MOIphological and isozyme diversity study of 55 emmer wheat (TriticuIII dicocculIIrn(Schrank) Schub.) populations and the associated ethnobotanical knowledge in Arsi andrnBale have been undertaken in this study. A total of 55 landrace populations (25-45 singlernplant per population which is a total of 1885 entries) were considered for mOlphologicalrnstudy. Protein content was determined for the 37 emmer wheat populations following thernstandard procedure. The dl)' malter, ash, organic matter and Ca were done for 55 emmerrnwheat population following the standard protocol. The isozyme variations in the threernenzyme systems: esterase (EST), acid phosphatase (ACP) and aspartate aminotransferasern(AA T) were investigated for 12 emmer wheat populations selected after clustering them onrnmOlphological characters.rnMean, coefficient of variations, heritability, genetic advance, correlation coefficients cluster analysis, chi- square test, multidimensional scaling, and discriminant analysis wererndone for each mOlphological character. Correspondence analysis and Shannon's diversityrnindex (H,) were used to estimate the morpholOgical variation. The coefficient of variationrnwas large for most traits in Shewa indicating more diversity in this region. This wasrnfurther confirmed by Shannon's diversity index where the mean diversity (H ') was thernhighest in this region (0.78) followed by Harerghe and Gonder, the least diversity indexrnwas shown by Tigray region. H' at population level ranged frOIll O(lIIonomOlphic) to 1rn(poIYIIIOlphic) for sOllie traits. The overall mean diversity for Ethiopia was estimated to bernH' ~ 0.75. Farlllers in the study area assert/hat emmer wheat is mOlphologically uniformrnand this was confirmed through field observation. This crop has important traits in diseasernresistance, stress tolerance and traditional use values. Fanners in Arsi and Bale regionsrnhave their own folklore, songs, and sayings on this particular crop to indicate its use value and problems related with its hulledness. Phenotypic polymO/phism was observed for thernthree ellZymes. Relatively higher variation was observed for esterase ellZyme i>ystem andrnno variation was detected for enzyme system aspartate amino transferase (AAT). Positivern(though not significant) correlation was observed between mOlphological diversity indexrnand mean heterozygosity based on isozyme data.rnThe Arsi and Bale area niakes an important in-situ conservation site for em/ner wheatrnbecause of the specialty of the crop to the society.rnKey words: Triticum dicoccum, emmer wheat diversity, morphological character, protein,rnisozyme, ethnobotany