Characterization of Eragrostis tef varieties for agronomic, nutritional and phenological traits under Irish environment

Eragrosis tef is an annual cereal crop. It is a staple food in the region of the Horn of Africa where is abundantly cultivated and utilised to prepare traditional foods and drinks. In recent years, the attention of research has been drawn on this small cereal grain due to its great nutritional value and health benefits. The cultivation of such crop is quickly spreading over North America and Europe. This research aims to assess the potential of teff as a crop in Ireland. Both greenhouse trial and field trial allowed the study of 20 teff varieties and the selection of the best genotypes to be grown in Irish climate. Phenological and agronomic characteristics of the different accessions were studied. The results presented in this thesis suggest that low sensitivity to photoperiod, early heading in particular, is a prerequisite forsuccessful cultivation of teff in the northern hemisphere, resulting in greater yield, Harvest Index and quality. In these terms, five early maturity varieties (PI 494300, PI 494366, PI 494432, PI 494455, PI 618761) that produced good yield and revealed superior nutritional value were selected and tested in a field trial. A correlation between early heading and yield was found, moreover the protein content of such early maturity variety was higher. The varieties tested in the glasshouse showed lower iron, manganese and copper content compared to accessions grown in Ethiopia, suggesting that soil contamination may contribute to enhance the presence of such elements in the grain. Besides, a field trial was aimed to study the optimal seeding rate of teff. Although the plant’s growth in the field was slow probably due to sub-optimal temperatures and weather conditions, variety PI 494432 showed the higher germination rate and establishment. Moreover, due to the morphology of the inflorescence, this genotype may be the most adapt to be harvested and threshed by machines, hence reducing time, cost and losses of harvesting operations. The field rate data suggest that 25-30 kg of seed per hectare is required for good plant establishment, ensuring adequate spacing between rows. It may be possible to cope with the issues faced during the field trial by covering the rows with a plastic film to facilitate germination.