Survey of Chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L) Ascochyta Blight ( Ascochyta rabiei Pass.) Disease Status in Production Regions of Ethiopia

Abstract

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important pulse crops in Ethiopia. Earlier reports and field observations have shown that Ascochyta blight caused by Ascochyta rabiei is one of the most devastating diseases of this crop in Ethiopia. Survey was conducted during August 2015 to February 2016 to determine the status of the blight disease in major chickpea the growing area of Ethiopia. A total of 251 on-station and on-farm fields were surveyed. Ascochyta blight was observed in 30 of the 251 fields and incidence ranged from 0 to 45.6 % with mean of < 10%. The highest mean incidence was observed in Ensaro district of Amhara region (46.6%) followed by Lume district of Oromia region (15%). The severity varied from 1 to 7 with mean severity of 1 to 3.2 which was observed in few fields. The low incidence and severity of the disease observed in the 2015/2016 season was associated with the drought conditions occasioned by El nino conditions.