The present study was conducted to assess the magnitude of genetic variability, heritability in broad sense and genetic advance among thirteen mung bean accessions for growth and grain yield characters. The study was conducted at the Haramaya University Rare research site and Hirna research site during the 2012/2013 cropping season. Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications was used for both locations. Each genotype was planted on a 1.2 X 2m plot consisting of four rows, which accommodates ten plants per row and thus 40 plants per plot. The result showed that number of primary branches, pods per plant, seeds per plant and harvest index had high genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation at both locations. For all characters, phenotypic coefficient of variation was higher than genotypic coefficient of variation indicating that there was environmental influence on these traits. The combined results for heritability showed that the high estimates of heritability and genetic advance were scored for seeds per plant and seed yield indicating that these characters were under the control of additive genetic effects. High genetic advance expected as percent of mean coupled with high heritability was observed for number of primary branches at Hirna, number of seeds per plant at Rare and number of secondary branches, pods per plant and 100seed weight for combined analysis. The present findings could be useful for establishing selection criteria for high seed yield in the mung bean breeding.

The objective of this review is to assess the importance of Gloriosa superba as a source of colchicine and action to taken on the conservation of the plant in Ethiopian. Gloriosa superba L. is an important plant distributed in different countries which is known by its valuable chemical called colchicine. Due to this, the crop is marketable worldwide especially exported from India. It is also used for various ailments treatment both traditionally and in modern pharmacology. In plants, it is used to inhibit cell division and form chromosome duplication (polyploidy) which is very useful for changing agronomic traits of crops. So, this chemical has implication in mutation breeding of crop species where the traits are modified as chromosome number is duplicated. However, in Ethiopia, little is known on its ethno-botanical importance and there is no study showing its chemical constituent and preservation mechanisms. There is Gloriosa superba in Ethiopia, but attention wasn't given to it and colchicine chemical which is expensive in market was not extracted for different purpose. A great attention is required from botanists, biotechnologists, policy makers and conservationists to scale up the values of this plant.

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Background: Taro has been cultivated mainly and extensively in dense populated areas of South, Southwest and Western parts of Ethiopia. It has been used as a food source which minimizes food gaps when other crops are not on the field. The present study was carried out in Abaya Woreda to assess agricultural practices and traditional preservation of taro (Colocasia spp.). Materials and methods:Data was collected by cluster analysis survey methods from purposively selected three kebeles such as Bochessa, Kalaltu and Guangua Badiya, based up on the cultivation practice of taro and twenty house hold farmers were selected from each kebele by the guidance of DA (Developmental Agencies). Results:The agronomic practices of these crops shows that there where variation between the kebeles. Godare Gurati is highly cultivated in Bochessa kebele (58.3%) and in Guangua Badiya (41.7%). Godare Duri (66.7%) and Yitri Filatama (85.7%) are highly cultivated by the farmers of Kalaltu kebele. Taro is propagated highly both by old and young corm in Bochessa kebele as 71.4% of farmers responded. Farmers of Kalaltu kebele propagate taro crops mostly by young corms (50%) but very low in Bochessa kebele (10%). Farmers in Bochessa kebele (61.1%) practiced both mono-cropping and inter cropping systems. Intercropping system is much known in Kalaltu kebele (73.7%) and mono-cropping system (52.2%) of taro crops is highly known than the other kebeles. Seventy five percent of the farmers in Kalaltu kebele plant taro crops randomly without taking care for distance. Conclusion:As result shows people of the study area have traditional agronomic practices. However there were no any scientific guidance, all farmers are practicing a traditional cultivation way which needs important attention to increase modern cultivation practices for improvement of yield and crops management system

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the possible food security crops which provide high yield and quality product in short period of time. Due to the lack of clearly known best varieties of it, its adoption to farmers is very less. The present study was conducted to assess the type of potato farmers prefer, adoption of released potato varieties and its management practices in west and Kellem Wollega Zones, Ethiopia. Survey was carried out in Ayira, Yubdo, Hawa Gelan, Dale Wabara and Dale Sadi woreda where four kebeles were purposively selected based on the potato farming potential. Open and close ended interview questions were generated for 384 selected representative farmers. Data was analyzed by SPSS software. The result showed that, 97.6% of the farmers have willing to farm potato. 47.3% and 22.7% of them experienced to farm local potato (land race) and released potato varieties, respectively. Farmers use landrace potato due to less awareness to released potato and accessibility of local potato. 70.1% of farmers responded there is no adoption of released potato in the area. Factors hindering potato farming in the study area are potato disease and lack of released potato. The least method used by farmers is use of resistant potato. Generally, there is scarcity of released potato seeds indicating that there is no its adoption in the study site. This problem is enforcing farmers to use local potato varieties which may not resist above stated hindering factors and make farmers to face food insecurity problems and economic reduction. Therefore, improving locally existing potato or attracting the improved potato varieties from elsewhere to the zones may be a solution of its adoption.

Background: From a food security perspective, yam is an important crop in the tropics and subtropics, where it produced both as a subsistence crop and on a commercial scale. This study aimed to assess the ethnobotanical knowledge and nutritional values of two domestic yams in Abaya Woreda, southern Ethiopia.Methods: Data were collected from sixty informants in three kebeles. From each kebele, the most productive top twenty farmers were selected by researchers based on their potential cultivation of yams with the assistance of Development Agency (DA). Ethnobotanical data were collected by semistructured interviews and edible tubers and bulbils of these crops were collected for nutritional analysis at the Hawassa University Food Laboratory. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using MS-Excel and SPSS. Results:The results showed that farmers of Abaya Woreda have indigenous knowledge about forms of consumption, meal preferences, medicinal use, storage mechanisms and propagation systems of yams. Significant variation was observed in knowledge of edible plant parts and methods of tuber preservation for propagation in the study area. Similarly, the nutritional content of the crops showed variation in some of the measured parameters. For instance, Dioscorea bulbifera had higher carbohydrate content and total energy although it was the lower in moisture content. Conclusions:The present study has attempted to document ethnobotanical knowledge and nutritional values of two domestic Dioscorea species in Abaya Woreda, which should get attention by farmers, researchers, governmental and nongovernmental bodies in order to increase the food potential and indigenous knowledge in the study area. For the results presented here may help to conserve yam germplasm and create awareness about the importance of these crops to alleviate food insecurity.

Haricot bean (Phaseolus vulagris L.) is an annual crop cultivated for food as it has high protein content. The objective of this study was to evaluate yield and yield-related traits of haricot bean varieties at the Dollo University research site. Five released and four local haricot bean varieties were used on 3 × 2 m (6 m2) experimental plots using randomized complete block design with three replications. Data pertaining to agronomic traits and yield performance of each variety were recorded and analyzed using R software version 4.0.5 and Microsoft Excel 2010. One way multivariate analysis showed a significant difference (p <0.05) in thousand seed weight. SAB-632, Local-4 (‘Burree’) and SAB-736 showed higher yield than the other haricot bean varieties. They are also high in all agronomic traits except SAB-736. Thousand seed weight and yield were high and significant with positively correlated to each other. Plant height had a high and significant positive correlation with the number of branches and seeds per plant. Generally, it is possible to say that haricot bean varieties, SAB-632 and Local-4(‘Burree’) are preferable in yield at the Dambi Dollo University research site according to the present findings. Therefore, it is good if these two haricot bean varieties are practised for multiplication at Dambi Dollo Research site and other related agro ecologies.

Enset (Enset ventricosum) is a perennial herbaceous root crop with long broad leaves and bulky pseudo-stem. It is one of the important food secure plant due to drought resisting property. This research was conducted with the objective of assessing indigenous knowledge of enset farming and its consumption experienced in Kercha district, west Guji zone, and Oromia region of Ethiopia. Four kebeles were selected purposively based on the enset vegetation coverage and 80 informants were selected by stratified sampling method. Data was collected using open questionnaires, interview and field observation and it was analyzed using SPSS software and Microsoft Excel. The present result showed that 21 enset varieties have been identified and not all of them were preferred for cultivation. Instead, farmers select and maintain these local varieties that best meet their needs using their indigenous knowledge. This selection was mostly based on the criteria farmers used to use. Accordingly, 25% of them based on resistance to pest and disease, and 22.5% of them based on maturation period are the most criteria the farmers would always consider. Although most farmers cultivate enset in the home garden, the mode cultivation was varying from highland to lowland. For example 82,.75% of respondents use mono-cropping and 17.25% of them use the intercropping system in the highland area while, in Midland areas, 86.25% of respondents use intercropping and 13.75% of them use mono-cropping mode of cultivation. However, it is used for many purposes the present result showed that enset is cultivated mainly for food as 63.75% of respondents’ feedback in the district where the corm and the pseudo-stem are the most important sources of food. The types of food from these parts are locally known ‘Kocho or Warqe’, ‘Bulla or Haruro’ and ‘Amicho or Ham'o’. From these, the major products prepared are locally known as are 'quncisa,' 'wodhamo', 'hocoqo' and 'qixa'. Hence, despite the enset has the potential for food security and income generation which is known by indigenous people, it has been cultivating by the traditional farming system. So, further investigation is required to scale up the knowledge of farmers to the modern farming system.