Plant Breeding

This review summarized the irrigated wheat production and its research achievements including the overall wheat production status of Ethiopia. The opportunities and challenges of irrigated wheat production and the current government initiatives on irrigated wheat production has been also reviewed where availability of excess surface water, human labor and a huge irrigable land were identified as the main opportunities for implementing it in most wheat cultivating areas of the country concluding that a great attention should be given for such income generating and food securing agricultural system. It has been reviewed that wheat is the most important staple crop and widely cultivating in most highlands of the northern, central and southeastern parts of the country under rainfed though the country has an estimated 3.8 million hectares of irrigable land. Although the potential benefits of irrigation are great, the actual achievement in many irrigable areas of the country is substantially less than its potential that is only almost 5% of the irrigable land is currently irrigated and less than 3% of households having access to irrigation. The national irrigated lowland wheat research and development program identified that the national wheat productivity could be progressed from 30 quintals to 50 quintals per hectare concluding that the irrigated wheat production is a very promising farming system. Thus, it has been reviewed that the confidence of small-hold farmers and commercial farmers in the irrigated wheat production needs to be increased with the increased roles of researchers in the development of irrigated wheat technologies.

Lack of improved rice varieties has been identified as one of the
challenges of rice research and development in Ethiopia, hindering the
national production and productivity of the crop. Hence, the national rice
research program of the country has tried to introduce and evaluate the
diverse upland rice genotypes under the rainfed cropping season. In this
experiment, 100 upland rice genotypes were introduced and evaluated
with three locally well-adapted upland rice varieties as the standard
checks using the augmented randomized complete block design/RCBD
experimental design with a plot size of 1.5m2 and 3 rows per plot. The
seeds were drilled in rows with a seed rate of 60 kilograms per hectare
(kgh-1
). The Nanoparticles/NPS (124 kgh-1
) and urea (100 kgh-1
)
fertilizers were applied. The days to 50% heading, days to 85% maturity,
plant height, panicle length, number of filled grains per panicle, number
of unfilled grains per panicle, grain yield, and 1000 seed weight in gram
were collected and subjected to a statistical analysis using SAS statistical
software with 9.4 version from which a significant variation for all the
traits was observed showing the presence of genetic variability among the
rice genotypes. The genotypes were highly and significantly varied on
their grain yield (coefficient of variation/CV= 7.86***), 1000 seed weight
(CV= 9.97**), and days to 85% maturity (CV= 2.38**). A lower
genotypic coefficient of variance and a higher phenotypic coefficient of
variance among the genotypes were obtained, indicating that the variation
was more due to environmental effects.

Although sorghum is an important cereal crop in Benishangul Gumuz, few studies have been undertaken on existing diversity. Hence, the objective of this study was to characterize sorghum landraces collected from five districts of north western BGRS. Twenty-five sorghum genotypes including the local check (Emohay) were tested in RCBD with three replications during the 20011/2012 rainy seasons at Pawe to assess the presence and degree of variability for desired morphological traits in sorghum landraces. Plots with two rows per plot each 5 m long with spacing of 0.75 m between rows, 0.15 m between plants and 1.5 m between blocks (a plot area of 7.5 m 2) was used. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among entries for most quantitative characters. Eleven landraces gave better grain yield between 41.38 to 48.9 q/ha indicating the possibility of identifying superior genotype to be selected among the landraces. Genotype 021pw-2010 was the highest yielded (48.9 q/ha) landrace. The lowest GCV and PCV were obtained for days to maturity while the highest PCV and GCV were obtained for plant height. Higher ratios of the phenotypic variance to genotypic variance were recorded for days to flowering, days to maturity, leaf length, leaf width, single leaf area, number of leaves, plant height, head length, head width, head weight and grain yield indicating that the traits will be highly influenced by the environment. Broad sense heritability estimates for the traits ranged from 45.1% (for head weight) to 99.8% (for single leaf area). Grain yield showed higher significant positive genetic correlation with days to maturity, head weight, head width and head length, and a negative significant correlation with single leaf area and number of leaves at phenotypic level. The high performing accessions of the landraces screened in this study should further be evaluated under a wide range of environments to find widely adapting landraces. The variability observed in the study could be given emphasis while planning a breeding strategy for increased grain yield. Collection, conservation and utilization of available materials across BGRS must be given attention.

Determining the extent and degree of germplasm diversity and genetic relationships among breeding materials is an
important aid in crop improvement research strategies with an understanding that genetic variability is the base for
crop improvement providing an opportunity for plant breeders to develop new and improved cultivars with desirable
traits and it is a key to reliable and sustainable production of crops through breeding. It has been also confirmed that
measuring the available genetic diversity of crops is important for effective evaluation and utilization of germplasms to
explore their variability so as to identify necessary agronomic traits. For eradicating the problem of rice production, the
national rice breeding and genetics research program of Ethiopia is introducing and evaluating different rice
germplasms for their environmental adaptability and agronomic performance with increasing the crops’ genetic
diversity. Likely, 100 upland rice genotypes were introduced and evaluated with 3 nationally released upland rice
varieties as standard checks using an augmented-RCBD experimental design. Each genotype was planted on a plot area
of 2.5 m2 involving 4 rows per plot with 0.25m spacing between each row. The seeds were drilled in rows with a seed
rate of 60 kgha-1. Nitrogen-phosphorus-sulfur (NPS) and Urea fertilizers were applied in the amount of 124 kg ha-1 and
100 kgha-1 respectively. This experiment was conducted to evaluate the introduced upland rice genotypes’
environmental adaptability and agronomic performance (their yield and yield related traits performance, and their
reaction to different pests) to be used for further breeding. To be used in the next rice breeding research program, the
extent of their genetic diversity needs to be estimated. Thus, the extent and pattern of genetic diversity of the tested
upland rice genotypes based on their quantitative traits has been determined using cluster analysis. The quantitative
traits such as days to 50% heading, days to 85% maturity, plant height, panicle length, number of filled grains per a
panicle and number of unfilled grains per a panicle, grain yield and 1000 seed weight were measured and were
subjected to clustering analysis using XLSTAT 5.03 statistical software. During clustering analysis, the genotypes were
grouped into five different clusters with different Euclidian distances confirming the presence of genetic variability
among the genotypes. The genotype with the highest grain (6298 kgha-1) yield was obtained and included under cluster III.

In Ethiopia, the current rice productivity is very low which is attributed to different abiotic and biotic constraints significantly
impacting rice productivity particularly in the north western parts of the country. In an effort to improve the productivity
of rice, the national rice breeding program of the country is introducing and evaluating different rice germplasms
targeting their adaptability and agronomic performance. Likewise, 352 lowland rice genotypes were introduced and
evaluated using augmented randomized complete block experimental design (Augmented-RCBD) with a plot area of 2.5
m2
involving 4 rows per plot. The seeds were drilled in rows with a seed rate of 60 kg per hectare. NPS fertilizer (124 kg
per hectare) and Urea (100 kg per hectare) fertilizers were applied. The quantitative traits such as days to 50% heading,
days to 85% maturity, plant height, panicle length, number of filled grains per a panicle and number of unfilled grains
per a panicle, and 1000 seed weight were collected and subjected to descriptive statistics (mean performance), ANOVA
and multivariate analysis (principal component analysis and clustering analysis) using SAS 9.4 and XLSTAT 2014.5.03
computer programs respectively so as to determine the extent and pattern of the genetic diversity among the tested
lowland rice genotypes. From the ANOVA considering the mean square value of the quantitative traits of the treatments
(Mean square (MS) of treatments) it has been observed that there is a significant variation for all the traits confirming
the presence of genetic variability among the genotypes. The first three principal components (PC1, PC2 and PC3) were
identified with a total cumulative variation of 78.90% showing that the genotypes could be grouped into different classes
and from the distribution plot, the tested genotypes were almost uniformly distributed in four quadrants pointing the
presence of genetic diversity among the genotypes. The clustering analysis result also strengthened the presence of a
genetic diversity among the tested rice genotypes where the genotypes were grouped into five clusters with different
Euclidian distances.

Drought stress is one of abiotic factor that threat crops economic part directly and indirectly; hence, result great yield losses in the world and become predominant cause for food security problem especially in developing countries. Pear millet is staple food crop used in different countries. It is widely produced around drought-prone arid and semi-arid regions where inter and intera seasonal rainfall variation of the areas become bottleneck for pear millet production. Thus, the current review conducted to understand pearl millet breeding for adaptation and performance under drought condition. From gene point of view crops drought resistance mechanism grouped in to drought escape, drought avoidance and drought tolerance. In all these three mechanisms crops express different control characteristics to overcome drought stress problem. Plants can use more than one mechanisms at same time based on regulators gene they posses for drought tolerance. Pear millet has huge noble traits such as rapid phonological development (early flowering which enables to escape), plasticity growth characteristics (tillering), deep and wider spread root growth and high water use efficiency those attribute for its adaptation and performance under drought stress. Both conventional and molecular breeding methods had being utilized and also currently under utilization for pear millet improvement for drought tolerance. Better performing genotypes selection and hybridization done conventionally and crosses were showed 66% heterosis over best parents in grain yield under stress; whereas marker assisted selection of QTL used for transfer of drought tolerant gene from drought tolerant genotype to drought susceptible genotype but, has good agronomic performance done using molecular breeding method. Hence, over 30% high yielders variety developed for drought threatens environments.

There are many biological regulators that enhance crop adaptation and performance under water deficit condition to realize sustainable crop production for food security and ample in put supply for Agro-industry. Hence, the current review conducted with the objectives to understand the effect of ABA for adaptation and performance of crops under drought stress. Absciscic acid (ABA) is one of Plant hormones that principally participate in crop response to drought stress. Its synthesis and catabolism for different function pass through many step in plant cell. After synthesis and catabolism ABA transported to different plant parts for regulatory purpose. ABA plays great role in plant adaptation and performance under drought starting from seedling emergency up to grain yielding by regulating plant cell, organ and organ system reaction to drought; this could be achieved through enhancing seed dormancy (inhibit seed germination during adverse condition) and reduction of water transpiration by promotion of stomata pore closure. Also via facilitating modification in root hydraulic conductivity, photosynthesis, biomass allocation between roots and shoots, plant water relations, osmolyte production, and synthesis of stress-responsive proteins and genes to confer stress tolerance ABA enhance crops performance under severe water deficit.

Co ea arabica L., the dominant cash crop in the world market, is native to rain forest of Ethiopia where it is believed to exist with high genetic diversity. Estimating genetic parameters are momentous in deciding breeding method to be followed for crop genetic improvement including Arabica co ee. e study was conducted with the intention to gauge genetic gain trend in co ee yield and to select advanced promising lines of Yayo co ee landrace for the next breeding step. e study was laid down at Metu research subcenter in 2013, using 124 co ee accessions that were established in simple lattice design under two sets each comprising 62 accessions including two checks. e over six year's pooled analysis of variance indicated the handiness variability in yield performance among accessions. Moderate genotypic variance (15.46 to13.56%), heritability (56.16-81%), and expected genetic gain (15.52-20.8%) were observed. e genetic parameters and the superiority of check in yield over accessions elucidated that high yielder variety development by selection is di cult unless heterosis attaining breeding method followed, particularly for these Yayo co ee landrace origin. Common high genetic gain trend (49.19 and 100 kg•ha −1) and response to selection (196.76 and 400 kg•ha −1), selection di erential 471.9 and 739.23 kg•ha −1 were revealed in over four harvesting seasons mean value for both sets. us, selection is more e ective in earlier season than late. High yielding accessions, Y27 and Y93, gave 3013.1 and 125.8 kg•ha −1 yield gain over the high yielder check correspondingly. Despite the top 15 and 10 high yielders were selected from set-I and set-II, respectively, a total of 20 accessions with contrasting desirable traits were selected and established in crossing block for genetic improvement purposes via heterotic hybrid variety development program. ese accessions were tolerant to major co ee disease and have desirable agronomic traits.

Arabica cofee is a perennial cash crop and highly afected by biennial bearing which disturbs farmers' annual income and world's cofee industries. Developing nonbiennial bearing variety is prominent in addition to applying feld management practices. Tis study was conducted from 2012 to 2020 in southwestern Ethiopia at Tepi and Gera to test the extent of genetic variability among Arabic cofee germplasm in biennial bearing and understand the infuences of bienniality on advanced selection. Te pooled analysis of variance revealed handiness of genetic variability in yield and biennial bearing. Te moderate genotypic coefcient of variation (10-20%), heritability (30-50%), and high genetic advance as percentage of the mean (>20%) were manifested in yield and biennial bearing. Response to selection and selection efciency were negatively afected by biennial bearing. Early selection excluded 30-40% of the top high yielders from advanced selection. Selection at four harvesting seasons revealed 90% and more selection efciency. Tus, one has to be conscious of the alternate bearing nature of lines during advanced selection. Both T43/11 and T51/11 were among the top high yielders and showed low biennial bearing at Gera and Tepi. T33/11, T49/11, T55/11, and T61/ 11 showed very low biennial bearing at both locations. Tese are promising lines and could be recommended for further biennial bearing improvement breeding programs.

Arabica cofee is a perennial cash crop and highly afected by biennial bearing which disturbs farmers' annual income and world's cofee industries. Developing nonbiennial bearing variety is prominent in addition to applying feld management practices. Tis study was conducted from 2012 to 2020 in southwestern Ethiopia at Tepi and Gera to test the extent of genetic variability among Arabic cofee germplasm in biennial bearing and understand the infuences of bienniality on advanced selection. Te pooled analysis of variance revealed handiness of genetic variability in yield and biennial bearing. Te moderate genotypic coefcient of variation (10-20%), heritability (30-50%), and high genetic advance as percentage of the mean (>20%) were manifested in yield and biennial bearing. Response to selection and selection efciency were negatively afected by biennial bearing. Early selection excluded 30-40% of the top high yielders from advanced selection. Selection at four harvesting seasons revealed 90% and more selection efciency. Tus, one has to be conscious of the alternate bearing nature of lines during advanced selection. Both T43/11 and T51/11 were among the top high yielders and showed low biennial bearing at Gera and Tepi. T33/11, T49/11, T55/11, and T61/ 11 showed very low biennial bearing at both locations. Tese are promising lines and could be recommended for further biennial bearing improvement breeding programs.

Drought is a limiting factor of coffee production and industry worldwide which result 40-80% yield loses. The most substantial solution for this factor is developing tolerant coffee variety. In order to design genetic improvement program, understanding the mechanisms exhibited by drought tolerant and desirable traits involved in coffee genotypes under drought stress is priority issue. Thus, the present review article was conducted with the intension to assess and to understand the drought tolerance mechanisms revealed in coffee for further genetic improvement program. So far, the achieved research results on drought tolerance mechanisms of coffee such as morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms were clearly discussed in this article. Drought tolerant coffee genotypes exhibited deep root, reduce leaf area and even shade leaf, control on stomatal conductance and leaf transpiration under water deficit. Under drought stress, several biochemical accumulation such as sugar, amino acid, carbon metabolism enzymes Viz sucrose synthase and phosphofructokinase were confirmed in drought tolerant coffee which favor osmoregulation and enable desiccation tolerance. Coffee breeders' experts should be conscious these desirable traits during coffee genetic improvement for drought tolerance. In Arabica coffee, CaERF017 is the most expressed gene under low temperature and drought stress. Generally, many genes identified in Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora that response to drought stress which are essential for intra and inter-cross for genetic enhancement and developing drought tolerant coffee variety.

Arabica coffee is a perennial cash crop and highly affected by biennial bearing which disturbs farmers’ annual income and world’s coffee industries. Developing nonbiennial bearing variety is prominent in addition to applying field management practices. This study was conducted from 2012 to 2020 in southwestern Ethiopia at Tepi and Gera to test the extent of genetic variability among Arabic coffee germplasm in biennial bearing and understand the influences of bienniality on advanced selection. The pooled analysis of variance revealed handiness of genetic variability in yield and biennial bearing. The moderate genotypic coefficient of variation (10–20%), heritability (30–50%), and high genetic advance as percentage of the mean (>20%) were manifested in yield and biennial bearing. Response to selection and selection efficiency were negatively affected by biennial bearing. Early selection excluded 30–40% of the top high yielders from advanced selection. Selection at four harvesting s...

Drought is a limiting factor of coffee production and industry worldwide which result 40-80% yield loses. The most substantial solution for this factor is developing tolerant coffee variety. In order to design genetic improvement program, understanding the mechanisms exhibited by drought tolerant and desirable traits involved in coffee genotypes under drought stress is priority issue. Thus, the present review article was conducted with the intension to assess and to understand the drought tolerance mechanisms revealed in coffee for further genetic improvement program. So far, the achieved research results on drought tolerance mechanisms of coffee such as morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms were clearly discussed in this article. Drought tolerant coffee genotypes exhibited deep root, reduce leaf area and even shade leaf, control on stomatal conductance and leaf transpiration under water deficit. Under drought stress, several biochemical accumulation such as sugar, amino acid, carbon metabolism enzymes Viz sucrose synthase and phosphofructokinase were confirmed in drought tolerant coffee which favor osmoregulation and enable desiccation tolerance. Coffee breeders' experts should be conscious these desirable traits during coffee genetic improvement for drought tolerance. In Arabica coffee, CaERF017 is the most expressed gene under low temperature and drought stress. Generally, many genes identified in Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora that response to drought stress which are essential for intra and inter-cross for genetic enhancement and developing drought tolerant coffee variety.

Coffea arabica L. is a perennial cash crop which is highly affected by biennial bearing. Most of the time, agronomic practices are applied with the objectives of boosting coffee productivity and production. But very less emphasis on their role of mitigating coffee yield bienniality. Most literatures and scholars didn't clearly and directly indicate the significance of agronomic practices in diminishing oscillation productivity of Arabica coffee. Thus, this review was conducted to assess the importance of salient agronomic practices in alleviating biennial bearing of Arabica coffee and to identify the existing gap by generating biennial intensity analysis from different findings. Salient agronomic practices such as fertilizer application, cover crop, shade, plant density and pruning methods were articulated in this article. These practices contributed in increasing productivity and mitigating bienniality via improving physiological jeopardize agents such as branch die-back, profuse flower bud, plant nutrient, over bearing of berries and rapid exhaustion of productivity parts and environmental stress. It was elucidated that sole field management was less efficient for biennial bearing mitigation than integrated management practices. The integrated agronomic practices that boost coffee yield need to be supported by non-biennial bearing variety for complete abolish of bienniality. Currently, there is no non-biennial bearing Arabica coffee variety. Thus, coffee genetic improvement for bienniality is highly recommended in future coffee breeding program.

Arabica coffee is the predominant commodity in contributing for foreign exchange in Ethiopia and improvement for yield and other desirable traits is highly momentous. Estimating genetic diversity is a prerequisite activity in plant breeding program for crop improvement. This study was designed to determine the extent of genetic variability among Wollega coffee landrace and importance of gene revealed in traits. The 26 genotypes were tested during the 2016/2017 cropping season at Mugi and Haru sub-enters using RCBD. The combined analysis manifested significant difference among genotypes only in node number per primary branch (NNPB), fruit traits and Coffee leaf rust (CLR) although significant difference recorded for 18 and 22 of the 23 traits at Haru and at Mugi, respectively. The difference between environments was significant for all traits, except for CLR, yield (YLD), leaf, some fruit and bean traits. Performance at Haru was less than at Mugi for all traits showed significant difference. Genotype x environment (GEI) was significant for all traits excluding NNPB, leaf length (LL), fruit width and CLR indicating inconsistency performance of Coffee genotypes. At Haru, high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV>20%) recorded for YLD (25.5%), CLR (110.0%) and number of secondary branch (NSB) (22.0%), but High genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV>20%) recorded only for CLR (99.6%). At Mugi, High PCV and GCV (>20%) recorded for YLD (38.6%) and CLR (98.4%). Heritability ranged from 10.0% (YLD) to 88.0% (BW) while genetic advance (GAM) ranged from 1.5% (LL) to 32.4% (NSB) at Haru. At Mugi, Heritability ranged between 31% (CLR) and 84.0% (bean thickness) and between 3.3% (LL) and 44.0% (YLD) for GAM. The present results elucidate the existence of moderate genetic diversity among genotypes for some traits at individual location indicating the possibility of improvement for desired traits via selection. For further diversity analysis, molecular characterization methods need to be carried out.

Background and Objective: Variability among genotypes and the association between yield and yield-related traits are among the prominent criteria for crop improvement. The current study was carried out to determine the genotypic correlation between yield and yield-related traits and to study the genotypic association among yield-related traits. Materials and Methods: A total of 26 coffee genotypes were involved in the study. The experiment was conducted at Haru and Mugi using RCBD with three replications. Around 23 quantitative traits were recorded and analyzed using R-software. Results: A significant different performance was revealed among genotypes in most traits at an individual location. Because of the discrepancy in performance, the focus needs to be given to generating technology separately for an individual location. Number of bearing primary branch (NPB) (gr = 0.99**), average length of primary branch (gr = 0.99**) and number of nodes per primary branch (gr = 0.99**) exhibited strong positive genotypic correlation with yield at Haru. Plant height, NPB, total node number and diameter of the main stem had shown positive genotypic correlation with the yield at both locations. Also, most of these traits showed a positive association with each other. Some bean and fruit traits showed a positive correlation with yield. Conclusion: Generally, one has to be cognizant to select genotypes with thick girth and tall possessing high node number from which a high number of primary branches emanate and wider canopy diameter having a high number of bearing primary branches during yield improvement via selection.

Conventional breeding has increased food production and created thousands of today's crop varieties to meet a highly diversified demand of agricultural products. However, the recombination of genetic elements through mating and selection is not precise, the new developed crop through conventional breeding contain some undesirable genes. This affects the effectiveness of the breeding process. Besides, the success of the breeding process may be limited by the lack of germplasm with the desired traits. Hence, the aim of this paper is to review the recent achievement of genetic engineering/molecular biotechnology on crop improvement. Genetic engineering allows gene transfer between unrelated genera or species. Genetically engineered varieties that developed using recombinant DNA techniques in addition to sexual crossing and selection has created additional issues for seed genetic purity for producers seeking to meet organic marketing standards. Genetic engineering is very essential ...

Rice (Oryza sativa L. and Oryza glaberrima Steud) belongs to the family Poaceae, is the most consumed staple food crops of the world and assists as a chief food basis for more than half of the world population(Wang et al., 2014). Rice is the second most-produced cereal in the world after wheat (Luz et al., 2016). Historically, rice was cultivated l0000 years ago in the river valleys of South and Southeast Asia and China. Most of the world's rice is cultivated and consumed in Asia (Chakravarthi and Naravaneni, 2006). Although Asia is the main place of rice cultivation; it also harvested in other continents like Latin America, Europe, USA and some parts of Africa (Zibaee, 2013). Rice was introduced in to Ethiopia during the 1970s and fast distribution of the crop within the country has been achieved due to the presence of vast suitable agro ecologies for rice production (Beakal et al, 2016). Rice has been recognized by the government as "the new millennium crop of Ethiopia" to attain food security (MOARD, 2010). Rice research has been started at different regional and EIAR centers with full collaboration of Fogera National Rice Research and Training Center (FNRRTC). Based on International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) classification, rice is cultivated through four production ecosystems (irrigated, lowland, upland and flood-prone) (Calpe, 2006). However, production of rice was decreasing through time due to many biotic and abiotic stresses. Among them drought is one of the most serous and common abiotic stress which affect yield and other traits of rice. Taking the world's total land surface area, hyper-arid zones represent 4.2%; arid zones represent 14.6% and semi-arid zones 12.2%. Thus, close to one-third of the world's total land surface Abstract: Rice is one of the most consumed staple food crop and assists as a chief food basis for more than half of the world population. T h e objective of this paper was to review recent efforts achieved in rice breeding for drought tolerance. Most of the world's rice is cultivated and consumed in Asia. Although Asia is the main place of rice cultivation; it also harvested in other continents like Latin America, Europe, USA and some parts of Africa. Rice was introduced in to Ethiopia during the 1970s and fast distribution of the crop within the country has been achieved due to the presence of vast suitable agro ecologies for rice production. However, production of rice was decreasing through time due to many biotic and abiotic stresses. Among them drought is one of the most serious and common abiotic stress which affect yield and other traits of rice. Early, intermittent or continuous and late drought stresses are three basic drought patterns affecting rice production. Drought in rice has a big impact both in economic and morphological characteristics of rice. Rice, like other crops, can potentially resist drought stress using three different strategies, such as drought escape through short duration varieties, avoidance and using drought tolerance traits. Conventional breeding, marker-assisted selection and genetic engineering are the main breeding approaches to develop drought tolerance rice varieties. Modern breeding approaches have a greater advantage than conventional for drought tolerance that can be identify a desirable gene, even in the absence of a visible trait, more precise and efficient and identify undesirable genes that can be eliminated in future generations. Among molecular markers, RAPD and ISSRs have become excellent tools for rice breeders. Ethiopia has wi de agricultural drought prone environments. However, not yet identify rice genotypes for drought tolerance. So, it needs a great effort to develop drought tolerant high yielding rice varieties in t h e country.