The Relationship s between Stem Characters and Lodging Tolerance in Tef ( Eragrostis tef ) Genotypes

In cereals stem characters such as plant height, culm thickness and diameter and the number of internodes and their length are among the factors known to modulate lodging tolerance , a key trait in the development of high yielding tef varieties. Knowledge of the relationship between stem characters and lodging has significant implications with respect to designing sound breeding strategies for tef Eragrostis tef )), a staple cereal crop for millions of people in Ethiopia . Previous studies were limited mainly to plant height and the diameter of the two basal culm internodes. With the aim of expanding this knowledge by exploring additional stem characters one hundred tef landraces were studied at three different experimental sites and affirmative evidence was obtained showing that in addition to plant height the length of internodes and peduncle are apt to breeding lodging tolerance in tef.