Genetic Variability and Characters Association of Sorghum Germplasm Collections from Eastern Oromia Region of Ethiopia.

Cultivated as the fifth most important cereal in the world, sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] serves as a staple food for millions of people in Ethiopia and other countries in semi-arid Africa and Asia. Nevertheless, the low productivity of the crop caused by cultivation of low yielding traditional cultivars without yield enhancement inputs and the relatively low availability nutrients from sorghum grains continue to undermine communities dependent on this crop. The objective of this study was to assess the extent of genetic variability with respect to major agronomic parameters and nutritional traits among a subset of Ethiopian core germplasm collection. A total of 196 accessions from Hararghe (eastern Oromia) region of Ethiopia were evaluated at two locations during the 2016 main growing season. Major agronomic and phenological parameters were collected. At maturity, five panicle samples were collected from each for determining yield components including panicle weight, yield per panicle, thousand kernels weight, and yield per ha were also evaluated. To some extent grain physical quality like grain colour, grain endosperm texture and, grain size and nutritional quality like protein content, Ash, Fe, Zn and Tannin content were tested. Variability was tested on recorded data. Component of variability, path analysis and clustering based on nutritional profile will be done. The accessions revealed significant variability for all traits measured. Physical grain quality traits (seed color, kernel weight, endosperm texture) were markedly different among accessions. Analysis of grain chemical components measured using the near infrared reflectance (NIR) showed remarkable variation for minerals (Zn and Fe), tannin, protein content and ash. These variations are useful resources for genetic improvement of sorghum to enhance both nutrition and productivity of the crop as major food cereal of the 21^st century.