Response of Kale (Brassica Oleracea L) Crop to cyanobacterial Biofertilizer in Ziway Area, Ethiopia

Gradual soil fertility depletion is resulted in declining agricultural production and  productivity  generally in Ethiopia. It is obviously understood that commercial fertilizers have helped to improve yield of crops. Use of this inputs among smallholder farmers are very low in the study area due to higher costs, accessibility and crop nutritional quality reduction. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of cyanobacterial biofertilizer on yield and nutritional quality of kale (Brassica Oleracea L.) crop in Ziway. Five treatments: liquid cyanobacterial, dry cyanobacteria, urea, cattle manure and control were laid out in RCBD with three replications. All necessary data from each experimental treatment were collected and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA).The results showed that plant height, leaf number and leaf nitrogen have increased when liquid cyanobacterial biofertilizer was applied by 13.97cm, 2.68, and 3.07% over the control, respectively whereas the application of dry cyanobacterial biofertilizer has increased the plant shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, leaf area, Leaf phosphorus and plant beta carotene by  341.8 g, 26.8g, ,2089.1 cm, 2 2.43 g, , 0.187 mg kg-1 and 0.9 µg/g over the control, respectively. Therefore, the use of cyanobacterial as a biofertilizer should be recommended as an alternative source of inorganic N fertilizer to increase yield and nutritional quality of kale crop for medium and small-sized farms in the study area. Keywords: Anabaena spp, Biofertilizer, β-carotene content, Cyanobacteria, Kale crop and N-fixin

Rapid Generation Advance in Chickpea for Accelerated Breeding Gain in Ethiopia: : What Speed Breeding Imply?

አህፅሮት  ሽምብራ በሀገራችን በተለያዩ ስነ-ምህዳራትና የአዘማመር ስርዓት ውስጥ የሚመረት ሰብል ነው፡፡ የሰብሉ የመድረሻ ተለያይነት በዓለም ላይ ከ80 አስከ 180 ቀናት ይደርሳል፡፡ እያደገ ያለውን ህዝብና የተለያዩ ፍላጎቶችን ለመመለስ የሰብል ማሻሻያ ስርዓቱ ጊዜን በቆጠበ ሁኔታ መከወን የሚያስችሉ ዘዴዎችን መጠቀሙ አንዱ የችግሩ መፍቻ መንገድ ነው፡፡ በዚህ ጥናት ላይ የሰብሉን ማሻሻያ ለማፍጠን እንዴት በርካታ ትውልዶቸን በአንድ ዓመት ማግኘት እንደሚቻል ቀርቧል፡፡ አስር የሚሆኑ ምርት ላይ ያሉ የሽምብራ ዝርያዎችን ከሌሎች ዘጠኝ በዘመናዊ ላብራቶሪ ልየታ ድርቅን የሚቋቋም ባህሪ ያላቸውን ቤተሰቦቸ በማዳቀል ሂደት ወደ 46 ግንኙነቶችን መፍጠር የተቻለበትንና ትውልዶችን ማፍጠንንና ማግኘትን በትኩረት ተከናውኗል፡፡ ዓላማውም ድርቅን የሚቋቋሙና ምርታማ ትውልዶችን ፍተሻ ማድረግ ሲሆን ይህንንም ባጭር ጊዜ ውስጥ ለመከወን አዲስ የነጠላ ዘር ትውልድ ማሻገሪያ ስርዓትን ከቀድሞ ደራሽ እምቡጦች ጋር በማቀናጀት አራት ትውልዶችን በዓመት ማግኘት የተቻለበትን ሁኔታ ማረጋገጥ ተችሏል፡፡ ይህ ትውልዶችን የማስኬድ ሁኔታ በአንድ አመት ጊዜ ውስጥ በወረርና የደብረዘይት ማእከላት የሙከራ ማሳዎችን በመጠቀም የተሰራ ጥናት ሲሆን በውጤቱም ቀድሞ ደራሽ እምቡጦችን ለማግኘት ከ80-85 ቀናት ብቻ የፈጀ ነበር፡፡ ትውልዶቹ የመካከለኛ መድረሻ ጊዜ ያለው ውስጥ የሚመደቡ ሲሆን በዚህ ስሌት የዝርያ መልቀቂያ ጊዜውን ከተለመደው 10-12 ዓመታት 50 በመቶ በመቀነስ የአማራጭ ቴክኖሎጂ አቅርቦትና ምርታማነት እንዲሁም አዋጭነት ላይ ከፍተኛ አስተዋፅዖ ያለው ውጤት አመላክቷል፡፡ ይህ ቴክኒክ በቶሎ የመድረሻ ዕድሜ ያላቸው ላይ ተፅዕኖው አስከ ስድስት ትውልድ በዓመት ማስገኘት እንደሚያስችል የተሰላ ሲሆን በቀላሉ የሚለመድ፣ በጥቂት የመዋዕለ ነዋይ፣ ፋሲሊቲና ክህሎት በትሮፒካል ንፍቀ-ክበብ ውስጥ አገልግሎት ላይ ሊውል የሚችልና ቴክኖሎጂ ለቀቃን ብሎም መተካካትን የሚያፋጥን፤ በዚህም ረገድ የምርታማነት እመርታን የሚያስገኝ የተሻሻለ ዘዴ እንደሆነ መገንዘብ ተችሏል፡፡ Abstract Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is grown in a wide range of environments and cropping systems and its maturity ranges from 80 to 180 days. Time-saving breeding is key to responding to the dynamics of demands and environmental changes. The study employed the Single Seed Descent (SSD) technique in advancing the generation, supported by the independent observation of chickpea seed germination and seedling establishment in the seed lab. The filial generation nursery was derived from 46 initial crosses with the aim of enhancing drought and yield response of otherwise commercial 10 cultivars. Between 5 December 2017 and 20 December 2018 we were able to obtain four rounds of working chickpea seeds (F2-F5) using two research locations. The average time required to obtain early matured pods varied from 80 to 85 days. Harvesting four generations in an annual cycle enables a saving of at least 50% time in variety release, which has the potential to double the rate of genetic gain and variety replacement. As long as measures are taken to reduce risk associated with extreme weather events or animal damage, this low-cost rapid cycling approach could be adapted for large-scale breeding programs to fast track the development of more productive varieties

Breeding Progress for Grain Yield and Yield Related Characters of Kabuli Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in Ethiopia Using Regression Analysis

The genetic progress in seed yield and yield related characters of 10 kabuli chickpea varieties released by the Ethiopian Chickpea Crop Improvement Program from 1974 to 2017 was assessed during the main cropping season. The varieties were evaluated in the Randomized Complete Block design at Debrezeit Agricultural Research Center experimental research farm. The overall increase in seed yield over the local check, DZ-10-4, was estimated to be 739 kg/ha (38.9%). On station grain yield increased from 1900 to 3250 kg/ha during the last 43 years and the overall increase in seed yield of the Arerti variety over the oldest variety DZ-10-4 was estimated to be 1350 kg/ha or 71.1%. Based on the regression analysis, the estimated average annual rate of increase in grain yield potential was 10.87kg/ha/year with an annual relative genetic change of 0.57%/year. Genotypic change was an important source for increased grain yield potential during the studied period. Positive genetic gains were observed for the yield traits (grain yield and yield components). The average cumulative gains over 43 years of breeding was, therefore, 445.67 kg (23.37%) for seed yield, and 30.26 g for hundred seeds weight (297.7%). Hundred seed weight revealed the most dramatic response to breeding for the last 43 years. It is, therefore, strategically advisable that breeding efforts in the future should give due attention to yield related traits of kabuli chickpea varieties

Affordable and robust phenotyping framework to analyse root system architecture of soil-grown plants

The phenotypic analysis of root system growth is important to inform efforts to enhance plant resource acquisition from soils. However, root phenotyping still remains challenging due to soil opacity, requiring systems that facilitate root system visibility and image acquisition. Previously reported systems require costly or bespoke materials not available in most countries, where breeders need tools to select varieties best adapted to local soils and field conditions. Here, we report an affordable soil‐based growth (rhizobox) and imaging system to phenotype root development in greenhouses or shelters. All components of the system are made from locally available commodity components, facilitating the adoption of this affordable technology in low‐income countries. The rhizobox is large enough (~6000 cm2 visible soil) to not restrict vertical root system growth for most if not all of the life cycle, yet light enough (∼21 kg when filled with soil) for routine handling. Support structures and an imaging station, with five cameras covering the whole soil surface, complement the rhizoboxes. Images are acquired via the Phenotiki sensor interface, collected, stitched and analysed. Root system architecture (RSA) parameters are quantified without intervention. RSA of a dicot (chickpea, Cicer arietinum L.) and a monocot (barley, Hordeum vulgare L.) species, which exhibit contrasting root systems, were analysed. Insights into root system dynamics during vegetative and reproductive stages of the chickpea lifecycle were obtained. This affordable system is relevant for efforts in Ethiopia and other low‐ and middle‐income countries to sustainably enhance crop yields and climate resilience

A common mechanism for efficient N2O reduction in diverse isolates of nodule-forming bradyrhizobia

Bradyrhizobia are abundant soil bacteria, which can formnitrogen-fixing symbioses with leguminous plants, including important crops such as soybean, cowpea and peanut. Many bradyrhizobia can denitrify, but studies have hitherto focused on a few model organisms. We screened 39 diverse Bradyrhizobium strains, isolated from legume nodules. Half of them were unable to reduce N2O, making them sources of this greenhouse gas. Most others could denitrify NO3 − to N2. Timeresolved gas kinetics and transcription analyses during transition to anaerobic respiration revealed a common regulation of nirK, norCB and nosZ (encoding NO2 −, NO and N2O reductases), and differing regulation of napAB (encoding periplasmic NO3 − reductase). A prominent feature in all N2-producing strains was a virtually complete hampering of NO3 − reduction in the presence of N2O. In-depth analyses suggest that this was due to a competition between electron transport pathways, strongly favouring N2OoverNO3 − reduction. In a natural context, bacteria with this feature would preferentially reduce available N2O, produced by themselves or other soil bacteria,making them powerful sinks for this greenhouse gas. One way to augment such populations in agricultural soils is to develop inoculants for legume crops with dual capabilities of efficient N2-fixation and efficient N2O reduction.A common mechanism for efficient N2O reduction in diverse isolates of nodule-forming bradyrhizobiapublishedVersio

Host Range and Symbiotic Effectiveness of N2O Reducing Bradyrhizobium Strains

Emissions of the potent greenhouse gas N2O is one of the environmental problems associated with intensive use of synthetic N fertilizers, and novel N2O mitigation strategies are needed to minimize fertilizer applications and N2O release without affecting agricultural efficiencies. Increased incorporation of legume crops in agricultural practices offers a sustainable alternative. Legumes, in their symbiosis with nitrogen fixing bacteria, rhizobia, reduce the need for fertilizers and also respond to the need for increased production of plant-based proteins. Not all combinations of rhizobia and legumes result in efficient nitrogen fixation, and legume crops therefore often need to be inoculated with compatible rhizobial strains. Recent research has demonstrated that some rhizobia are also very efficient N2O reducers. Several nutritionally and economically important legumes form root nodules in symbiosis with bacteria belonging to Bradyrhizobium. Here, the host-ranges of fourteen N2O reducing Bradyrhizobium strains were tested on six legume hosts; cowpea, groundnut, mung bean, haricot bean, soybean and alfalfa. The plants were grown for 35 days in pots in sterile sand supplemented with N-free nutrient solution. Cowpea was the most promiscuous host nodulated by all test strains, followed by groundnut (11 strains) and mungbean (4 strains). Three test strains were able to nodulate all these three legumes, while none nodulated the other three hosts. For cowpea, five strains increased the shoot dry weight and ten strains the shoot nitrogen content (pairwise comparison; p<0.05). For groundnut the corresponding results were three and nine strains. The symbiotic effectiveness for the different strains ranged from 45% to 98% in cowpea and 34% to 95% in groundnut, relative to fertilized controls. The N2O reduction capacity of detached nodules from cowpea plants inoculated with one of these strains confirmed active N2O reduction inside the nodules. When released from senescent nodules such strains are expected to also act as sinks for N2O produced by denitrifying organisms in the soil microbial community. Our strategy to search among known N2O-reducing Bradyrhizobium strains for their N2-fixation effectiveness successfully identified several strains which can potentially be used for the production of legume inoculants with the dual capacities of efficacious N2-fixation and N2O reduction

Phylogenetically Diverse Fusarium Species Associated with Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L. Moench) and Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana L. Garten) Grains from Ethiopia

Fusarium is one of the most diverse fungal genera affecting several crops around the world. This study describes the phylogeny of Fusarium species associated with grains of sorghum and finger millet from different parts of Ethiopia. Forty-two sorghum and 34 finger millet grain samples were mycologically analysed. All of the sorghum and more than 40% of the finger millet grain samples were contaminated by the Fusarium species. The Fusarium load was higher in sorghum grains than that in finger millet grains. In addition, 67 test isolates were phylogenetically analysed using EF-1α and β-tubulin gene primers. Results revealed the presence of eight phylogenetic placements within the genus Fusarium, where 22 of the isolates showed a close phylogenetic relation to the F. incarnatum–equiseti species complex. Nevertheless, they possess a distinct shape of apical cells of macroconidia, justifying the presence of new species within the Fusarium genus. The new species was the most dominant, represented by 33% of the test isolates. The current work can be seen as an important addition to the knowledge of the biodiversity of fungal species that exists within the Fusarium genus. It also reports a previously unknown Fusarium species that needs to be investigated further for toxin production potential

Phylogenetically Diverse Fusarium Species Associated with Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L. Moench) and Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana L. Garten) Grains from Ethiopia

Fusarium is one of the most diverse fungal genera affecting several crops around the world. This study describes the phylogeny of Fusarium species associated with grains of sorghum and finger millet from different parts of Ethiopia. Forty-two sorghum and 34 finger millet grain samples were mycologically analysed. All of the sorghum and more than 40% of the finger millet grain samples were contaminated by the Fusarium species. The Fusarium load was higher in sorghum grains than that in finger millet grains. In addition, 67 test isolates were phylogenetically analysed using EF-1α and β-tubulin gene primers. Results revealed the presence of eight phylogenetic placements within the genus Fusarium, where 22 of the isolates showed a close phylogenetic relation to the F. incarnatum–equiseti species complex. Nevertheless, they possess a distinct shape of apical cells of macroconidia, justifying the presence of new species within the Fusarium genus. The new species was the most dominant, represented by 33% of the test isolates. The current work can be seen as an important addition to the knowledge of the biodiversity of fungal species that exists within the Fusarium genus. It also reports a previously unknown Fusarium species that needs to be investigated further for toxin production potential

Phylogenetically Diverse Fusarium Species Associated with Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L. Moench) and Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana L. Garten) Grains from Ethiopia

Fusarium is one of the most diverse fungal genera affecting several crops around the world. This study describes the phylogeny of Fusarium species associated with grains of sorghum and finger millet from different parts of Ethiopia. Forty-two sorghum and 34 finger millet grain samples were mycologically analysed. All of the sorghum and more than 40% of the finger millet grain samples were contaminated by the Fusarium species. The Fusarium load was higher in sorghum grains than that in finger millet grains. In addition, 67 test isolates were phylogenetically analysed using EF-1α and β-tubulin gene primers. Results revealed the presence of eight phylogenetic placements within the genus Fusarium, where 22 of the isolates showed a close phylogenetic relation to the F. incarnatum–equiseti species complex. Nevertheless, they possess a distinct shape of apical cells of macroconidia, justifying the presence of new species within the Fusarium genus. The new species was the most dominant, represented by 33% of the test isolates. The current work can be seen as an important addition to the knowledge of the biodiversity of fungal species that exists within the Fusarium genus. It also reports a previously unknown Fusarium species that needs to be investigated further for toxin production potential

A common mechanism for efficient N2O reduction in diverse isolates of nodule-forming bradyrhizobia

Bradyrhizobia are abundant soil bacteria, which can formnitrogen-fixing symbioses with leguminous plants, including important crops such as soybean, cowpea and peanut. Many bradyrhizobia can denitrify, but studies have hitherto focused on a few model organisms. We screened 39 diverse Bradyrhizobium strains, isolated from legume nodules. Half of them were unable to reduce N2O, making them sources of this greenhouse gas. Most others could denitrify NO3 − to N2. Timeresolved gas kinetics and transcription analyses during transition to anaerobic respiration revealed a common regulation of nirK, norCB and nosZ (encoding NO2 −, NO and N2O reductases), and differing regulation of napAB (encoding periplasmic NO3 − reductase). A prominent feature in all N2-producing strains was a virtually complete hampering of NO3 − reduction in the presence of N2O. In-depth analyses suggest that this was due to a competition between electron transport pathways, strongly favouring N2OoverNO3 − reduction. In a natural context, bacteria with this feature would preferentially reduce available N2O, produced by themselves or other soil bacteria,making them powerful sinks for this greenhouse gas. One way to augment such populations in agricultural soils is to develop inoculants for legume crops with dual capabilities of efficient N2-fixation and efficient N2O reduction