Distribution of Major Wheat Diseases on Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) In The Central Highland Part of Ethiopia

Wheat rusts and Septoria tritici blotch are among the most important constraints in wheat production in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to study the geographical distribution of major wheat diseases such as stem rust, yellow rust, leaf rust & STB in central highland parts of Ethiopia and determine the reaction of wheat cultivars to wheat rusts in the country during 2020 cropping season. A total of 48 wheat fields were surveyed in major wheat growing areas of Oromia & Amhara Regions of South West Shewa, West Shewa & North shewa zones. Septoria tritici blotch and yellow rust were the most widely distributed disease in the surveyed fields with a prevalence percentage of 100 & 68.5% respectively. The overall mean incidence values for Septoria tritici blotch, yellow rust, stem rust and leaf rust were 73.32, 26.9, 15.7 and 0.12%, respectively. Likewise, the overall mean severities were 22.6, 9.8, 8.6 and 0.01%, respectively in the same order. The incidences and severities of wheat rusts varied among wheat varieties in the season. Most varieties showed moderately susceptible to susceptible responses against yellow rust and stem rust populations. The predominance of susceptible varieties can be an important recipe for the development of rust epidemics in Ethiopia. The present findings confirmed the importance of Septoria tritici blotch, yellow rust and stem rust in Ethiopia. Hence, continuous supply of resistance varieties is needed to avoid wheat disease epidemics in the country.