Morphological and Biochemical Diversity Analysis in Chickpea (Cicer Arietinum) Landraces of Ethiopia
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Date
2000-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Fifty landrace populations (1500 individuals) of chickpea (Cicer arielilllllJl L.) collected from ten different
chickpea growing regions of Ethiopia were studied for variation of seven qualitative and ten quantitati~e
traits. Shannon and Weaver diversity indices (H') were calculated for the qualitative characters,
populations, regions of origin and altitude classes. The highest mean diversity index pooled over
characters was observed in collections from Shewa (0.67±0.08) and Arsi-Bale (0.65±0.08) collections and
the lowest mean for those from Hararghe-Sidamo and Garno Gofa (0.59±0.09 and 0.56±0.IO,
respectivcly). The over-all mean diversity index for Ethiopia in this study was 0.64±0.OS. Relatively
higher mean diversity index for traits pooled over the altitude classes were recorded in the higher altitude
classes. The analysis of variance f6r the individual traits shows that much of the variation was within
population and altitude groups. Multivariate methods including'cluster and principal component analysis
were used to asses the pattern of variation using the ten quantitative characters. Cluster analysis using
Ward's method grouped the fifty populations sampled from the ten regions into seven clusters, and into
another eight clusters using both the qualitative and quantitative characters together. The Mahalanobis's
distance (D') analysis also revealed the existence of considerable variability among the chickpea
populations, and hence parental lines could be selected for hybridization and improvement of the crop.
The isozyme test using ten different enzyme systems was not able to reveal any variation between the
chickpea accessions, indicating a need for the use of more sensitive genetic markers in future studies. As
indicated by the t-test undertaken for cmde protein content of the landraces, significant variations were
observed which might indicate a niche for improvement.
Key words: Chickpea (Cicer arielillllmj, landraces (farmers' varieties), morphological traits, genetic
diversity, isozyme
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Keywords
Chickpea (Cicer arielillllm), landraces (farmers, morphological traits, genetic diversity ;isozyme