Feyissa, Tileye (PhD)Nasir, Leyila2020-09-292023-11-182020-09-292023-11-182020-02-02http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/22494Lima bean is one of the five most important legume crops of the world in the genus Phaseolus. However, in Ethiopia it is one of the orphan crops and there is no improvement strategy of this crop. The main objective of this study was to investigate the ethnobotanical importance of lima bean in Gurage zone and the genetic diversity of collections from Ethiopia using ISSR marker. The field study was carried out in December 2018 focusing on 6 kebeles distributed in 3 Woredas within the zone by interviewing a total of 84 informants comprising 72 general informants and 12 key informants aged between 19 and 75 years. For molecular genetic diversity study, a total of 96 samples were collected from five administrative zones of Ethiopia. Genomic DNA was isolated using CTAB method and 13 ISSR primers of which eight amplified a total of 106 clear and reproducible bands. A total of 7 lima bean farmer varieties were found and all of the farmers give names to their varieties based on seed color and seed size. Lima bean was mainly cultivated as a sole crop in the field and intercropped in the home gardens in Gurage zone. Informants indicated that lima bean is an important food item mainly consumed in the form of ‘kik’ (split grains for sauce making) and ‘nifro’ (cooked grains). The farmers produce lima bean mainly for home consumption. The genetic diversity among lima bean populations indicated that West Wellega showed the highest genetic diversity (0.1864) whereas Jimma showed the lowest (1.614). AMOVA demonstrated highly significant (P=0.00) genetic diversity among and within populations. A considerable proportion, 66 % of the total genetic diversity was distributed among populations and 34% within population. In addition, the calculated Fst value was high (Fst=0.66), associated with a low gene flow value (Nm=0.27), indicating lower differentiation of the populations, which, in turn, implied no significant exchange of planting materials among farmers in the studied populations. Unweighted Pair-Group Methods Using Arithmetic Mean Averages (UPGMA), STRUCTURE and Principal Coordinate (PCoA) analysis showed very strong grouping among individuals collected from the same zone and geographically distinct zones. Overall, ethnobotanical knowledge and genetic diversity achieved from this study could be used as base line datafor lima bean conservation and improvement strategy in Ethiopia.enAccessionsAmovaGenetic DiversityFarmers’ VarietyPrincipal Coordinate AnalysisThesis