The question of combating the problem of lodging has long been a ) sustaining major objective of the overall national tef improvement program. But the lodging resistant tef varieties have remained elusive. Kebebew Assefa (PhD) National Tef Research Coordinator Similar to other worldwide popular cereals, it is possible to develop high yielding tef varieties with good grain quality and other desired traits— variety ‘Quncho’ is a testimony of what can be done in tef improvement. Hailu Tefera (PhD) Breeder/Consultant, IITA National Tef Research Coordinator (1998-2006) Development of rapid and cheap screening techniques to identify various stress-tolerant cultivars and utilize efficient techniques for developing sup- erior cultivars are essential for overcoming present constraints. Seyfu Ketema (PhD) Executive Director, ASARECA National Tef Research Coordinator (-1995) The world has seen significant increases in the productivity major cereal crops such as wheat and rice. As a member of this family of Grasses, tef is no exception, and therefore has a similar potential for improvement. Kebebew A., Solomon C., Zerihun T. (Eds. Tareke Berhe (PhD) Tef Value Chain Adviser | downloaded: 13.3.2017 Ethiopian Agriculture Transformation Agency (ATA) The recent progress in tef improvement is encouraging. We need to implement useful techniques developed for major crops to further increase the productivity of this staple food crop of Ethiopia. Zerihun Tadele (PhD) Project Leader, University of Bern, Switzerland National Tef Research Coordinator (1995-1996) ISBN 978-3-033-03818-9 ISBN: 978-3-033-03818-9 http://boris.unibe.ch/73185/ 9 783033 038189 Tef Improvement source: Achievements and Prospects of Tef Improvement Proceedings of the Second International Workshop, November 7-9, 2011, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia Edited by Kebebew Assefa, Solomon Chanyalew Ethiopian Institute of Agric. Research, Debre Zeit Center & Zerihun Tadele University of Bern, Institute of Plant Sciences, Switzerland ii Correct citation: Kebebew Assefa, Solomon Chanyalew and Zerihun Tadele (eds.) 2013. Achievements and Prospects of Tef Improvement; Proceedings of the Second International Workshop, November 7-9, 2011, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Switzerland. Printed at Stämpfli AG, 3001 Bern, Switzerland. ISBN: 978-3-033-03818-9. Cover picture: Stacks of tef harvest at the threshing ground near Melka Kunture, Central Ethiopia. Photo: Sonia Plaza-Wüthrich, Novemeber 2011. Dedication This Proceedings is dedicated to the late Dr. MelaK Hail Mengesha (1935-2009), the first tef researcher in Ethiopia Foreword v Foreword This proceedings on ‘Achievements and Prospects of tef Improvement’ is the outcome of the Second International Tef Workshop held at Debre Zeit (Ethiopia), the location which represents the major tef growing areas in the country as well as the oldest and biggest center on tef research. As an indigenous crop, the bulk of tef research is carried out in the country by scientists based at various higher-learning and research institutions. Hence, unlike major crops of the world such as wheat and rice, research on tef benefited little from modern improvement techniques. However, in the recent years, there is an increasing interest by several researchers and funding organizations in developed nations to promote tef research and development through implementation of modern genetic and genomic tools. The recent efforts and progresses made on tef research and development were presented and discussed in detail at the workshop. The tef research and development in Ethiopia has recently shown tremendous improvement. This is witnessed by the decision of the Ethiopian government to award a Gold Medal in November 2012 to our Institute for the discovery and promotion of a very popular Quncho variety. At this juncture, I would like to congratulate all involved in research and development of tef as the achievement was obtained due to concerted efforts of the tef community. The editors of the proceedings did a wonderful job of undertaking the painstaking task of editing all 23 manuscripts presented at the workshop. In addition, the proceedings include a 44-point roadmap for future tef research and development which can be used as a guideline for researchers, development workers and policy makers. I would like to extend my thanks to sponsors of the workshop and the publication of the proceedings. Adefris Teklewold (PhD) Director, Crop Research Process Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research Prefacevii Preface Tef [Eragrostistef (Zucc.) Trotter] is a cereal crop extensively cultivated in Ethiopia with annual coverage of about 2.8 million hectares. The crop harbors several useful traits both for farmers and consumers. Some of these beneficial traits are: i) the plant is tolerant to extreme environmental conditions; ii) the seeds are not attacked by storage pests; and iii) the seeds are gluten-free, and hence considered as a healthy food. Despite all these advantages, scientific improvement on the crop has lagged far behindthe level made for the major cereals such as wheat and rice. Consequently, tef is considered as an orphan (or under-studied) crop, and its yield is one of the lowest compared to other major world cereals. In order to increase tef productivity, various attempts were made using both conventional and modern breeding techniques. Using the conventional breeding techniques, about 32 improved cultivars have been released to the farming community. The modern techniques so far include marker development towards marker-assisted breeding and TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genomes). The tef genomics research has also developed PCR-based markers in attempts towards utilizing them in marker-assisted selection (MAS). The Tef Genome Sequencing Project has also been initiated in order to obtain substantial genomic and transcriptome sequences. In general, these biotechnological and genomic tools would play key role in designing tef for the future challenging environments. Cropping systems and agronomic studies have also been done at many locations representing different agro-ecological zones. Moreover, extensive studies have been made on the utilization of tef both for human food and livestock feed. Mechanization especially the harvesting process is the outstanding problem in tef cultivation as tef is severely affected by lodging. Significant progresses have also been made in socio-economic studies and dissemination of tef technologies to farming communities. Hence, this international workshop on tef research and development was held i) to review previous studies and achievements made on tef research and development, and ii) to set strategies for future research. At this juncture, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, the Ministry of Science and Technology, Sasakawa Global 2000, the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, and the University of Bern for sponsoring the workshop, and the Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture for covering the entire cost of printing the proceedings. Editors, December 2012 Table of Contents ix Table of Contents Dedication Melak Hail Mengesha iii Foreword Adefris Teklewold v Preface Editors vii Table of contents ix Opening Session 1 Welcome address Kebebew Assefa 3 Opening address Solomon Assefa 5 Keynote address Tareke Berhe 9 I. Germplasm, Breeding & Tissue Culture of Tef 13 1. Genetic resources of tef in Ethiopia Alganesh Tesema 15 2. Phenotypic and molecular diversity Solomon Chanyalew et al. 21 3. Conventional and molecular tef breeding Kebebew Assefa et al. 33 4. TILLING for tef improvement K. Esfeld et al. 53 5. Regeneration & transformation S. Plaza-Wuthrich & Zerihun Tadele 67 II. Genetic & Genomic Mapping of tef 83 6. Genetic mapping M. Zeid et al. 85 7. Genome & transcriptome sequencing G. Cannarozzi & Z. Tadele 91 III. Agronomy, Physiology & Implements 105 8. Crop management research Tesfa Bogale et al. 107 9. Soil fertility management studies Wakene Negassa & Yifru Abera 121 10. Tef productivity using improved practices Tareke Berhe et al. 133 11. Ecophysiological characteristics of tef J. Vos et al. 141 12. Experiences on tef mechanization Friew Kelemu & Lake Kebede 161 IV. Pests, Diseases & Weeds 169 13. Insect pest management research in tef Tebkew Damte 171 14. Pathological research in tef Ayele Badebo 193 15. Weed research in tef Kassahun Zewdie & Tebkew Damte 199 x Table of Contents V. Food & Feed Values 209 16. Tef grain for human nutrition Geremew Bultosa & Melaku Umeta 211 17. Tef straw for livestock feed Alemu Yami 233 VI. Economics, Extension & Value-Chain 253 18. Technological change & economic viability Setotaw Ferede 255 19. Tef research-extension in Ethiopia Sherif Aliy 275 20. The tef seed system Dawit Alemu et al. 291 21. Analysis of tef value chain in Ethiopia Bekabil Fufa et al. 305 VII. Successes & Recent Efforts 323 22. Quncho: the most outstanding tef variety Kebebew Assefa et al. 325 23. Tef Improvement Project (Bern) Zerihun Tadele 333 VIII. General Discussion & Recommendations 343 24. Roadmap process & priorities for action Workshop participants 345 Closing Session 351 Vote of thanks Zerihun Tadele 353 Closing remarks Mekasha Chichaibelu 355 Participants 357 Field visits & group photo 363 Opening Session WelcomeAddress3 Welcome Address Kebebew Assefa National Coordinator of the Tef Research Project, Ethiopian Institute