[01] Negash Geleta Ayana, Wollega University, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of Plant Sciences, Nekemte, Ethiopia.

The objective of the study was to investigate patterns of variation in qualitative phenotypic traits in fifty tetraploid wheat T. turgidum L., populations of Ethiopia. The populations were obtained from gene bank of Ethiopia and grouped into six regions and five altitudinal classes of collection sites. Data for ten qualitative traits with two or more phenotypic classes were taken. A total of 1500 plants (30 plants per population) were sampled to record phenotypic data. Phenotypic frequency distribution and Shannon-Weaver's diversity index were statistically calculated. The results showed that the frequency of phenotypic traits: short beak types, white glume colour, white awn colour, non-hairy glumes, white seed colour, large seed size and plump seed types accessions were 66%, 68%, 58%, 88%, 65%, 85% and 88% respectively in the populations. Mean diversity index (H’) within accession ranged from 0.05 to 0.61, and the total mean diversity index ranged from 0.53 for glumes hairiness to 0.96 for beak shape. Mean regional H’ ranged from 0.58 for Gonder and Gojam (G-II) to 0.76 for Eritrea, Tigray and Welo (G-I). Similarly, mean H’ for altitudinal classes ranged from 0.62 for ≤2200m a.s.l. to 0.79 for 2201-2500m a.s.l. Within region and altitudinal class phenotypic diversity values contributed 86% and 89% respectively, to the total variations. The importance of traits variations in relation to crop improvement and plant genetic resources conservation were discussed.

Ethiopia, Phenotypic Diversity, Populations, Qualitative Traits, Triticum turgidum

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