A review of enset [Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman] diversity and its use in Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction-Enset is an indigenous crop in southern and southwestern Ethiopia, with a huge potential to provide year-round food production. Starch stored in the corm and pseudostem of the plant is the main source of energy provided by this crop. Enset was fully domesticated in Ethiopia between 10,000 and 5,000 years ago and initially farmed in a system of shifting cultivation. This long history of enset cultivation has contributed to the high withinspecies diversity. Materials and methods-This paper provides an overview of past research activities and knowledge linked to enset diversity and identifies critical research gaps, which should be addressed to improve the long-term conservation and use of this diversity. Results and discussion-Studies have identified numerous landraces across the vast ensetgrowing belt in Ethiopia, with genetic diversity in a particular area related to the extent of enset cultivation by different ethnic groups and the range of agro-ecologies to which the crop is adapted. Farmers' rich knowledge of enset, accumulated over many years, plays a significant role in the characterization and maintenance of the existing genetic diversity of this crop. Farmers differentiate landraces using morphological traits, such as plant height and pseudostem size, angle of leaf orientation, and pseudostem and leaf colour. Conclusion-Enset diversity provides resilience and food security despite challenging environmental conditions, diseases or changes in land use systems.

Climate change, food insecurity and household adaptation mechanisms in Amaro Ward, Southern Region of Ethiopia

“…The crop is drought resistant and climate resilient. Therefore, it is a suitable choice in adaptation to climate change and variability (Nurebo, 2017;Yemataw et al, 2018). Enset is an important staple crop in Amaro ward.…”

Ensete ventricosum: A Multipurpose Crop against Hunger in Ethiopia

“…e reports on the number of enset clones show high inconsistency which could be due to the fact that farmers distinguish landraces on the basis of phenotypic characteristics such as petiole, midrib and leaf sheath color, angle of leaf orientation, size and color of leaves, and circumference and length of the pseudostem [17]. e same landraces might have different vernacular names, and the same name can be given to different clones by the different ethnic or linguistic groups and agroecological zones [18]. It is naturally true that planting materials (clones) are exchanged between enset farmers of the same or different ethnic groups, and the vernacular names may be changed after long-term production of the clone, according to the farmer's own favorites and language [18].…”

“…e same landraces might have different vernacular names, and the same name can be given to different clones by the different ethnic or linguistic groups and agroecological zones [18]. It is naturally true that planting materials (clones) are exchanged between enset farmers of the same or different ethnic groups, and the vernacular names may be changed after long-term production of the clone, according to the farmer's own favorites and language [18]. e high phenotypic plasticity of enset clones further complicates identification based on morphological and physiological characteristics.…”

“…Each corm can yield on average 40-200 suckers depending on method of propagation, soil conditions, cultivar type, size and age of the parent corm, amount of rainfall, land preparation, and time of planting. Enset farms are established exclusively from vegetatively propagated suckers as farmers believe seedlings that develop from seeds are small in number and less vigorous [18]. Farmers use vegetative propagation to produce enset suckers in mass and maintain specific desirable traits of each clone/landrace [24].…”

Effect of Traditional Fermentation Time on Total Phenolic Content and In vitro Antioxidant Activity of Kocho: Ethiopian Fermented Food from Enset (Ensete ventricusum welw. Chessman)

“…Enset is one of the potential indigenous crops for food, and the Enset cultivation system is economically viable, and is one of the few successful indigenous and sustainable agricultural systems (Yemataw et al, 2018). It is sustainable because it has been providing food for humans for generations from the same plot, and maintains the quality of life of the people (Negash and Anke 2004).…”