Performance of Ethiopian tetraploid wheat landraces at their collection sites

Two hundred and three site specific pure line agrotypes, derived from 2000 entries of ten tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum) landrace populations collected at four localities in the central highlands of Ethiopia, were evaluated for three years at their respective sites of collection (Cheffe Donsa, Bichena) and at Akaki and Debre Zeit. At each site three adjacent yield trials corresponding to the three seed colours of brown, white, and purple, as found among the landraces were conducted. There were statistically significant differences for yield, 1000-kernel weight, days to heading and days to maturity between agrotypes within each trial group at all sites. Statistically significant differences for plant height were also observed in most of the trial groups. The agrotype x year interactions were statistically significant for 1000-kernel weight, days to heading and days to maturity within each trial group while they varied with test site for yield and plant height. No significant correlations were observed between yield and 1000-kernel weight in most of the trial groups. On the other hand, correlations between other agronomic traits varied with trial groups and test sites. Pure line agrotypes that have significantly outyielded the local check at the respective collection sites have been identified for use by farmers in those localities or for further improvement of the landraces.