Department of Biology
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.mu.edu.et/handle/123456789/107
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Item Ecophysiological, Agroecological and Nutritional Characterization of New Crop Camelina sativa L. Cranz in Tigray: a strategy to improve alternative foods and healthcare of communities in developing countries(Mekelle University, 2025-11-17) Gebremedhn Yohannes ZenebeThis thesis presents a comprehensive investigation into the ecophysiological, agroecological, and nutritional features of Camelina sativa L. Cranz. C.sativa is cultivated in Tigray to be a new novel oilseed crop to the region. Sub-saharan communities like in Tigray, Ethiopia, face significant challenges in achieving sustainable agricultural development and ensuring food security. Traditional agricultural systems in the region are often vulnerable to climate variability and soil degradation making it difficult to meet the growing nutritional and economic needs of the population. This necessitates for the exploration of alternative nutritious crops in general and oil crops in particular suited to the region's agroecological conditions and hence this research. Characterizing the nutritional profile of C. sativa seeds grown in Tigray's diverse agroecological zones provides essential information for leveraging the crop as a valuable source of essential fatty acids, protein, and other nutrients. These facts could enable to combat malnutrition and improve the overall health and wellbeing of communities. The ecophysiological characterization of C. sativa provides valuable insights into its growth and development under varying environments. This information can guide the development of optimized agronomic practices, including selecting sowing dates and suitable agroecology to maximize crop yields and minimize environmental impacts. This study, therefore, represents a critical step towards realizing the potential of C. sativa to contribute to a more secure, sustainable, and healthy future for communities in Tigray and Ethiopia. This study addressed critical knowledge gaps of camelina's adaptability to diverse agroecological zones by investigating its vegetative and physiological (chlorophyll A content, net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (TR), instantaneous water use efficiency (WUEi), and stomatal conductance(SC) performances, yield and yield parameters assessment, nutritional profile under local growing conditions, the relationship between environmental factors and seed quality and its adaptability to salinity stress. The study employed a multifaceted approach, integrating field experiments and laboratory analyses. Camelina was cultivated across six representatives Tabiyas, encompassing lowland, midland, and highland agroecological zones, over two growing seasons (2019-2020). Data collection included detailed weather monitoring, soil physicochemical analysis, assessment of seed yield and yield components, and comprehensive nutritional analysis of harvested seeds. A randomized complete block design was employed across lowland, medium altitude, and high. On conclusive terms highland locations with higher rainfall are generally optimal for yield and performance compared to midland and lowland due to temperature and rainfall patterns. Nutritional analyses revealed that highland-grown Camelina seeds were richest in essential nutritional components. Regarding the salinity stress, as concentration of NaCl and KCl was increased the overall germination and early seedling performance of C. sativa decreased. The effect of salinity on physiology, molecular and biochemical