Current status of wilt/root rot diseases in major chickpea growing areas of Ethiopia

Abstract

Wilt/root rot diseases are a major chickpea production constraint in Ethiopia causing yield losses by reducing the number of plants. To determine the current status of disease incidence and distribution, surveys were conducted in the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 cropping seasons in major chickpea growing zones of Ethiopia. Despite recent efforts in dissemination of improved varieties, low to high incidence of 0.0–83.4, 0.0–27.6, 1.3–19.8 and 0.0–16.3% and 1.0–81.9, 0.0–25.5, 3.0–13.9 and 1.0–21.5% in East Gojjam, Southwest Shewa, North Shewa and West Shewa in 2013/2014 and 2014/2015, respectively. Therefore, integrated pest management strategies should be developed and availed to farmers.