Coriander ( Coriandrum sativum L.) Varieties Adaptation Trial in Kellem Wollega Zone of Western Oromia

In Ethiopia, coriander is an important spice crop cultivated for household consumption and income generation, but productivity in many areas is constrained by limited access to well-adapted varieties, disease pressure, and variable growing conditions. This study evaluated five improved coriander varieties (Derara, Gadisa, Batu, Tulu, and Walta-I) together with a local cultivar to identify adapted and high-yielding materials for the midland agro-ecologies of Kellem Wollega Zone, western Oromia. The trial was conducted at Belem, Gute Aneni, and Hewa Gelan during the 2025 cropping season using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected on phenology, growth, yield and yield components, and disease reaction. Combined analysis of variance showed highly significant differences among varieties for most agronomic and yield-related traits, while location effects were significant for several traits. The variety × location interaction was not significant for most traits, except days to maturity and total seed yield, indicating relatively consistent performance across the test locations for many characters. The local check produced the highest mean total seed yield (1,124.67 kg ha -1 ), followed by Batu (283.83 kg ha -1 ), whereas Derara (157.82 kg ha -1 ) and Walta-I (169.75 kg ha -1 ) produced the lowest yields. The local check also showed superior performance for several growth traits and relatively low disease scores. The results demonstrate the value of locally adapted coriander cultivar and support further evaluation, farmer-participatory testing, and characterization of local materials for future coriander variety improvement in Kellem Wollega Zone.