Proximate Composition Based Enset Diversity Study using Multivariate Analysis in Sheka Zone, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

The study on enset diversity based on its kocho and bulla proximate contents was done in major enset producing areas of Sheka zone in three agro-ecologies of the districts (Yaki (lowland), Andiracha (mid-land) and Masha (highland) Southwest (SW) Ethiopia with the objective to evaluate diversity study of enset based on its nutritional composition. The result of the analysis revealed that there were variations among all concerned clones. Highest dry matters were recorded in bulla of all clones though their amounts varied from 51.64 to 58%. Also ash and crude fat content also ranged between 1.41 and 0.81% of ash and 0.22 and 0.04% in fat respectively in bulla. Of macro-nutrient metals, K and Ca were found to be highest with 0.3 to 0.57% K and 0.01 to 0.28% Ca. Others such as Mg, Fe and P were very few in percent but varied in amount between ranges of trace or 0.01 to 0.06%. In kocho, also dry matter varied from 41.25 to 49.70% and its crude fiber and ash content also ranged between 1.81 to 4.77% and 1.44 to 2.5% respectively. The K and ca compositions of kocho ranged between 0.31 to.93% and 0.05 to 0.965% respectively. Contents of other minerals oscillated between 0.01 to 0.09% for P, Mg and Fe. Moreover, PCA employed for ten bulla and kocho traits were expressed by the first four PC with total variation of 76.6% in which the first two PC explained 48% of variation. Cluster analysis was allowed grouping 14 enset clones in to three clusters. Divergence analysis result also indicated as maximum distances between these clusters with D2 value of ranging from 59.26 between cluster 2 and 3 and 261.77 between cluster 1 nad 3 indicating possibility of cross breeding between landraces of different clusters. So, future research should focus on clones’ collection, conservation and molecular characterization for further breeding works.