Effect of Quantitative and Qualitative Phenotypic Traits on Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) Yields and Genotypes Determination in Gurage Zone, at Yefereze Enset Conservation Site

Enset is a perennial plant and a multi-purpose crop used in Ethiopia. Phenotypic traits were important to predict the production and productivity of enset. This research was conducted in Gurage Zone at Yefereziye enset conservation site with the objective of effect of quantitative and qualitative phenotypic traits on Enset (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) yield and genotypes from 2020 to 2021. The evaluation was conducted using a single plot experiment method, with a total of 15 plants within a column. Data were collected randomly within five tagged Enset genotypes within a row. The result reveal that the quantitative data were highly significant (P≤0.001) among the enset genotypes. The higher pseudostem circumference, pseudostem height, and Plant height were recorded from Ashikit (121.4cm, 154.6cm and 494.2cm), Shebeshertiye (120.8cm, 139.4cm and 436.8cm), Zereta (118.4cm, 135.8cm and 438cm), Kanchiwe (130.4cm, 22.6cm and 418cm) and Zigbot (126cm, 120.8cm and 433.4cm), Yeshraqinqe (101 cm, 139.8 cm and 463.2cm); Ageremariam (103.8cm, 145.8cm and 480.4 cm) and Tikurbadedet (131cm, 110.6cm and 419cm) respectively. In qualitative trait assessment the dominant color trait was, for pseudostem brown 3 (0.4%), lower leaf part was light green (95.7%), upper part of midrib was green (95.7%), lower midrib was reddish (56.52%) and lower part of petiole was black (34.8%) colors within the enset genotyps. Therefore, from the current research the following enset land races were, Ashikit, Shebeshertiye, Zereta, Kanchiwe, Zigbot, Yeshraqinqe, Ageremariam and Tikurbadedet enset genotypes were well performance and recommended to the local farmer to enhance their livelihoods.