Abstract
Morka is a common name given to the maize (Zea mays L.) variety with the pedigree UCB S1 C2 after its official release. It is an open pollinated variety developed by the Jimma Agricultural Research Center from UCB after two cycles of S1 recurrent selection. Morka means “competent” in Afan Oromo language given to express its yield potential which is comparable to that of the popular hybrid variety, BH660, in the areas. Its performance was evaluated in field experiments carried out over two years in three locations environments where it gave mean grain yield of 8.7 t ha-1 and significantly (P < 0.01) out yielded the standard check (UCB) with a grain yield benefit of 30% (2.0 t ha-1). Better grain yield potential, significantly (P < 0.01) shorter plant height and lower ear placement, and superior tolerance to diseases and resistance to lodging than the original UCB are the desirable traits of this variety. Morka was recommended for commercial production in the mid altitude (1600-1800 m above sea level) agro-ecologies of Jimma and Illu Ababora Zones.Keywords: Maize; Morka; Open Pollinated Variety; Recurrent Selection; Ukuruguru Composite B
Highlights
Maize is the most important staple food in many parts of Ethiopia
The maize breeding team based at the Jimma Agricultural Research Center had been doing intensive improvement on Ukuruguru Composite B (UCB) since 1998
The objective was to develop the improved version of UCB that can be released for commercial production as an option to the hybrid varieties
Summary
Maize is the most important staple food in many parts of Ethiopia. It is the leading cereal in productivity and second to Tef in area of production in the country (CSA, 2006). Ukuruguru Composite B (UCB) was the most adapted and well preferred open pollinated variety of maize in the southwestern part of Ethiopia; especially, in Jimma and Illu Ababora Zones since its release in 1975. This variety possesses adequate levels of resistance to major leaf diseases (Assefa, 1995; Dagne et al, 2001) and storage pests (Demissew et al, 2004). Through two cycles of this selection program we have successfully improved grain yield, plant height and ear placement, tolerance to diseases and resistance to lodging in the tall and lodging susceptible UCB maize variety. Full procedures followed to develop the variety and evaluate yield performance in on-station and on-farm experiments are indicated in research paper submitted to East African Journal of Agricultural Science for parallel publication (Leta and Habte, in press)
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