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The Genetic Improvement of Sorghum in Ethiopia: Review

Sorghum is the most known drought tolerant crop as compared to other cereal crops due to it’s ability to withstand poor soil fertility and high temperature. As Ethiopia is the centre of origin and diversity for sorghum, the crop has been cultivated for thousands of years and hence the heritage of the crop is expected to be rich. Sorghum is mostly grown as food grain in the developing country while in the developed  countries, as an animal feed. The yield and quality of sorghum is affected by many factors such as drought, Striga, insect pests (stalk borer, midge, and shoot fly), disease (grain mold, anthracnose and smut). Ethiopia has a diverse sorghum germplasm which adapted to a range of altitudes and rainfall conditions. Characterization  and  identification  of  sorghum  germplasms which provide  desirable  traits  for genetic improvement is a basis in plant breeding. DNA based molecular marker and PCR based are the best to characterize and identify sorghum genotypes which provide desirable traits as compared to field experimental evaluation due to time and environmental effect. Genetic improvement is the cost-effective means of enhancing sorghum productivity for different end-uses. In Ethiopia, sorghum improvement for yield,quality, early mature, biomass, resistance to drought, Striga, diseases and wide adaptability prioritized by national sorghum improvement program to satisfy end-users demand. Fifty two sorghum vareites, which contained desirable traits as compared to landraces, released in Ethiopia. Keywords: Sorghum breeding, genetic diversity, sorghum  improvement, genetic variablity DOI : 10.7176/JBAH/9-3-06