield and Temperature Tolerance Parameters,” Indian Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. 36, 2002, pp. 172-176.
[23]	C. M. Donald and J. Hamblin, “The Biological Yield and Harvest Index of Cereals as Gronomic and Plant Breeding Criteria,” Advances in Agronomy, Vol. 28, 1976, pp. 336-405. doi:10.1016/S0065-2113(08)60559-3