Abstract
BackgroundSeptoria tritici blotch (STB) (Zymoseptoria tritici) is a major disease of durum wheat, an economic crop grown in the highlands of Wollo in Ethiopia.MethodsTo determine the status of this disease, we conducted surveys in five districts of Wollo (Meket, Woreilu, Wadila, Jama, and Dessie Zuria) during the 2015 cropping season. We visited 75 farm plots to determine the prevalence, incidence, and severity of STB.ResultsSTB prevalence varied among locations, genotypes, planting dates, growth stages, previous crops, plant population, weed population, and soil types. Similarly, disease intensity also varied along all independent variables. The level of incidence was high in all the visited districts, and the level severity ranged from 9.9 to 59.3% while the incidence varied from 50 to 100%. The mean differences in incidence and severity within the districts’ variable classes, altitude, varieties, growth stage, plant population, planting date, previous crop, weed population, and soil type were high. The independent variables, districts, altitude, varieties, growth stage, plant population, planting date, previous crops, weed population, and soil type, were significantly associated with high incidence and severity of STB as single predictor in the logistic regression model. A reduced multiple variable model was fitted using districts, altitude, varieties, growth stage, plant population, planting date, previous crop, weed population, and soil type as independent variables. High incidence (> 50%) and severity (> 25%) had a high probability of association to all independent variables, except previous crop. Low disease incidence (≤ 50%) and low disease severity (≤ 25%) had high probability of association to the previous crop.ConclusionEnvironmental variables, cultivation practice, and responses were important for the development of STB. Therefore, these factors must be considered in designing strategies for the effective management of STB.
Highlights
Zymoseptoria tritici is the causal agent for septoria tritici blotch (STB) that attacks durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) (Eyal et al 1985)
Environmental variables, cultivation practice, and responses were important for the development of STB
Our results show environmental variables, cultural practice, and responses were important for the development of STB
Summary
Zymoseptoria tritici is the causal agent for septoria tritici blotch (STB) that attacks durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum) (Eyal et al 1985). Zymoseptoria tritici is the causal agent for septoria tritici blotch (STB) that attacks durum wheat In the USA, septoria tritici blotch is second only to wheat stem rust in terms of importance, and it is the number one disease of wheat in Russia and many countries of Western Europe (Ponomarenko et al 2011). This fungus is essentially a leaf pathogen and rarely causes blotches on glumes. Septoria tritici blotch (STB) (Zymoseptoria tritici) is a major disease of durum wheat, an economic crop grown in the highlands of Wollo in Ethiopia
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
