Wild Relatives of Monocotyledonous Crops in the Ethiopian Flora
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2015-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
research focused on the current status, distribution and the uses of wild relatives of
monocotyledonous crops grown in Ethiopia. The data were collected in two phases. First, data
were gathered from literature and herbarium specimens and then field studies were undertaken
to collect voucher specimens and ethnobotanical data by using purposive sampling technique
and semi-structured interviews. The field study was conducted in six floristic regions of Ethiopia
(Gamo Gofa, Gojam, Harerge, Kefa, Shewa and Sidamo). Then after, identification of the
voucher specimens were made at the National Herbarium (ETH) of Addis Ababa University
using keys in the Flora volumes and authenticated specimens housed at ETH and confirmed by
the taxonomic experts. Data were entered in to Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, and then
descriptive statistics, informant consensus and ranking exercises were employed for the analysis.
From the Flora and other literature sources 17 species of monocotyledonous crop wild relatives
were recorded but at the National Herbarium 16 species had voucher specimens. The field
survey came up with seven (41.2%) species only, clearly showing the need for more field survey
and collection. Wild Colocasia esculenta and Sorghum arundinaceum are abundant in the field
while the two wild yam species (Dioscorea bulbifera and Dioscorea praehensilis) have declined
through time as affirmed by informants and the finding of these species in the wild environment
is very limited. More species of monocotyledonous crop wild relatives were obtained from Kefa
floristic region. Informant consensus analysis showed that Sorghum arundinaceum was cited by
22 (48.89 %) informants followed by Dioscorea bulbifera and Dioscorea praehensilis 20
(44.44%) and 18 (40.00%) respectively. Dioscorea praehensilis and Dioscorea bulbifera were
reported by informant as highly scarce. The main causes for the depletion of crop wild relatives
according to the informants are agricultural expansion and over grazing which scored 21 and 18
respectively. The monocotyledonous crop wild relatives include species that are of high potential
in crop breeding and for enhance utilization by the community.
Key words/phrases: Crop wild relatives, domestication, ethnobotany, monocotyledons, voucher
specimen.
Description
Keywords
Crop wild relatives, Domestication, Ethnobotany, Monocotyledons, Voucher specimen