Tea (Camellia sinensis) is one of the most commonly consumed beverages next to water worldwide. However its production and productivity is constrained by many fungal diseases in Ethiopia. Despite this, there is lack of information on the status of the diseases and lack of knowledge on features of the pathogens associated with the diseases as there have been no any systematic assessments conducted so far. Therefore, the current works were designed with the objectives to assess the distribution of tea diseases and identify the associated pathogens. For this purpose, field surveys were carried out across three tea estate farms (Wushwush, Chewaka and Gumaro) and tea out growers surrounding them in Kafa, Sheka and Ilu Aba Bora zones in Southwest Ethiopia during the 2019 season. Causative pathogens of the diseases were identified using cultural and morphological features. The average Fusarium wilt incidence varied from (0 to 20%), Black rot (7-15%), Bird's eye spot (4-15%), Brown blight (2-5%) and Grey blight (0.5-5%) while mean disease severity of Black rot, Eye spot, Brown blight and Grey blight ranged from 4-11%, 3-9%, 1-5% and 0.5-5%, respectively. Fusarium wilt, black rot disease and eye spot diseases of tea directly related to tea yield loss. Algal leaf spot disease caused by Cephaleuros virescens was observed at Gumaro tea estate farm on the older leaves of aged tea bushes. The present study revealed the economic importance of tea diseases in Southwest Ethiopia. Future research should be directed towards the investigation and determination of management options for the control of important diseases of tea in the country.
Thread blight caused by Corticium koleroga is a devastating disease that causes severe damage to C. arabica in south-western Ethiopia. However, it is one of the least researched diseases in Ethiopia. Therefore, the current work was designed with the objectives to assess the incidence and severity of the disease and identifying major factors associated with the disease intensity in south-western Ethiopia. For this purpose, field surveys were conducted on 180 farmers' fields in 12 districts of major coffee growing areas in south-western Ethiopia during 2017 cropping season. The average thread blight incidence varied from 0% to 46% while mean disease severity ranged from 0% to 44%. The thread blight disease incidence and severity were higher at areas representing highland and midland altitudes compared with lowland altitudes. Thread blight severity was positively and strongly associated with rainfall (r=0.75) and relative humidity (r=0.85), but the disease severity was negatively and strongly associated with mean temperature (r=-0.79) and shade level (r=-0.50), while it was positively and intermediately correlated to altitude (r=0.44) and coffee production systems (r=0.36). The present study revealed the importance of coffee thread blight in south-western Ethiopia and identified factors associated with the disease intensity. Future research should be directed towards surveying more agro-ecologies to have a complete picture on the importance of thread blight disease across the country and to recommend disease management strategies.
Mango considered as a major fresh fruit used in the world and produced in several tropical and sub-tropical countries. The production of the crop has increased at alarming rate in the producing areas to feed its demands increments. It is a major fruit widely grown in Ethiopia and placed on second rank in terms of area coverage. Its production in Ethiopia is very low as compared to other countries production and potential of the crop. Even though, many factors reported by farmers, affordability agricultural inputs mainly fertilizers, pesticides and pests are the major challenges for the production of the crop. Recently, white mango scale, Aulacaspis tubercularis is the major problem affecting mango production in Ethiopia. This pest was first reported in Loko, Guto Gidda district, east Wollega zone of the Oromia region on August, 2010. The infestation of pest has been speeded at an alarming rate and recorded from almost all mango producing areas of the country. Its population dynamics is increased from October to March and reached the highest peak on April in Didesa and Green focus sites. While, at Bako areas, the population of the pest increased from October to April and reached the highest on May. Pruning supported with insecticides decreased the infestation of the pest. But natural enemies showed promised results in South Africa; as a result in Ethiopia it is on the process to introduce these bio-agents. Integrated approaches of biological control agents, cultural practices and insecticide for the sustainable and eco-friendly management option needs further study.
Tea is one of the most commonly consumed stimulants in the world. It is cultivated commercially at Wushwush, Gumero, and Chewaka tea estate plantations, in Ethiopia. Over 150,000 hectares of Ethiopian land are available for the production of high-quality tea, but only 3,099 hectares are currently under cultivation. In Ethiopia, tea clones Mlk-1, Mlk-2, 11/56, S-15/10, FNF, 11/4, 6/8, L6, B9, Chai, BB-35, and SR-18 are commercially grown. Ethiopia’s favorable environmental conditions for high-quality tea production increased the availability of tea throughout the year, and the availability of a sufficient labor force is a significant opportunity for tea companies. However, tea production is still infant because it needs huge capital to establish the tea plantations and production, the pest problems, limitations of improved technologies like cultivars, and lack of tea genetic resources. Besides, there is a limitation of comprehensive research to develop innovative technologies in the case of tea agronomic, breeding, and pest management for Ethiopian conditions. Thus, the government should invite investors and facilitate necessary things for the investors to increase the tea industry in the country. The tea research should be strengthened for the development and implementation of the appropriate technologies.
Coffee thread blight caused by Corticium koleroga is one of the fungal pathogens that cause severe damage to Coffea arabica in southwest Ethiopia. However, there are very few research findings on the features of the pathogen in Ethiopia. Therefore, the current work was designed with the objectives to characterize pathogen isolates and determine the pathogenicity of the Corticium koleroga isolates. For this purpose, diseased samples were collected from 11 districts of southwest Ethiopia during the 2017 cropping season. C. koleroga isolates were characterized using macroscopic and microscopic features. Eleven isolates of C. koleroga collected from southwest Ethiopia varied in their colony colour ranging from white to floral white, with circular to irregular form and filiform to entire in margin on PDA plates. Growth rate of the isolates was between 6 and 9 mm/day in diameter. Morphological variations in basidiospores length and basidial shape were also evident among the isolates. Average basidiospore size ranged from 10 to 13.75 x 3.75 to 5µ. All isolates were pathogenic to C. arabica (74110 susceptible variety), with significantly different (P<0.01) lesion size. The most aggressive isolate was Yayu isolate, followed by isolates from Andaracha and Mettu with average lesion size of 95.55, 94.49 and 93.29%, respectively. The current study revealed the identity of Corticium koleroga in southwest Ethiopia. Future research should be directed towards molecular characterization of the pathogen.
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