Participatory identification and evaluation of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) landraces from lower eastern Kenya
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Date
2013
Authors
Muui, C. W.
Kirubi, D. T.
Muasya, Reuben M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Research Journals
Abstract
Eastern Province is a major sorghum growing zone in Kenya. There exist different landraces of
sorghum that are not yet known. The landraces continue to be maintained by cultural preferences
and traditional practices by the farmers. Germplasm collection was done in the major sorghum
growing agro ecological zones in eastern province of Kenya as follows; Mbeere in LM3, LM4; Makueni
in LM5, LM6; Kitui in LM3, LM4, LM5; and Mutomo in LM4, LM5. The germplasm was collected
separately from 120 randomly sampled farmers. At time of collection information on traits preferred
and grain use was recorded for each accession. The seed color/name, sample status, region and
agro-ecological zone were used to identify the different landraces. Forty four different accessions
were collected from different farmers in the region. Data was analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX model
of the Statistical Analysis Systems software (SAS Institute, 2005). Parameters studied were
expressed as percentages, Analysis of Variance was performed, and Least Significant Differences
used for separation of means at 0.05 level of confidence. Mbeere region had the most landraces
available with diverse colorations to Kitui, Mutomo and Makueni. The landraces are unique in their
adaptation, food quality, grain yield, quality of harvested products, biotic stress resistance and postharvest
processing.These untapped resources could be useful in crop improvement programmes
and in food security. The decline in use of the landraces may erode the genetic base and prevent use
of distinctive traits in crop adaptation and improvement.
Description
DOI: http:/dx.doi.org/10.14303/irjas.2013.083
Keywords
Diversity, grain use, landraces, sorghum, traits
Citation
International Research Journal of Agricultural Science and Soil Science (ISSN: 2251-0044) Vol. 3(8) pp. 283-290, August, 2013 DOI: http:/dx.doi.org/10.14303/irjas.2013.083