Journal of Environmental and Agricultural Sciences (JEAS). Alamirew et al., 2020. Volume 22(3): 13-22
Open Access – Research Article
Septoria Leaf Blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola) Incidence on Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its Association with Biophysical Factors of Western Amhara, Ethiopia
Belayneh Alamirew1, 2*, Merkuz Abera3, Ayele Badebo4
1Adet Agricultural Research Center, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
2Universidad Politècnica de Valencia, Spain
3Bahir Dar University, College of Agriculture and Environmental science, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
4International Maize and Wheat Improving Center, CIMMYT, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Abstract: Autumn Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important small grain cereals produced worldwide. Despite its economic significance, wheat production and productivity is challenged by biotic and abiotic factors. Septoria leaf blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola) is among the most important pathogens that inflict qualitative and quantitative losses on susceptible wheat varieties in the highlands of Western Amhara, Ethiopia. However, the relative importance of this pathogen has not been well documented to develop a sound management strategy in the studied areas. The survey was conducted during the  main cropping season (2017) to assess the Septoria leaf blotch incidence, severity, and management of the disease with cultural practices in nine districts of western Amhara. During the study, a total of 120 farmers’ fields in nine districts were surveyed. The field survey results revealed that there was96.7% prevalence of Septoria leaf blotch on bread wheat and only four fields (3.3%) were found free of infection. Mean incidence of Septoria leaf blotch varied from 33.7% in Burie to 90.2% in Farta district. The severity also ranged from 5.31 to 30.61% in the 116 fields. Wheat variety, wheat population density, previous crop, soil type, weed density and cropping system were significantly associated with Septoria leaf blotch incidence and severity. However, the impact of altitude on the specific disease incidence remained non-significant. In general, the current study suggests that the disease has become severe and a serious constraint in most assessed fields. So, the findings of the present study indicate the need to undertake different cultural practices, including late sowing, rotating with non-cereal crops (legumes) and mixed cropping system for the integrated management of Septoria leaf blotch. However, germplasm screening and selecting tolerant varieties could be the other option for the management of the Septoria leaf blotch in the future.
Keywords: Disease Associations, Disease Incidence, Importance, Septoria leaf blotch, Disease Severity, Variable.
*Corresponding author: Balayneh Alamirew: belayneh441@gmail.com
Cite this article as:
Alamirew, B., M. Abera and A. Badebo. 2020. Septoria leaf blotch (Mycosphaerella graminicola) incidence on bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and its association with the agroclimatic conditions of Western Amhara, Ethiopia. Journal of Environmental & Agricultural Sciences. 22(3): 13-22.
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Copyright © Alamirew et al., 2020. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium provided the original author and source are appropriately cited and credited.
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