Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Genetic erosion of Ethiopian tetraploid wheat landraces in Eastern Shewa, Central Ethiopia

  • Research article
  • Published:
Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Ethiopia is a centre of diversity and hosts rich genetic resources of tetraploid wheats. Through time, the wheat materials were subject to genetic erosion. Closer investigation was made to assess the status of loss, and identify the possible causes by studying two districts from East Shewa. Information from primary and secondary sources was reviewed and analysed. Farmers identified 26 tetraploid wheat landraces (21 from Akaki and 17 from Ejere), which were once widely grown in the area. Of these, only six were currently available. Compared to the formerly available number of landraces, the loss of diversity in the study area was estimated to be 77%. In the Ejere locality, the loss was 100% before the launching of the on farm landrace conservation programme, and for Akaki it was 95%. Major factors that contributed to the loss include: (1) introduction and expansion of bread wheat varieties; (2) expansion of tef; (3) lack of a mechanism to re-supply seeds of tetraploid wheat landraces; (4) decline in size of landholdings; (5) changes in land use and cropping patterns; (6) lack of policy support; and (7) expansion of improved tetraploid wheat varieties. The lessons from this study underscore the importance of strengthening the local seed supply system as a prerequisite for sustaining on farm conservation of landraces. Moreover, it is necessary to initiate diversity studies focusing on the distribution and status of tetraploid wheat landraces across the country. Complementing these by molecular analyses is essential in order to assess the genetic distinctness of the landraces.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bajracharya J, Rijal DK, Sthapit BR, Jarvis DI (2003) Genetic diversity of farmers’ named taro cultivars (Clocassia esculenta L. Schott) from Kaski, Nepal. In: On-farm management of agricultural biodiversity in Nepal. Proceedings of a National Workshop, 24–26 April 2001, Lume, Nepal. NARC, LI-BIRD and IPGRI

  • Bechere E, Tesemma T, Mitiku D (1994) Improved varieties of durum wheat in Ethiopia, Releases of 1966–1994. In: Research report series no. 2. Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Centre, Alemaya University of Agriculture. Debre Zeit, Ethiopia

  • Bechere E, Kebede H, Belay G (2000). Durum wheat in Ethiopia: an old crop in an ancient land. Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Bechere E, Belay G, Mitiku D, Merker A (1996) Phenotypic diversity of tetraploid wheat landraces from northern and north-central regions of Ethiopia. Hereditas 124:165–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belay G, Furuta Y (2001) Zymogram patterns of alpha- amylase isozymes in Ethiopian tetraploid wheat landraces: insight into their evolutionary history and evidence for gene flow. Genet Resour Crop Evol 48:507–512

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brush S (1999) Genetic erosion of crop populations in centres of diversity: a revision. In: Proceedings of the technical meeting on the methodology of the FAO World Information and Early Warning Systems on plant genetic resources. Prague, 21–23 June 1999. Rome, Italy, pp 34–44

  • Caillon S, Quero-Garcia J, Guarrino L (2004) Taro in Vanutu: towards a dynamic conservation strategy. In: LEISA, Magazine for low external input and sustainable agriculture, vol 20, pp 18–20

  • Cleaveland DA, Soleri D, Smith SE (1994) Do folk varieties have a role in sustainable agriculture? Incorporating folk varieties into the development of locally based agriculture may be the best approach. Bioscience 44: 740–751

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CSA (2002) Statistical abstract 2001. Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Central Statistical Authority, March 2002. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Demeke M, Kelly V, Jayne TS, Said A, Le Valee JC, Chen H (1998) Agricultural market performance and determinants of fertilizer use in Ethiopia. Grain Market Research Project, Working paper no. 10, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Engels JMM, Hawkes JG (1991) The Ethiopian gene centre and its genetic diversity. In: Engels JMM, Hawkes JG, Worede M (eds) Plant genetic resources of Ethiopia. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 23–41

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (1998) The state of the world’s plant genetic resources for food and agriculture, Rome, Italy

  • Feldman M, Lupton FGH, Miller TE (1995) Wheats Triticum spp. (Graminae-Triticinae). In: Symmonds SJ (eds) Evolution of crop plants. Longman Scientific & Technical, Harlow, pp 184–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Fowler C, Mooney P (1990) The threatened gene: food politics and the loss of genetic diversity, 2nd edn. The Lutterworth Press, Cambridge, Great Britain

    Google Scholar 

  • Friis-Hansen E (1999) Tanzania’s forgotten farmers. In: http://www.grain.org/seedling/

  • Friis-Hansen E (2000) Farmers’ management and use of crop genetic diversity in Tanzania. In: Almekinders C, de Boef W (eds) Encouraging diversity: the conservation and development of plant genetic resources. Intermediate Technology Publications, London, pp 66–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorfu A, Girma B, Girma K (2001) Present status and future direction of wheat research and development in Ethopia. In: Wall PC (ed) Wheat and Weeds: food and feed. Proceedings of two stakeholder workshop. pp 167–206

  • Hammer K, Knupffer H, Xhuveli L, Perrino P (1996) Estimating genetic erosion in landraces – two case studies. Genet Resour Crop Evol 43:329–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harlan HV, Martini ML (1936) Problems and results in barley breeding. In: Year book of agriculture. United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, pp 303–346

  • Harlan JR (1969) Ethiopia: a centre of diversity. Econ Bot 23:309–314

    Google Scholar 

  • Kebebew F, Tsehaye Y, McNeilly T (2001) Diversity of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) at in situ conservation sites in North Shewa and Bale, Ethiopia. J Agric Sci 136:383–392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mekbib H, Haile-Mariam G (1990) Evaluation and utilization of Ethiopian wheat germplasm. In: Srivastava JP, Damania AB (eds) Wheat genetic resources: meeting diverse needs. ICARDA, John Wiley & Sons, pp 179–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Messele T (2001) Multidisciplinary approach in estimating genetic diversity of Ethiopian tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) landraces. PhD thesis, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

  • Mitke XM (1999) Community management of plant genetic resources: a case study from North Shewa, Ethiopia. MSc thesis, Agricultural University of Norway, Aas, Norway

  • Negatu W, Mwangi W, Tesemma T (1994) Cultural practices and varietal preferences for durum wheat by farmers in Adaa, Lume and Gimbichu woredas of Ethiopia, Research report series no. 1. Alemaya University of Agriculture and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Pecetti L, Annicchiarico P, Damania AB (1992) Biodiversity in a germplasm collection of durum wheat. Euphytica 60:229–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Perrino P, Porceddu E (1990) Wheat genetic resources in Ethiopia and the Mediterranean region. In: Srivastava JP, Damania AB (eds) Wheat genetic resources: meeting diverse ends. ICARDA, John Wiley & Sons, pp 161–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Quiros CF, Brush SB, Douches DS, Zimmerer KS, Huestis G (1990) Biochemical and folk assessment of variability of Andean cultivated potatoes. Econ Bot 44:254–266

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rao SA, Bounphanousay C, Schiller JM, Alcantara AB, Jackson MT (2002) Naming of traditional rice varieties by farmers in the Lao P.D.R. Genet Resour Crop Evol 49:83–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soetomo D (1992) Sowing community seed banks in Indonesia. In: Cooper D, Vellvé R, Hobbelink H (eds) Growing diversity: genetic resources and local food security. London, Intermediate Technology Publications, pp 30–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesfaye T, Getachew B, Worede M (1991) Morphological diversity in tetraploid wheat landrace populations from the central highlands of Ethiopia. Hereditas 114:171–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesemma T, Mohamed J (1982) Review of wheat breeding in Ethiopia. Ethiop J Agric Sci 4(1):11–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesemma T (1991) Improvement of indigenous durum wheat landraces in Ethiopia. In: Engels JMM, Hawkes JG, Worede M (eds) Plant genetic resources of Ethiopia. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 288–295

    Google Scholar 

  • Tesemma T, Becker HC, Belay G, Mitiku D, Bechere E, Tsegaye S (1993) Performance of Ethiopian tetraploid wheat landraces at their collection sites. Euphytica 71:221–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tesemma T, Bechere E (1998) Developing elite durum wheat landrace selections (composites) for Ethiopian peasant farm use: raising productivity while keeping diversity alive. Euphytica 102:323–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teshome A, Baum BR, Fahrig L, Torrance JK, Arnason TJ, Lambert JD (1997) Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) landrace variation and classification in North Shewa and South Welo, Ethiopia. Euphytica 97:255–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsegaye B (1991) Community management of crop genetic resources in the enset-complex farming systems of southern Ethiopia: a case study from Sidamo region. MSc thesis, Agricultural University of Norway, Aas, Norway

  • Tsehaye Y (2004) Diversity of Ethiopian finger millet (Elusine coracana L.). MSc thesis, Agricultural University of Norway, Aas, Norway

  • Tunstall V, Teshome A, Torrance JK (2001) Distribution, abundance and risk of loss of sorghum landraces in four communities in North Shewa and South Welo, Ethiopia. Genet Resour Crop Evol 48:131–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vavilov NI (1992) Origin and geography of cultivated plants. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood D, Lenńe JM (1997) The conservation of agro biodiversity on-farm: questioning the emerging paradigm. Biodivers Conserv 6:109–129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Worede M (1983) Crop genetic resources in Ethiopia. In: Holmes JC, Tahir WM (eds) More food from better technology, FAO, Rome, pp 143–147

  • Worede M (1992) Ethiopia: a gene bank working with farmers. In: Cooper D, Vellvé R, Hobbelink H (eds) Growing diversity: genetic resources and local food security. Intermediate Technology Publications, London, pp 78–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Worede M, Mekbib H (1993) Linking genetic resources conservation to farmers in Ethiopia. In: de Boef W, Amanor K, Wellard K, Bebbington A (eds) Cultivating knowledge: genetic diversity, farmer experimentation and crop research. Intermediate Technology Publications, London, pp 78–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Worede M (1997) Ethiopian in situ conservation. In: Maxted N, Ford-Lloyd BV, Hawkes TG (eds), Plant genetic conservation: the in situ approach. Chapman & Hall, London, UK, pp 290–299

    Google Scholar 

  • Worede M, Tesemma T, Feyissa R (2000). Keeping diversity alive: an Ethiopian perspective. In: Brush SB (ed) Genes in the field: on-farm conservation of crop diversity. Lewis Publishers, IDRC and IPGRI, Boca Raton, pp 143–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeven AC (2002) Traditional maintenance breeding of landraces: 2 practical and theoretical considerations on maintenance of variations of landraces by farmers and gardeners. Euphytica 123:147–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of International Environment and Development Studies (Noragric), The Norwegian University of Life Sciences, (UMB), 5003, N-1432, Aas, Norway

    Bayush Tsegaye & Trygve Berg

Authors
  1. Bayush Tsegaye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Trygve Berg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bayush Tsegaye.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tsegaye, B., Berg, T. Genetic erosion of Ethiopian tetraploid wheat landraces in Eastern Shewa, Central Ethiopia. Genet Resour Crop Evol 54, 715–726 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-006-0016-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-006-0016-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation