Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is a key vegetable crop in Ethiopia, significantly contributing to nutrition, income generation, and foreign currency earnings. However, its production faces ch allenges f rom pests and a shortage o f improved v arieties t h at o ffer acceptable y ields and quality. T his study aimed to identify varieties with higher green pod yields and quality. A field experiment was conducted at four agricultural research centers—Melkassa, Woramit, Debre Markos, and Wendogenet—and one commercial farm in Koka during 2021 and 2022. Six hot pepper genotypes (CCA-984-A, CCA-321, CCA-323, Mr. Lee no. 3 selex, Melka Awaze, and Chala) were evaluated using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The combined analysis of variance across locations and years revealed significant differences among the genotypes in both marketable and total yield. CCA-323 achieved the highest marketable pod yield at 225.72 q/ha, followed closely by the Chala check at 204.81 q/ha. A similar trend was noted for total green pod yield. The performance of the genotypes was highly significant (P<0.01) under both irrigation and rain-fed conditions. Additionally, significant differences genowere observed in various traits, including days to 50% flowering, plant height, plant width, pod weight per plant, pod length, pod diameter, and pod wall thickness. The CCA-323 genotype demonstrated an elongated pod shape, dark green color, smooth surface, high storability, and medium pungency, aligning well with consumer preferences in the green pod market. It proved to be a highly stable and high-yielding genotype. As a result, CCA-323 was released as ‘Koka-1’ for green pod production in the tested sites and similar agro-ecologies of Ethiopia. This variety is expected to enhance both the economic and nutritional value for hot pepper farmers and consumers and can serve as a parental line for future breeding programs.

Cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L,. var. cerasiforme Mill.) is small fruits with a bright red color resembling a cherry and having an excellent taste, sweet and juicy ambience. So far, no cherry tomato variety was registered in Ethiopia. Consequently, six genotypes were imported from National Institute of Horticulture and Herbal Sciences (NIHHS), Rural Development Administration (RDA) Republic of Korea, and field experiment was conducted in RCBD with three replications at six Ethiopian testing sites, with irrigation, during off-seasons of 2021 and 2022 to identify high yielding, well adapted and good quality varieties. The overall analysis of variance across locations and years showed non-significant difference among the genotypes for marketable and total yields. But separate analysis for each site has revealed significant differences among genotypes at Melkassa, Koka, Adami- Tulu and Fogera, unlike that of Kulumsa and Woramit. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) among these genotypes for fruit numbers per plant, average fruit weight, fruits per cluster, plant height, skin thickness, juice volume and total soluble solid. Wonhong No.3 gave higher marketable (24.49 t/ha) and total (26.19 t/ha) yields, and generally Wonhong Nos.3 and 5 had higher yields and good qualities across these tested locations and years. Hence, Wonhong No.3 (designated as Jorgie-1) was registered for its higher yield, non-cracking, good TSS and color, while Wonhong No.5 (renamed as Jorgie-2) was preferred for its smaller fruit size, reasonable yield and quality (TSS, color, non-cracking). Hence, both varieties were officially registered in 2023 season for commercial production in different agro-ecologies of Ethiopia, and they are believed to add more economic and nutritional values for the tomato producers and the consumers. They can also support the intensification of tomato cultivation in peri-urban and urban agriculture, where demands and thus government focus are increasingly growing.