Evaluation of Ethiopian White Cumin (Trachyspermum ammi L.) accessions for agronomic and quality traits in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

Experiments under field conditions were conducted in the Meher season from mid-July to December 2019 and 2020 at Kulumsa and Arsi Robe, Southeast Ethiopia. The study intended to evaluate white cumin accessions for agronomic and quality traits. Fifteen genotypes were laid out in a randomized complete block design in three replications. The analysis of variance pooled over the two locations and years showed highly significant differences (p < 0.001) for ten agronomic and two quality traits. The top seven accessions, namely, Shirka 001/2007, Sole-007, Akiya-2007, Tena-2007, Bale-2007, Shirka-2007, and Silingo-2007, were the high yielders compared to Takusa-1 and Dembia-1 cultivars and could be advanced to the national variety trial. The highest essential oil content was recorded from the Dembia-1 (6.5%) cultivar, followed by Takusa-1 (6.42%), Shirka-2007 (6.23%), Sagure-2005 (6.23%), and Gedgeda-026 (6.23%), while the highest oleoresin content was recorded from Takusa-1 (28.3%), Gedgeda-026 (27.73%), and Shirka 001/2007 (27.54%). Shirka-2007 and Shirka 001/2007 matured earlier in 144 and 153.58 days, respectively, and could be used in crossing blocks. There was strong and positive association between the number of umbels plant−1 and the number of umbellets umbel−1 (r = 0.98***), the days to 50% flowering and physiological maturity (r = 0.9***), the days to 50% emergency and flowering (r = 0.89***), the seed yield plant−1 and the 1000 seed weight (r = 0.87***), and the days to 50% maturity and the number of umbels plant−1 (r = 0.86***). Hence, stable accessions in potential growing regions of Ethiopia could be selected for the release.

Keywords

• Ajwain
• correlation
• essential oil
• oleoresin
• Manuel Tejada, University of Seville, Spain
• Agriculture & Environmental Sciences