B B i i o o - - G Ge e n n e e t t i i c c s s J J o o u u r r n n a a l l Vol. 4, No. 4 (2016): 78-84 Research Article Open Access ISSN: 2347-7407 Genetic variation, heritability and path-coefficient analysis in tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter) Fano Dargo* Department of Crop Science, Jigjiga Univerisity, P.O. Box 1020, jigjiga university, Ethiopia. * Corresponding author: Fano Dargo; e-mail: fanodargo@gmail.com ABSTRACT A total of 33 tef varieties were evaluated for 12 morpho-agronomic characters in RCBD with three replications during 2012 main cropping season. Breeding information on the nature and the magnitude of variability present in the genetic material is very essential for a breeder to start any effective selection program; with this the objectives were to assess the variability and association of characters. The mean squares of genotypes were highly significant for all characters except hundred seed weight. For all characters, the phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variations varied in the orders of 0.0001-30.15% and 0.00001-22.27% in both cases for hundred seed weight and yield per panicle, respectively. Broad sense heritability estimates ranged from 0.0001 % for hundred seed weight to 97% for days to maturity. Grain yield per hectare and biomass yield per hectare exhibited high heritability coupled with high genetic advance. The strongest positive association was observed between hundred seed weight and grain yield per hectare and harvest index. Grain yield per hectare was positively significant associated with hundred seed weight and harvest index, while significant negatively associated with yield per panicle. Correlation and path- coefficient analysis showed harvest index, hundred seed weight, panicle weight and biomass yield per hectare as a major contributor to grain yield per hectare. Generally, the result revealed the existence of variability for the characters studied in tef varieties. Hence, this is a potential character of interest which could be used in the genetic improvement of tef through hybridization and/or selection. Keywords: Tef, Eragrostis tef (Zucc.), Ethiopia, genetic variation, heritability, Path Coefficient. 1. INTRODUCTION Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] is an ancient crop in Ethiopia, and the country is considered to be center of both origin and diversity for the species (Vavilov, 1951). Its grain is gluten free, and is a good flour source for segments of the population suffering from gluten intolerance or Celica’s disease (Spaenij-Dekking et al., 2005). It has gained momentum as a forage crop and several new, improved types have been developed and commercialized (Miller, 1995). Tef belongs to the grass family Poaceae. It is a C4; self-pollinated chasmogamous annual cereal (Seyfu, 1993). It is an allotetraploid cereal crop with a chromosome number of 2n = 4X = 40 (Tavasoli, 1986). Tef is indigenous to Ethiopia and has an amazing wealth of diversity (Seyfu, 1991). In Ethiopia, tef is grown on more than 2.7 million hectares, (CSA, 2012). Ecologically, tef can be grown in a wide range of environments, and is presently cultivated under diverse agro-climatic conditions. It can be grown from sea level up to 2800 m.a.s.l. (Seyfu, 1993). The ability of tef to perform well on both waterlogged vertisoils in the highlands as well as in low moisture stress areas in the semi-arid regions throughout the country is one of the reasons for which tef is preferred over other grain crops such as maize or barley (Hailu, 2001). In addition, tef generally suffers less from biotic stresses compared to most other cereal crops grown in Ethiopia and it contains high levels of proteins and mineral (Seyfu, Received: 08 June 2016 Accepted: 25 June 2016 Online: 01 July 2016 http://biogenetics.aizeonpublishers.net/content/2016/4/biogen78-84.pdf 78