Agro-Morphological, Physiological and Yield Related Performances of Finger Millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.] (Poaceae) Accessions Evaluated for Drought Resistance under Field Condition
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Date
2012-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study was conducted on the understanding that a comprehensive study of the impact of drought stress and screening crop accessions for drought resistance is critical in evaluating the impact of climate change and climate variability on crop production. The study was conducted in Dhera Sub center of Kulumsa Agricultural Center, Oromia
Regional State, from July 10- December 13, 2011; to screen drought tolerance of 96
finger millet accessions (Eleusine coracana L. Gaertn.) for their performance under
severe drought condition. Data were collected for morphological trait and physiological
measurement. Significant difference (P<0.05) were recorded among accessions for
selected physiological, morphological and yield related traits used for screening finger
millet accessions for drought resistance. This implies there was variations among
accessions collected from different agroecology for different target traits and provide
opportunity to select accessions for different agroecology. (RWC), Chlorophyll Content
Index (CCI) and yield related parameters, such as tillers number (TN), productive tillers
(PT), seed weight per head and seed weight per plant. Based on high RWC, and CCI
reading, higher root shoot ratio, green leaf number, productive tillers, ear length, ear
number, grain yield per head and per plant. Based on the above parameters a total of 23 accessions were selected for their performance of drought stress tolerant and promoted to the next intensive physiological and yield evaluation. 238299, 238325, AAUFM-2, were the top three accessions which gave the highest grain yield per plant (84.5, 80 and 77.5(g), respectively. Overall this research should be further utilized for improvement of finger millet for semi-arid area of Ethiopia.
Key words/phrases: Finger mille; Drought stress; Accession; Morphological & Physiological traits
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Keywords
Finger mille; Drought stress; Accession; Morphological & Physiological traits