Prevalence, pathogen diversity and management practices of chickpea Fusarium wilt in Ethiopia

Abstract Chickpea productivity in Ethiopia is far below 2 t ha −1 which is too low as compared to its potential yield of 5 t ha −1 . Chickpea Fusarium wilt is one of the major bottleneck and the predominant challenge resulting up to 30% yield loss though varied with environmental conditions. This review is, therefore, designed to provide better insights on epidemiology, pathogenic variability and potential management strategies of Fusarium wilt of chickpea from different research findings with emphasis in Ethiopia. It has been reviewed that the disease occurs in all chickpea producing regions of Amhara (11–58%), Oromia (8–17%) and Tigray (5–31%) mean incidence rate. In Amhara region, more than 65 and 60% of the surveyed districts respectively retained mean wilt incidence and percent severity index of above 25%. Specific to districts, the disease is found to be of major economic importance in Gonji Kolela, Minjar, Ensaro, Merhabete, Moretna jiru, Mojana wedera, Gonder zuria, Dembia, Libo kemkem, Dejen, Debre werk, Motta, Habru and Ambo and Dendi districts with mean incidence rate ranging from 5% in Endamehoni (Tigray) and Becho (Oromia) to 58% at Gonji kolela in Amhara regional state. The management options employed to overcome the disease problem was focused on proper agronomic practices, including manure application; adjusted sowing dates; intercropping; optimum planting depth with optimum plant population and maintaining weed free environment. Besides, utilization of bio-agents like Trichoderma species can reduce the disease incidence by 92% as compared to untreated plots. Application of Thiophanate-methyl fungicide resulted in a severity difference of 84% with untreated one. Chickpea variety Arerti treated with protective fungicide sown on a raised seed bed resulted in 41.17% yield advantage. In addition, chickpea seeds treated with Carbondazim 12% combined with Curcuma longa rhizome extract @150ml/kg of seeds gave a yield advantage of 41.94%. On the other hand, chickpea seed treated with Mancozeb 63%@ 2g/kg of seeds integrated with carbondazim 12% resulted in a yield benefit of 34.42%. Therefore, the producers can adopt any of the aforementioned effective options alone or in combination considering availability, and compatibility.