Plant Genetic Resources of Ethiopia

by Edited by J. M. M. Engels , J. G. Hawkes , M. Worede

• ISBN13: 9780521065535
• ISBN10: 0521065534
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-06-19
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

One of the world centres of crop evolution and origin, Ethiopia has long been recognized as an important area of diversity for several major and various minor crops. Based on an international conference held in Addis Ababa, this book describes how this genetic diversity is of vital importance in breeding varieties of crops with desirable characteristics such as increased resistance to pests and diseases and greater adaptation to heat and drought. The three main sections in the book consider the Ethiopian centre of diversity, germplasm collection and conservation in Ethiopia and the evaluation and utilization of Ethiopian genetic resources. A broad range of food and feed crops and plants of medicinal and industrial importance are discussed, both at a national and international level. A brief account of those conservation strategies and genebank problems unique to Ethiopia is also given. The importance of Ethiopia's plant genetic resources to world agriculture has been demonstrated on more than one occasion.

Table of Contents

General Introduction

An Ethiopian perspective on conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources

The Ethiopian Centre of Diversity

The Ethiopian gene centre and its genetic diversity

Crops with wild relatives found in Ethiopia

Diversity of the Ethiopian flora

Forest genetic resources of Ethiopia

Plants as a primary source of drugs in the traditional health practices of Ethiopia

Traditional aromatic and perfume plants in Central Ethiopia

Spice germplasm in Ethiopia

A diversity study in Ethiopian barley

Sorghum history in relation to Ethiopia

Prehistoric Ethiopia and India: contacts through sorghum and millet genetic resources

Ethiopian fungal gene resources and the need for their conservation

Konso agriculture and its plant genetic resources

Germplasm Collection and Conservation in Ethiopia

Theory and practice of collecting germplasm in a centre of diversity

A decade of germplasm exploration and collection activities by the Plant Genetic Resources Centre/Ethiopia (PGRC/E)

Collection of Ethiopian forage germplasm at the International Livestock Centre for Africa

Germplasm conservation at the PGRC/E

The strategic area seed reserve project in Ethiopia

Documentation at PGRC/E

Evaluation and Utilization of Ethiopian Genetic Resources

Germplasm evaluation with special reference to the role of taxonomy in genebanks

Crop germplasm

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