Abstract:
Durum wheat is a major staple cereal crop in Ethiopia, but its yields and quality
have been threatened due to Fusarium head blight (FHB). A field experiment
was carried out at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center in the central
Ethiopia during 2022 cropping season in order to manage FHB of durum
wheat through integrated use of variety and fungicide application and
increase quality seed production. The experiment consisted of 18 factorial
treatment combinations of three fungicides (Unsprayed control,
Propiconazole and Tebuconazole) and six durum wheat varieties (i.e., AlemTena,
Utuba,
Mangudo, Et Cross-21, Ude, and Tesfaye), laid out in randomized
complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Seed quality tests were
conducted i n the seed laboratory using completely randomized design
(CRD). Data on disease, growth, yield, yield-related and seed quality
parameters were collected and analysis of variance was conducted using
SAS version 9.0, and Tukey’s tests used for mean separation at 5%. Results
revealed that the interaction effects of varieties and fungicides were
significantly reduce disease and increase grain yield and seed quality
parameters. The highest area under the disease progress curve (741.53% per
day) on variety Ude with control (unsprayed). The highest yield (4.63 t/ha) were
recorded on variety Et cross-21 with sprayed Tebuconazole. Lowest grain yield
was recorded from variety Alem-Tena (2.29 t/ha) with control (unsprayed).
FHB infected seed germination test result under standard, based on minimum
seed certification standards of wheat in Ethiopia (85%). In this study, highest
net benefit was obtained with treated Tebuconazole on variety Et cross-21.
Hence, this can be suggested for the study area. However, the study was done
in a single location and season. Therefore, additional location and season may
be required to advance a comprehensive recommendation as best fusarium head
blight management option.