Evaluation of Tepi and Its Surrounding Coffee Collections Against Major Coffee Diseases at Gera and Tepi

Coffee has for centuries played an important role in the Ethiopian economy and represents the main cash crop cultivated by small-scale farmers for social, economic, political and ecological sustainability. The estimated coffee production area in Ethiopia is 561,761 ha. In Ethiopia, coffee berry disease (CBD), coffee wilt disease (CWD) and coffee leaf rust (CLR) are foremost factors in reducing the quantity and quality of coffee in the country. developing disease resistant landrace coffee varieties and boost the yield with their intrinsic cup quality, a multidisciplinary research program has been designed and implemented at Jimma agricultural research center. To meet this objectives, local land race development program of Tepi 88 coffee collections were started in 2015 and 108 coffee accessions were collected and planted in 2016 at Tepi and Gera research sub centre by Jimma Agricultural Research Center. so, 88 coffee accessions were evaluated for their resistance using visual assessment, attached berry test to CBD, visual to scores CLR and laboratory inoculation test to CWD. There were significant differences among the Tepi coffee collections tested for resistance to coffee berry disease. The range was from 0% (T-83/2011) – 98% (T-63/2011) most of Tepi coffee accessions show susceptable reaction for CBD but most of the accessions show resistance reaction at Gera. Coffee collections were also evaluated for their resistance to coffee leaf rust under field condition at Tepi research center. Highly significant difference among coffee cultivars in percent coffee leaf rust severity was observed (Table 1). Coffee leaf rust disease percent severity varied between 0.17% (T-41/2011) – 21.7% (T-11/2011). There existed highly significant difference among cultivars both in percent wilt seedlings death and incubation period). Disease severity and incubation period on Tepi coffee collections varied between 9.33% (T-06/2011) –97.3% (T-21/2011) and 132 -10 days respectively. Based on over all detailed analysis of field evaluation and greenhouse test investigation for major diseases, and their Yield potentials, Nine Tepi coffee accessions were promoted to Variety verification.