In-Depth Field Characterization of Teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] Variation: From Agronomic to Sensory Traits

Abstract

Teff is an important food crop that serves to prepare Injera-flat-bread. It is cultivated worldwide and is particularly susceptible to lodging. A diverse collection of teff [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] populations was characterized for a wide range of traits, ranging from agronomic to final Injera sensory parameters, under well-irrigated Mediterranean spring conditions. The populations tested were collected from single plants presenting lodging resistance at the site of collection and their traits were characterized herein. An early type of lodging was observed, which was most likely triggered by a fast and sharp inflorescence weight increase. Other populations were ‘strong’ enough to carry the inflorescence during most of the grain-filling period, up to a point where strong lodging occurred and plants where totally bent to the ground. Three mixed color seed populations were established from a single plant. These were separated into ‘white’ and ‘brown’ seeds and were characterized separately under field conditions. The newly ‘brown’ populations appear to be the result of a rather recent non-self (external) airborne fertilization from a dark pollen donor. Some of these hybrids were found to be promising in terms of Injera sensory traits. The population of these studies might serve as breeding material. Integration between a wide range of parameters and the correlations obtained between agronomic and sensory traits might improve our ability to breed towards a “real world” better end-product.

CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated tetra‐allelic mutation of the ‘Green Revolution’ SEMIDWARF‐1 (SD‐1) gene confers lodging resistance in tef (Eragrostis tef)

“…Tef’s morphological characteristics including plant height, lengths of the panicle, the peduncle, the internodes (culm length), thickness of the basal internodes, angle of the panicle, tiller number, root characteristics and the relationship of these plant parts with each other are known to influence the degree of lodging in tef (Bayable et al ., 2020; Blösch et al ., 2020; Girma, 2019; Ketema, 1983; Van Delden et al ., 2010), besides environmental conditions and agronomic practices (Ben‐Zeev et al ., 2020; Merchuk‐Ovnat et al ., 2020). The reduction in culm length and increased thickness of the first and second basal internodes are likely factors for the increased lodging resistance observed for the sd‐1 tef lines.…”

From Traditional Breeding to Genome Editing for Boosting Productivity of the Ancient Grain Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter]

“…However, reducing plant height by inhibiting plant growth regulators or introducing dwarfing genes could lead to crop yield reductions [ 47 ]; hence, researchers have suggested targeting traits other than plant height to reduce yield loss due to lodging. A recent study by Merchuk-Ovnat, et al [ 49 ] suggested that early lodging is likely caused by a rapid increase in inflorescence weight [ 49 ]. This group also observed variations among the tested tef population in terms of lodging time and strength, with some populations possessing the strength to hold the inflorescence in the grain filling season up to a certain point before they were bent to the ground.…”