Assessment of Factors Influencing Chocolate Spot (<i>Botrytis fabae</i>) Disease Epidemics of Faba Bean (<i>Vicia faba</i> L.) at Tach Gayint District in North Western Ethiopia

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Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is one of the oldest domesticated food legumes that have been cultivated for at least 5000 years. It is a multi-purpose crop that plays an important role in the socio-economic life of farming communities in Ethiopia. Chocolate spot disease, caused by Botrytis fabae is one of the yield limiting factors of this crop resulting in yield losses up to 68% in Ethiopia. A field survey was conducted in Tach Gayint district South Gondar Administrative Zone during the 2020/2021 main cropping season to assess the importance of the chocolate spot disease of faba bean. A total of 60 faba bean farmer fields were assessed in six (6) Kebele Administrations and most farmer fields were affected by chocolate spots. But the status of disease incidence and severity was varied. Significant differences among locations were observed due to altitude, soil type, planting density, date of planting, crop growth stages and farm history of the fields. Independent variables like Altitude, farm history, crop growth stage, date of planting and planting density were significantly associated with both disease incidence and severity when entered first and last into a model. The finding indicates that the lowest plant density and late planting of the crop reduce the incidence and severity of the disease.