http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/17399 2026-10-13T01:48:23Z 2026-10-13T01:48:23Z Yilma, Abebe http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/17413 2026-10-07T06:51:23Z 2026-05-01T00:00:00Z

Integrated Management of Chickpea Fusarium Wilt: Insights from Epidemiology, Farmers Practices, and Pathogen Characterization in West Amhara, Ethiopia Yilma, Abebe Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), a legume of immense nutritional and economic significance has a unique niche in Ethiopian agriculture. However, Ethiopia's current productivity, which is about 2 tons per hectare, is incredibly low compared to its attainable yield of 5 tons per hectare. This could partially be attributed to chickpea Fusarium wilt; one of the most devastating diseases that gave rise to considerable grain yield loss. This study employed a multi-dimensional approach integrating socioeconomic assessments, epidemiological surveys, lab-based identification, pathogenicity test and pathogenic potential studies, and field-validated management trials to establish sustainable management options for chickpea Fusarium wilt in West Amhara, Ethiopia. A socio-economic survey of 246 farmers across four districts revealed a significant knowledge and disease management practice associated with socioeconomic variables. Thus, age, farming experience and farm holding size were significantly associated with disease related knowledge. A two-year epidemiological disease survey (2022–2024) across six districts demonstrated that chickpea Fusarium wilt is ubiquitous, with its intensity significantly influenced by biophysical factors. The minimum wilt incidence (8.63%) and percent severity index (8.78%) were noted from chickpea fields planted late in the season after four or more consecutive years of crop rotation practice. Conversely, the maximum wilt incidence (43.74%) and percent severity index (39.58%) were obtained from fields owning early planted chickpeas after one year of crop rotation practices. Pathogenicity tests revealed that all isolates obtained from infected roots of chickpea were found to be pathogenic; inducing yellowing and wilting symptoms with a mean incidence percentage ranging from 7.9 to 63%. Thus, about 61% of the isolates were moderately pathogenic causing a wilt incidence of 30-50%. The rest 22.2 and 16.7% of the isolates were highly pathogenic and less pathogenic by inducing above 50% and less than 30% mean wilt incidences respectively. Integrated laboratory and greenhouse studies confirmed that while Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri is a well-established soilborne pathogen, it also possesses seed-borne nature. Thus, this study demonstrated that about 62% of the isolates sourced from infected chickpea seeds were able to induce wilt and yellowing symptoms. Delayed planting, long-term crop rotation practices and proper weed management is pivotal for effective management of chickpea Fusarium wilt. Moreover, field experiments conducted in two districts showed significant synergistic interaction among seed dressing fungicides, chickpea varieties and vermi-compost application and an impact on wilt intensity, yield, and yield components of chickpea. Thus, the Natoli variety treated with Goldazim 500SC seed dressing fungicide and supplemented with vermi-compost showed the lowest wilt incidence and severity in both study sites. However, untreated Dhera variety retained the highest mean incidence and disease severity of 26.83% and 30.67% respectively at Bahir Dar Zuria which is also consistently highest at Fogera site. The maximum grain yield recorded was 2953.8kg ha achieved by the Natoli treated with Goldazim 500SC and receiving Vermicompost application. The study also noted that the highest grain yield loss due to Fusarium wilt were 27.8% at Bahir Dar Zuria and 23.96% in Fogera district correlating with increased disease incidence and severity. Chickpea producers should focus on an integrated package consisting of the Natoli variety, Goldazim 500SC seed treatment, and vermicompost application, supplemented by use of healthy planting seed, delayed planting and extended crop rotation practices. -1

2026-05-01T00:00:00Z Andargie, Melkamu http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/17412 2026-10-07T06:43:11Z 2025-11-01T00:00:00Z

Prevalence, Characterization, and Integrated Management of Finger Millet [Eleusine Coracana (L) Gaertn] Blast [Magnaporthe Grisea (Hebert) Barr] in Western Amhara, Ethiopia Andargie, Melkamu Finger millet is an important cereal crop grown in Ethiopia, including in the study area. However, the production and productivity of the crop is limited by biotic and abiotic factors. Among the biotic factors, blast disease caused by the fungal pathogen, Magnaporthe grisea is severely limiting the yield of the crop. This study was conducted to investigate the intensity of blast disease on finger millet, and identifying effective management options in Western Amhara. Field surveys carried out in 2022 and 2023 revealed 100% prevalence, with incidence and severity levels varying from 15.21% to 58.26% and18.24% to 86.98% respectively. The highest incidence and severity were observed in Semien Achefer (56.54%), and in Jabi Tehnan (65.38%) districts respectively. While the lowest values recorded in Dangila district. These differences might be attributed due to variations in agro-climatic conditions, farming practices, and/or the susceptibility of finger millet varieties. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to survey farmers' local knowledge, and management strategies. Although many farmers had observed blast symptoms for almost a decade, 46.8% were unaware of its causes or how it spreads, while only 33.2% associated it with susceptible varieties. Farmers use different indigenous management methods including burning crop residues (39.3%) and decreasing nitrogen fertilizer use (11.6%), but only 0.4% reported using fungicides. Key challenges to effective disease management included a lack of awareness, a low perceived level of risk, and limited access to effective control measures. During the 2022 rainy season, blast-infected finger millet samples (leaf, neck and finger) were collected from the study areas, isolated and characterized in the laboratory. The findings revealed significant morphological and physiological diversity among pathogen isolates. The best growth was observed at 30℃ with a pH of 6.5, while oatmeal agar was the most suitable culture medium. In addition, 64 finger millet genotypes were evaluated under epiphytic conditions at two research sites (Adet and Finote Selam) using simple lattice design. The level of resistance varied between locations and among genotypes. G14, G31, G60, G16, G35, and G32 consistently exhibited resistance, whereas G7, G14 and a local check were found to be high-yielders. An integrated field experiment was conducted to examine the combined effects of four varieties (Bako-09, Tessema, Necho and a local check) and three fungicides (Hexaconazole + R Tricyclazole, Trifloxystrobin 100 g /l + Tebuconazole 200 g/l and Propiconazole), arranged in factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD). The findings revealed that Bako09, treated with Hexaconazole + R Tricyclazole, showed the least disease severity and achieved the highest yield (3045.1 kg/ha), with an economic return of 13,479. Use of Bako-09, high-yielding local varieties together Hexaconazole + R Tricyclazole, and strengthening extension services to improve farmer awareness on disease identification and management are recommended to increase finger millet production in west Amhara and similar agro-ecological zones of Ethiopia.

2025-11-01T00:00:00Z Hussen, Seid http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/17411 2026-10-07T06:37:39Z 2026-09-01T00:00:00Z

Epidemiology, Characterization, and Management of Faba Bean Gall (Physoderma Viciae) Disease in Faba Bean (Vicia Faba) in South Wollo, North-Eastern Ethiopia Hussen, Seid Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important food and cash crop in the highlands of South Wollo, northeastern Ethiopia. Its production is increasingly threatened by faba bean gall disease caused by Physoderma viciae. This study investigated the epidemiology of the disease, characterized the causal pathogen, evaluated host resistance, and assessed integrated management options during the 2022 and 2023 main cropping seasons. A total of 200 farmers’ fields were surveyed to determine disease prevalence, incidence, and percentage severity index (PSI) in relation to agro-ecological and crop management factors. Pathogen characterization combined symptom assessment, histopathological examination, cultural isolation, and molecular detection using Physoderma-specific primers. Field experiments evaluated 28 faba bean genotypes and four varieties × five fungicide treatments using randomized complete block designs, with analysis of variance in R. Faba bean gall was widely distributed across all surveyed districts. Prevalence, incidence, and PSI were higher in 2022 (97.41%, 74.81%, and 64.01%, respectively) than in 2023 (90.19%, 64.17%, and 47.21%, respectively), corresponding with greater rainfall and relative humidity in 2022. Disease intensity increased with altitude, particularly above 2,844 m a.s.l., and was highest at the flowering stage. Logistic regression identified district, year, altitude, variety, previous crop, fungicide application, and field drainage as significant determinants of disease development, with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals reported in the main text. Histopathological examination and molecular detection confirmed P. viciae directly from symptomatic field tissues, whereas culture-based methods yielded only saprophytic fungi. Among genotypes, Dosha, Obse, Wolkie, and FB-26869 showed the lowest disease incidence, severity, and AUDPC values, while local varieties and genotypes EH96048-1, EH00102-8-1, EH97091-2, and Gora were the most susceptible. Grain yield was negatively correlated with disease parameters (r = −0.75 to −0.86) and decreased by 0.031– 0.040 t ha⁻ ¹ for every 1% increase in disease severity. Integrated management combining moderately resistant varieties with fungicide application significantly reduced disease incidence, severity, and AUDPC and increased grain yield. The combination of Dosha with Noble 25 WP produced the highest grain yield (3.79 t ha⁻ ¹) and the highest net benefit (US$ 2,293.63– 4,168.20 ha⁻ ¹). In conclusion, faba bean gall is a major environmentally driven constraint to faba bean production in South Wollo, with disease development strongly influenced by altitude, moisture conditions, and host susceptibility. Integrated management involving moderately resistant varieties, improved field drainage, cereal-based crop rotation, and timely fungicide application is recommended for sustainable disease management. Future research should prioritize DNA sequencing and phylogenetic characterization of P. viciae populations, development of reliable inoculation techniques, breeding for durable resistance, and improvement of disease forecasting systems to support sustainable faba bean production in the highlands of northeastern Ethiopia

2026-09-01T00:00:00Z