Performance of tef [ Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] genotypes in moisture‐deficit areas of Amhara region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Tef ( Eragrostis tef ) is one of the most important staple food crops in the Amhara region, where it takes the largest share of annual area coverage. However, the productivity of the crop is far below its genetic potential. Limited availability of stable and high‐yielding improved varieties coupled with traditional crop production practices has constrained tef productivity. Twenty early‐maturing tef genotypes were evaluated across seven environments using randomized complete block design with three replications to estimate the magnitude of genotype by environment interaction for grain yield and to identify and release stable and high‐yielding tef genotypes with desirable agronomic traits. for moisture‐deficit areas of the Amhara region. The combined analysis of variance for grain yield revealed a highly significant difference ( p  ≤ 0.01) among genotypes, environments, and genotype by environment interaction. Among the tested genotypes, G16 (DZ‐Cr‐409 × DZ‐Cr‐387; RIL122) was found to be the highest yielding genotype with a mean grain yield of 2531 kg ha ⁻¹ and showed 20.3% and 35.1% grain yield advantages of over the standard and local checks, respectively. The results of genotype × genotype by environment (GGE) biplot analysis showed that among the tested genotypes, genotype‐16 was found to be an ideal genotype at all tested environments. Among the test environments, Sirinka 2023, followed by Cheffa 2022, was found to be the ideal environments to select widely adapted tef genotypes. In conclusion, considering its stability status, high‐yielding potential, and other desirable agronomic traits, G16 has been officially released with a local name “Zati” for moisture‐deficit tef‐producing areas of the Amhara region and similar agro‐ecologies in the country.