SURVEY OF CHICKPEA WILT IN NORTH SHEWA ZONE, NORTH EASTERN ETHIOPIA AND EVALUATION OF CHICKPEA VARIETIES AGAINST FUSARIUM WILT (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris) ATSIYA DEBRNA WAYU WOREDA

Abstract

Chickpea is an important source of human food and animal feed and is grown in many parts of the world including Ethiopia. Chickpea production is constrained by several biotic and abiotic factors. Chickpea wilt disease is among the major constrains of chickpea in Ethiopia. Presently the information on the status of Chickpea wilts disease and reaction of chickpea varieties to the disease in the study area is lacking. Therefore the present study was conducted with the main objective of determining the status of Chickpea wilt disease at selected woredas of North Shewa Zone, North Eastern Ethiopia and to evaluate chickpea varieties for their reaction against the disease. The survey was conducted at chickpea potential production woredas (Moretna Jiru, Ensaro, Mojana Wedera and Siyadebrna Wayu) during 2018/2019 cropping season. The field data (disease incidence and prevalence)were collected by using simple random sampling technique from farmers’ and research fields. The pathogen was isolated from chickpea plants showing typical wilting symptoms. Pathogenicityof Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.ciceris was confirmed by root dipping inoculation technique in pots under plastic greenhouse condition by using susceptible variety kassech. Seven chickpea varieties were evaluated against Fusarium wilt reaction at Siyadebrna Wayu woredas naturally infested field. The design used for this experiment was randomized complete block design (RCBD) under field condition with three replications. Both incidence and severity data was taken from the field experiment. Chickpea Fusarium wilt incidence was recorded three weeks after sowing while severity data was taken for four consecutive weeks starting from three weeks after sowing. Disease prevalence of 100, 95, 90 and 85% were recorded in Siyadebrna Wayu, Ensaro, Mojana Wedera and Moretna Jiru woredas, respectively. While the percent disease incidence of four selected Woredaswere Ensaro (30.4%), Moretna Jiru (32.25%), Siyadebrna Wayu (36.55%) and Mojana Wedera (27.8%). The fungal mycelia of the isolates were smooth, white in color and, abundant on PDA. The macro conidia were falcate shaped i.e. straight to slightly curved with 3 septation, While the micro conidia was oval shaped. Based on these the pathogen was identified as F. oxysporum f. sp. ciceris. The re-isolated fungus was confirmed to be Fusarium oxysporium f.sp. ciceris in order to full filling the requirement for Koch’s postulates by pathogenicity test. From the tested varieties Minijar, Yelbe and Kassech were relatively susceptible, the check variety Kutaye was relatively moderately resistant (tolerant) and Natoli, Mastewal and Areriti were relatively resistant. Based on the findings of the present study, the chickpea varieties, Natoli, Mastewal and Areriti are relatively resistance and can be recommended for the farmers in the study area since they perform better than the control.it is essential to do further research on molecular identification of the fungus associated with chickpea wilt.