Assessment of Wheat Diseases in South Omo Zone of Ethiopia

Abstract

Wheat is one of the most important cereal cultivated in Ethiopia. It ranks fourth after Teff ( Eragrostis tef ), Maize ( Zea mays ) and Sorghum ( Sorghum bicolor ) in area coverage and third in total production. But, its production and productivity is prone to divers biotic and abiotic factors. Among biotic factor diseases are the one. But, the relative importance of each disease across locations has not been known and well profiled to develop sound management strategy in the studied areas. So, the assessment was done to watch and monitor the status of wheat diseases and observe wheat varieties response to wheat diseases and to determine the prevalence of new virulence races and monitor new stem rust race (ug99) spread in the region. The assessment was carried out in two kebeles of South Ari districts of South Omo zone i.e. Senegal and Senmamer kebeles of South Ari woreda in 2014 Meher cropping season. Results indicated that the highest mean infection of leaf rust (70%) was recorded on local variety at Senmamer kebele followed by Digalo variety in Senegal kebele which is 65% and fusarium head blight (47%) on Huluka variety followed by ETBW5890 variety which is 40% were recorded at Senegal kebele. Whereas at Senegal kebele 30% fusarium head blight was recorded as the highest mean infection. Whereas the mean infection of powdery mildew is 20% at Senmamer kebele which is less as compared to mean infection of leaf rust and fusarium head blight. Different studies reported that wheat is affected by different diseases. The current assessment indicated that complex diseases exists in different wheat varieties and their occurrence across kebeles was highly variable. In addition to introduction and promotion of different management practices, holistic and cumulative integrated approach is required to manage the complex wheat diseases in the studied areas.