4.1. Diversity of Enset Landraces
In the present study, a total of 76 enset landraces were recorded from 12 different selected kebeles (4 districts). The highest number of landraces recorded per farm was 18. Among the farms listed 14 – 18 landrace were recorded in (20%), 7 – 13 landrace were recorded in (45%) and 4 - 6 landrace were recorded in (35%) in their yards. The study area was found between mid-land and high land altitude range 1179 - 2590 masl. Due to the presence of wild forest, wild enset (Epo) was found near the district or the study kebeles, in Decha District (Awraada kebeles) and Adyo District (Alari – geta kebeles) with the altitudes 1963 and 2460 masl respectively. The present study is in line with [10], who described 146 landraces from three zones of SNNPR (52 landraces from Sidama, 55 landraces from Wolaita, and 59 landraces from Hadiya) recorded.
Table 2. Enset landrace expressed richness, evenness, and unique clones to each district concerning their elevation.
Study districts
|
S
|
H
|
E
|
1-D
|
Unique
|
Altitude
|
Gesha
|
32
|
0.91
|
0.2
|
0.97
|
2
|
1179 - 2338
|
Decha
|
38
|
1.09
|
0.21
|
0.98
|
2
|
1617 - 2220
|
Sylem
|
41
|
1.81
|
0.22
|
0.96
|
6
|
2222 - 2387
|
Adyo
|
48
|
1.94
|
0.23
|
0.98
|
17
|
2393 - 2529
|
4.2. Distribution and Abundance of Enset Landraces
Some landraces had a rather irregular distribution, i.e. there was a very high local abundance at one or two locations and almost absent from the other areas. For example, Tambo and Mecho enset landraces were only found in two kebele (Awurada and Boka). The most widely distributed and dominant landraces in the study area include Bejo, Shelako, Bocho, Areko, Nobo, Gushiro, Chella - bejo, Eno, Adyo, Necha – bocho, and Menjio. The first six landraces were highly cosmopolitan and needed highly in the community. Those landraces with the highest distribution and abundance were highly cultivated for their quality in kocho, bulla, fiber, and amicho.
Table 3. List of enset landraces grown by farmers and their richness at four administrative districts.
Gesha destrict
|
Decha destrict
|
No.
|
Enset landrace
|
no respondent grown
|
No.
|
Enset landrace
|
no of respondent grown
|
1
|
Achacho
|
2
|
1
|
Achacho
|
6
|
2
|
Adyo
|
10
|
2
|
Adyo
|
2
|
3
|
Areko
|
12
|
3
|
Akbaro
|
1
|
4
|
Ataro
|
5
|
4
|
Areko
|
13
|
5
|
Bejo
|
28
|
5
|
Bano
|
1
|
6
|
Benesho
|
1
|
6
|
Bejo
|
19
|
7
|
Boco
|
19
|
7
|
Boco
|
21
|
8
|
Bumbo
|
7
|
8
|
Bongo
|
7
|
9
|
Buri
|
1
|
9
|
Bumbo
|
4
|
10
|
Bushiro
|
4
|
10
|
Buri
|
1
|
11
|
But
|
4
|
11
|
Chamero
|
4
|
12
|
Chara -Kosho
|
1
|
12
|
Chela-bejo
|
1
|
13
|
Chella- Bejo
|
3
|
13
|
Chongo
|
5
|
14
|
Chikaro
|
3
|
14
|
Choro
|
4
|
15
|
Eno
|
12
|
15
|
Debiyo
|
1
|
16
|
Epecho
|
5
|
16
|
Eno
|
2
|
17
|
Epo
|
1
|
17
|
Epecho
|
1
|
18
|
Genji
|
1
|
18
|
Epo
|
1
|
19
|
Geyo
|
1
|
19
|
Genji
|
4
|
20
|
Gushiro
|
10
|
20
|
Geno
|
7
|
21
|
Kechi
|
3
|
21
|
Geyo
|
4
|
22
|
Kekero
|
1
|
22
|
Gunji
|
2
|
23
|
Maratichi
|
1
|
23
|
Gushiro
|
9
|
24
|
Mechadami
|
2
|
24
|
Kochitato
|
5
|
25
|
Mecho
|
5
|
25
|
Mechadami
|
1
|
26
|
Menjecha
|
1
|
26
|
Mecho
|
2
|
27
|
Muchaye
|
1
|
27
|
Necha -bocho
|
3
|
28
|
Necha-Bejo
|
4
|
28
|
Nech-bejo
|
1
|
29
|
Necha-Bocho
|
1
|
29
|
Nobo
|
27
|
30
|
Nobo
|
30
|
30
|
Shede
|
3
|
31
|
shelako
|
20
|
31
|
Shelako
|
10
|
32
|
Shikmari
|
1
|
32
|
Shime
|
2
|
33
|
shime
|
1
|
33
|
Shishemo
|
2
|
34
|
Shitalli
|
1
|
34
|
shuri
|
1
|
35
|
Tafaro
|
1
|
35
|
Tambo
|
1
|
36
|
Tayo
|
21
|
36
|
Tayo
|
2
|
37
|
Tebeno
|
2
|
37
|
Tebeno
|
1
|
38
|
Uchabo
|
3
|
38
|
Tuli
|
1
|
39
|
Uturo
|
8
|
39
|
uchcafo
|
1
|
40
|
Wango
|
2
|
40
|
Uturo
|
13
|
41
|
Wuiro
|
3
|
41
|
Wango
|
2
|
42
|
Wuo
|
1
|
42
|
Wuiro
|
8
|
43
|
Yeko
|
12
|
43
|
Yeko
|
4
|
Saylem district
|
Adiyo district
|
No.
|
Enset landraces
|
no respondent grown
|
No.
|
Enset landraces
|
no. respondent grown
|
1
|
Adyo
|
16
|
1
|
Achacho
|
3
|
2
|
Areko
|
3
|
2
|
Adyo
|
3
|
3
|
Ataro
|
1
|
3
|
Ageno
|
5
|
4
|
Bedado
|
3
|
4
|
Areko
|
19
|
5
|
Bejo
|
16
|
5
|
Bedado
|
13
|
6
|
Bergecho
|
5
|
6
|
Bejo
|
13
|
7
|
Boco
|
11
|
7
|
Boco
|
18
|
8
|
Bumbo
|
4
|
8
|
Botecho
|
1
|
9
|
Bushiro
|
2
|
9
|
Chikaro
|
9
|
10
|
But
|
3
|
10
|
Choro
|
4
|
11
|
Chella- Bejo
|
1
|
11
|
Epecho
|
1
|
12
|
Chikaro
|
7
|
12
|
Epo
|
1
|
13
|
Dolli
|
9
|
13
|
Genji
|
1
|
14
|
Eno
|
17
|
14
|
Geno
|
1
|
15
|
Epecho
|
2
|
15
|
Geyo
|
5
|
16
|
Genji
|
1
|
16
|
Gushiro
|
11
|
17
|
Geno
|
9
|
17
|
Kello
|
2
|
18
|
Geto
|
1
|
18
|
Korendo
|
2
|
19
|
Gushiro
|
14
|
19
|
Matecho
|
3
|
20
|
Kechi
|
1
|
20
|
Menjio
|
24
|
21
|
Kekero
|
5
|
21
|
Nobo
|
1
|
22
|
Kello
|
1
|
22
|
Shede
|
3
|
23
|
Ketanno
|
12
|
23
|
Shelako
|
1
|
24
|
Mechadami
|
3
|
24
|
shiko
|
1
|
25
|
Mecho
|
13
|
25
|
shuri
|
3
|
26
|
Nech -bejo
|
2
|
26
|
Tambo
|
7
|
27
|
Necha -bocho
|
6
|
27
|
Wuiro
|
6
|
28
|
Nobo
|
28
|
28
|
Wuo
|
3
|
29
|
shelako
|
19
|
29
|
Yah - bejo
|
7
|
30
|
Shuri
|
2
|
30
|
Yeko
|
2
|
31
|
Tayo
|
6
|
|
|
|
32
|
Uchabo
|
1
|
|
|
|
33
|
Wango
|
4
|
|
|
|
34
|
Wuiro
|
1
|
|
|
|
35
|
Yeko
|
18
|
|
|
|
Depending on this classification, the landraces in the study area showed variation in distribution and abundance (fig 2). From the total landraces recorded 76, (64.4%) of them were common. Of these common enset landraces, (56.6%) of them were widespread, (5.3%) were sporadic and (2.6%) were localized. In the second category, the rare landraces comprised 31 (35.5%). Of these rare landraces (9.2%) were widespread, (10.6%) were sporadic and (15.7%) were localized. This study was in line with [2] identified that there was a significant association between the distribution and abundance of enset landraces in the Aleta Chuko district.
4.3. Identification, Naming, and Classification of Enset Landraces by Farmers
Farmers used different morphological characteristics to identify their landraces, these colors (pseudo stem, midrib, and leaf), time of maturity, disease resistance, yield, leaf number, corm, and pseudo stem circumference (lower leaf sheath) were widely used. During the observation of the home garden of farmers, the frequently used identification mechanisms were pseudo stem color, midrib color, leaf color, the circumference of enset, the height of enset, and the presence of white spots on the leaf and whole body of enset were considerably used. In the case of identification and naming the landraces women were better than men due to everyday practice inside their home garden for different purposes and processing activities of the enset. Females were better in naming as well as identifying the landraces, but those males had better information on the way of cultivation and transplanting the sucker of enset. A similar study conducted by [11], indicated that farmers to identify distinct enset landraces in Wolaita used morphological characteristics of enset.
4.3.1. Naming of Landraces
Farmers in the study area gave specific or local names for each landrace available in their locality. Names often result from particular characteristics of the material, such as unique morphological characteristics, agronomic qualities, and place of foundation or special uses (Table 3). Some of the landrace names had implied meaning to the community. Farmers named varieties and classification systems offered valuable indications for selecting a suitable, more in-depth characterization method. This study was in line with [11], farmers had indigenous knowledge in naming the enset landraces locally and he also identified that the names of landraces were taken from different sources like, place of origin, distinct morphology, and agroecology
Table 4: Naming sources of a few enset landraces in the study area
No
|
Names
|
Sources
|
1
|
Necha - bocho
|
Bocho Presence of the white spot on its leaf and the color of kocho are white.
|
2
|
Adyo
|
Place of origin from Adyo district.
|
3
|
Chella- Bejo
|
The red color of the pseudo stem and the kocho color are like red.
|
4
|
Kochitato
|
It is known as the king of kocho and high yield of kocho.
|
5
|
Shiko
|
Known as neighboring, The origin is from Sheka zone.
|
6
|
Shuri
|
Because of medicinal value and the red part of both the Leaf and pseudo stem.
|
7
|
Tuli
|
Known as very thin, Grows as thin and less production.
|
8
|
Shelako
|
In terms of length, corm size, and duration of maturation time.
|
9
|
Nobo
|
Late maturation, Hard in processing, and resistant to disease.
|
10
|
Bejo
|
White kocho and Bulla color.
|
11
|
Epo (Wild)
|
Known as enset of the devil, found in the forest and the black color of kocho.
|
12
|
Ketanno
|
This means wider, by looking at lower Pseudo stem circumference and corm.
|
4.3.2. Classification of enset
Farmers in the study area used different criteria to classify the different landraces of enset. The criteria used for classification are indicated in (Table 4). They classify enset as male and female based on above-the-ground plant size, corm size, early maturating, late maturating, and response to disease, processing work. Farmers considered early maturing landraces with sweet corn and easy to harvest as female (Mache) and that late maturing, hard for decortications scraping were grouped as males (Anamo). Gushiro, Yeko, Wango, Epecho, Mecho, Achacho, Dolli, But, Eno, Tuli, Wuo, and Choro were female landraces while Chella - Bejo, Shelako, Nobo, Boco, Ketanno, Geno, Uchafo, Chongo, Genji, Tambo, and Matecho were considered as males. However, there were some landraces, which were selected as males in some farmers and females in others Tafaro, Tuli, and Wuo. This indicated that classifying enset landraces based on their sex made an ambiguity for designation. This study was similar to [4] who described that Sideman people classify enset landraces as female (Meyate) and male (Labbaahu) depending on criteria such as maturation time, plant size, and its hardness to process and a similar report was described by [12] in Gurage. The outcome of this study was consistent with findings reported by [13], and [14] reported three categories of enset local varieties; male, female, and intermediate categories.
Table 5: Farmer’s Folk classification of enset based on farmer’s perception of sex (not Biological)
Characteristics
|
Female (Mache)
|
Male (Anamo)
|
Aerial plant size
|
Smaller
|
Larger
|
Corm size
|
Smaller
|
Larger
|
Processing work
|
Easy
|
Difficult
|
Texture
|
Softer
|
Tougher
|
Response to disease
|
Vulnerable
|
Strong
|
Fermenting time
|
Short
|
Long
|
Vulnerable to predators
|
Yes
|
No
|
Maturity
|
Early maturing
|
Late maturing
|
Average yield
|
Lower
|
High
|
4.4. Similarities of Landraces between the Study Sites
The proportion of landraces shared between pairs of sites ranged between 0.49 and 0.53 respectively. The two most similar sites were Sylem and Dacha (0.53) and the two less similar sites were Decha and Adyo (0.44). The reason for the high similarity between Sylem and Decha might be due to altitude, temperature, soil, and their relative exchange of planting materials in the marketplace. A similar study conducted by [3] indicated that there was a high sharing of landraces between adjacent Woredas’ in Kembata zones. The findings were in line with [4], who studied diversity and regeneration of enset in Sidama.
Table 6: Sorenson’s similarity index values for enset landraces composition in the study district.
Study districts
|
Gesa
|
Sylem
|
Decha
|
Adyo
|
Gesa
|
ˉ
|
0.49
|
0.52
|
0.46
|
Sylem
|
|
ˉ
|
0.53
|
0.47
|
Decha
|
|
|
ˉ
|
0.44
|
Adyo
|
|
|
|
ˉ
|