Status of molecular marker utilization in conventional maize breeding in Ethiopia

Abstract

The demand for maize (Zea mays L.) has been steadily growing in Ethiopia. It contributes to the greatest share of production and consumption along with other major cereal crops such as tef (Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.). Three-fourth of the maize produced is consumed at the household level by the small-scale producers themselves. According to recent reports, it was grown by 10.2 million households in the country, which constituted 64.7% of the total cereal producing households. Besides, it contributed to 35.0% of the total cereal production in the country with an average national yield of 4.24 t ha-1, which is among the top three highest national average yield reported in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, the national average productivity is still low as compared to the world average yield of 5.8 t ha-1, which is attributed to several production constraints. Despite all the efforts and progress made in the development and dissemination of maize technologies for different maize growing agro-ecologies, the biotic and abiotic constraints remained the major limiting factors for maize production and productivity. Genetic improvement provides an option to address some of the constraints facing maize production and productivity in Ethiopia today, but mainly relies on the presence of genetic diversity, systematic characterization, and effective use of available germplasm. To this end, the use of molecular tools in the Ethiopian maize breeding programs has enhanced the breeding selection process; however, a much more effort is need to further consolidate with the conventional schemes. The objective of this manuscript is, therefore, to review the status of molecular markers’ contribution to the conventional maize breeding in Ethiopia.