Distribution and Intensity of Wheat Stripe Rust (<i>Puccinia striiformis </i>f.sp<i>. tritici</i>) Disease in Awi Zone, North West of Ethiopia

Stripe or yellow rust, caused by <i>Pucciniastriiformiswestend</i> f. sp. <i>tritici</i>, is one of the most commonly occurring diseases affecting of wheat and causes a significant yield loss worldwide, including Ethiopia. The survey was conducted in 2019/2020 main cropping season in five districts of Awi Zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia, with the aim of assessing the distribution and intensity of wheat stripe rust in Awi zone. It was carried out using purposive and random sampling methods having a total of 75 farmers’ fields. The results of the study revealed that, incidence and severity varied depending on agro ecologies and farmers’ agronomic practices but not disease prevalence. The prevalence was 100% across zone, individual districts and Peasant associations. In contrast, incidence and severity at district level varied 71.0-97.3% and 49.0-82.3%, respectively. At Peasant associations’ level, the respective incidence and severity ranged between 54%-100% and 28-97% respectively. Moreover, this study showed that different agronomic practices such as; type of preceding crop, plowing frequency, sowing method, wheat variety used, weeding system and plant growth stage did not alter the prevalence of the disease at the study area. Additionally, sowing method, plowing frequency and crop growth stage did not significantly alter incidence and severity. On the other hand, wheat variety used, previous crop, and weed density, significantly affected both disease incidence and severity. This suggests that if the environment is conducive, it may result development of disease epidemics and newly evolving races to risk of wheat to cause yield loss. To tackle this damage, intensive disease survey and surveillances needs to be conducted at untouched areas to develop management practices and develop protocols for resistance breeding and know distribution magnitude of this disease. Integration of breeding and pathology programs is a must to develop resistance variety for stripe rust and reduce yield loss.