Importance of Wheat Stem Rust (Puccinia Graminis F.Sp. Tritici) in Guji Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Wheat (Triticum spp) is the most important cereals in Ethiopia, is threatened by abiotic and biotic constraints. Among the biotic, stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici) is one of the major limitations of wheat production. Information on the occurrence and reaction of cultivars to stem rust in Guji zone was unknown. Survey was conducted in Bore, Damma and Ana Sora districts of Guji zone to assess the prevalence, incidence and severity of wheat stem rust in 2011 growing season. During the survey work, 77 wheat fields in 17 Peasant associations of the three districts of Guji zone were assessed. The result of survey revealed that all the wheat fields were affected by stem rust in all the surveyed area. Incidences greater than 22.72% and lesser than 20% were recorded in Damma and Bore districts, respectively. Stem rust severity ranged from 18.16 to 27.39% in all the surveyed districts. The survey work showed that wheat stem rust was serious disease of wheat in the zones and may cause high economic loss if the susceptible local cultivars and Kubsa were continued to be grown in the area.