The study explored the genetic and environmental variability in chickpea for food-feed traits. Seventy nine genotypes of 17 early-maturing desi genotypes, 19 early-maturing kabuli genotypes and 43 latematuring kabuli genotypes were evaluated for food-feed traits in 7 trials laid out in a randomized complete block design in 3 locations in Ethiopia. All trials showed wide genotypic ranges in various traits related to grain yield, straw yield and straw quality. Analysis of variance for individual trials showed significant (P<0.05) effects of genotype, location and their interaction on grain and straw yields, CP, IVOMD and NDF in all populations. Correlation analysis exhibited either positive or insignificant correlations with straw yield in all trials. The correlation between IVOMD and grain yield was insignificant in all trials. Grain yield correlated significantly (P<0.001) and positively to NDF in early maturing kabuli, however, the correlation was moderate (r= 0.396). Grain yield correlated either weakly or insignificantly to CP and Ca in the trials. The correlation between P and grain yield was ignored as the straw content of P was very small in all genotypes (<1.78 g/kg). Weak or absence of correlations between grain yields with straw traits would enable chickpea breeders to manipulate grain yield and straw traits independently. This presents an opportunity to identify parental genotypes for improving grain yield and straw traits for individual locations.

Multidimensional improvement programs of chickpea require screening of a large number of genotypes for straw nutritive value. The ability of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to determine the nutritive value of chickpea straw was identified in the current study. A total of 480 samples of chickpea straw representing a nation-wide range of environments and genotypic diversity (40 genotypes) were scanned at a spectral range of 1108 to 2492 nm. The samples were reduced to 190 representative samples based on the spectral data then divided into a calibration set (160 samples) and a cross-validation set (30 samples). All 190 samples were analysed for dry matter, ash, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre, acid detergent lignin, Zn, Mn, Ca, Mg, Fe, P, and in vitro gas production metabolizable energy using conventional methods. Multiple regression analysis was used to build the prediction equations. The prediction equation generated by the study accurately predicted the nutritive value of chickpea straw (R2 of cross validation > 0.68; standard error of prediction < 1%). Breeding programs targeting improving food-feed traits of chickpea could use NIRS as a fast, cheap, and reliable tool to screen genotypes for straw nutritional quality.

Background Sheka forest is the last indigenous forest in Ethiopia. Plant species are important for the production of different honey types used for both consumption and healing purpose. Healing purposes of plant species used for honey production has not been well documented. Documentation of the community honey based ethno pharmacological knowledge can provide huge significance in the process of subjective interpretation. Materials and Methods The study employed ethnographic descriptive and explanatory research design which participate 40 healers from Sheka forest, Ethiopia Quantitative analytical tools such as relative frequency citation (RFC), use value (UV), cultural importance index (CI), relative importance (RI), frequency index (FI) and informants consensus factor (ICF). Results Six major plant species have been identified in the study area. Honey made from Scheflera abyssinica (Geteme) had higher relative importance (1.67), relative frequency citations (0.55), citation index and frequency index (100). Honey from Vernonia amygdaline (Girawa) was used basically to treat human ailments such as diarrhea and Tonsillitis. Honey from Ficus vasta (Sholla) was primarily used to treat coughing, itching and allergy. Syzgiu guineense (Dokima) and Guizotia schimperi (Meskel Abeba) honeys were primarily used as cosmetics and to protect skin from excessive cold. Scheflera abyssinica honey was used for treat of almost all of the above listed ailments. Ailments like cosmetics and excessive cold, Tonsillitis and Itching and Allergy had a higher Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) of 0.86, 22 0.82 and 0.80, respectively. Wound and Foot and Mouth diseases were the only two livestock ailments treated by five different honey types. Conclusion Six plant species used for medicinal honey production that treated eight ailments have been identified. Scheflera abyssinica (Geteme) honey used for the treatment of eight human ailments. Honey treatment for Tonsillitis and itching and allergy had a higher Informant Consensus Factor.

The study was conducted in three different districts Gumer, Enemornaener and Cheha Woreda on awareness and perception of community on fishery and aquaculture production

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