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Table 1 The general folk classification criteria and some of the farmers' descriptors, descriptors class and examples

From: Infra-specific folk taxonomy in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench) in Ethiopia: folk nomenclature, classification, and criteria

Class of characters

Descriptors

Some descriptors class

Example

Botanical

Panicle type

Very compact, goose flat end

Muyra, Jeldi

  

Very compact, goose with pointed end

Muyra, Jeldi

  

Very compact, goose with pig-mouth end

Muyra, Wegere

  

Semicompact, goose flat end

Fendisha

  

Semicompact, goose oval

Wegere, Ammajicta

  

Semicompact, erect oval

Kuaffa Kassa

  

Very loose with erect rachis and dropping branches to one direction

Fechatee, Nanno, Fendisha

  

Very loose with no rachis and dropping branches to all direction

Fechatee, Nanno

 

Seed colour

Reddish brown

Fitibile

  

White

Arebe

  

Straw (ashy)

Wegere

  

Chalky white

Wegere

  

Grey

Muyra

  

Purple

Chamme, Worabe

  

Red

Muyra

  

Light red

Muyra, Fendisha

  

Light brown

Danga

  

Brown

Fitibile

  

Yellow

Wegere

  

White and Red

Tufkuur

 

Plant height

Tall

Fendisha

  

Medium

Wegere

  

Short

Gebabe

  

Very short

Jilbeb

 

Awns

Strong awn

Kirmi

  

Weak awn

Fendisha

  

Awnless

Muyra

Use

Injera

Excellent

Fendisha

  

Very good

Nanno

  

Good

Wegere

  

Poor

Muyra

Agro-ecological

Drought

Resistant

Ammajicta

  

Moderate

Muyra

  

Susceptible

Fendisha

 

Cold tolerance

Resistant

Merturasse, Fechatee

  

Moderate

Gebabe

  

Susceptible

Wegere, Arebe

Technological

Lodging

Resistant

Ammajicta, Jilbeb

  

Moderate

Gebabe

  

Susceptible

Wegere, Muyra

 

Bird resistance

Resistant

Kirmi, Firekolef, Fitibile

  

Moderate

Gebabe

  

Susceptible

Wegere, Muyra