Registration of a new Triticale Variety: ‘Kombolcha’

Abstract

Background: Triticale (X-Triticosecale Wittmack) is a hybrid of wheat (Triticum sp.) and rye (Secale sp.) It combines yield potential and grain quality of wheat with the diseases and environmental tolerance including adaptability to marginal soils, diseases resistance and low-input requirements of rye. The crop has demonstrated high yield potential under marginal growing conditions and could a very attractive alternative for raising cereal production in the globe, involves Ethiopia.
Objective: To evaluate and release stable high yielding and disease resistant/tolerant Triticale variety for the western highland of Oromia and other similar agro-ecologies
Material and Methods: Twelve triticale genotypes including the standard check “Moti” were evaluated across two locations for three years (2015-2017). Eventually, two promising genotypes, “Acc 2012 MS #51 and Acc.2012 MS #59” were selected and promoted to variety verification trail with the standard check ‘’Moti” during the 2018/19 cropping season. The national variety release technical committee evaluated the two candidate varieties both at Gedo and Shambu on research stations and farmers’ fields.
Results: Among the two evaluated varieties, ‘Kombolcha’ is well adapted to altitudes ranging between 2244 and 2784 meters above sea level and characterized by amber seed color, longer panicle and gave high seed yield (6184.8 kg ha-1) and stable performance across years and locations. It has about 13% yield advantage over the standard check variety, “Moti”. The variety is also resistant to major diseases such as steam rust (Pucinia graminis f.sp. tritici), yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici) and Septoria tritici (Mycosphaerella graminicola).
Conclusions: “Kombolcha” (Acc. 2012 MS #51) is released for the highlands of western Oromia and similar agro-ecologies for its stable and high grain yield, and resistant to major diseases. Therefore, farmers in western highlands of Oromia and similar agro ecologies particularly those inhabiting marginal and acid prone areas can produce “Kombolcha” variety with its full management recommendation.