Authors :
Benjamin Chirambiwa; Everton Jaison; Sikhangezile Mbondiya; Nathan Sangombe; Daiton Mawira
Volume/Issue :
Volume 9 - 2024, Issue 2 - February
Google Scholar :
http://tinyurl.com/mtxk7ter
Scribd :
http://tinyurl.com/4rz3p6kv
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10700590
Abstract :
Regardless of its ability to curb food and
nutrition insecurity, finger millet has been overlooked in
the mainstream of crop improvement research resulting
in few varieties on the Zimbabwean market.
Characterisation and improvement of available
genotypes through research are needed to improve
finger millet productivity. The study aimed to assess the
agronomic and nutritional performance of 64-finger
millet lines in the Mashonaland East Province of
Zimbabwe. The experiment was carried out in the
2022/2023 summer season at two sites; Kushinga
Phikelela Agricultural College and Grasslands Research
Station. The experimental design used was the square
alpha lattice with 8 blocks by 8 entries, four rows for
each accession, replicated twice. The combined analysis
showed a significant difference (P< 0.001) in eight out of
the eighteen variables of the 64 genotypes. These
included the number of days to 50% flowering, plant
height, number of basal tillers, number of days to
maturity, number of productive tillers, number of ears
harvested per plant, 1000 seed weight and Ca
concentration.
There was significant Genotype + Genotype x
Environment interaction (GGE) in the number of ears
harvested per plant and the number of days to 50%
flowering (P< 0.001 and P< 0,005 respectively). The
principal component analysis revealed that the first 9
components with an Eigen value of greater than 0.5010
contributed to about 91.9% of the total variability. Plant
count per plot, plant height, basal tillers, productive
tillers, 1000-grain weight, productive tillers per plant,
days to maturity, per cent plant stand at harvesting,
number of ears harvested per plant, number of ears
harvested per plot, dry ear weight, grain yield, and
biomass yield were the most important traits
contributing to the overall variability thus showing great
levels of genetic diversity. The researcher recommends
the extension of the multi-locational trials to other
agroecological regions of Zimbabwe for variety niche
matching. Top performing genotypes, ICFV 192455,
ICFV 192433, and ICFV 192420 should be improved and
released for their grain yield and high calcium content.
Keywords :
Finger Millet, Genetic Diversity, GGE Biplot, Principal Component Analysis.
Regardless of its ability to curb food and
nutrition insecurity, finger millet has been overlooked in
the mainstream of crop improvement research resulting
in few varieties on the Zimbabwean market.
Characterisation and improvement of available
genotypes through research are needed to improve
finger millet productivity. The study aimed to assess the
agronomic and nutritional performance of 64-finger
millet lines in the Mashonaland East Province of
Zimbabwe. The experiment was carried out in the
2022/2023 summer season at two sites; Kushinga
Phikelela Agricultural College and Grasslands Research
Station. The experimental design used was the square
alpha lattice with 8 blocks by 8 entries, four rows for
each accession, replicated twice. The combined analysis
showed a significant difference (P< 0.001) in eight out of
the eighteen variables of the 64 genotypes. These
included the number of days to 50% flowering, plant
height, number of basal tillers, number of days to
maturity, number of productive tillers, number of ears
harvested per plant, 1000 seed weight and Ca
concentration.
There was significant Genotype + Genotype x
Environment interaction (GGE) in the number of ears
harvested per plant and the number of days to 50%
flowering (P< 0.001 and P< 0,005 respectively). The
principal component analysis revealed that the first 9
components with an Eigen value of greater than 0.5010
contributed to about 91.9% of the total variability. Plant
count per plot, plant height, basal tillers, productive
tillers, 1000-grain weight, productive tillers per plant,
days to maturity, per cent plant stand at harvesting,
number of ears harvested per plant, number of ears
harvested per plot, dry ear weight, grain yield, and
biomass yield were the most important traits
contributing to the overall variability thus showing great
levels of genetic diversity. The researcher recommends
the extension of the multi-locational trials to other
agroecological regions of Zimbabwe for variety niche
matching. Top performing genotypes, ICFV 192455,
ICFV 192433, and ICFV 192420 should be improved and
released for their grain yield and high calcium content.
Keywords :
Finger Millet, Genetic Diversity, GGE Biplot, Principal Component Analysis.
