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Characterization of
Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) lines
for vegetative agromorphological traits at Arusha, Tanzania
Jane Muthoni
Kenya
Agricultural Research Institute. National Potato Research
Center, Tigoni. P. O. Box 338 Limuru, Kenya. Email:
jayney480@yahoo.com.
Accepted
24 November, 2009 |
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This study was conducted at Asian Vegetable Research and
Development Center, Regional Center for Africa ((AVRDC-
RCA), Madiira Experimental Research Station in Arusha,
Tanzania in 2005. The objective of the study was to document
vegetative agromophological traits in the Ethiopian mustard
lines held at AVRDC – RCA in order to identify lines with
useful traits that can be used as genitors for active
breeding; and to rationalize the conservation of this
species. Forty-seven lines of Ethiopian mustard were
characterized for vegetative agromophological traits.
Significant differences (P 0.05) were observed in most
quantitative traits with eighty eight percent of the
accessions flowering after 84 days from sowing. Among the
qualitative traits, great variation was seen in leaf
number/plant, leaf bloom and leaf blade blistering. There
was a strongly negative significant correlation between days
to 50% flowering and plant height with tall plants flowering
early. There was a positive non-significant correlation
between days to 50% flowering and leaf dimensions. There was
a significant negative correlation between days to 50%
flowering and leaves per plant with plants with many leaves
flowering early. There was a positive non-significant
correlation between leaf dimensions and leaves per plant.
Results from diversity dendrogram showed two main clusters
with three sub-clusters showing intra-species diversity.
These preliminary results indicate that there is a wide
variation in Ethiopian mustard collection held at AVRDC-RCA
based on vegetative agromorphological traits. Further work
should consider agromorphological characterization at
reproductive phase or molecular characterization in order to
get a clearer picture of this diversity.
Key
words:
Ethiopian mustard, Brassica carinata,
agromorphological characterization |
