Evaluation of Faba Bean (Vicia Faba) Varieties Against Chocolate Spot (Botrytis Fabae) Disease in East Gojjam Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Though, faba bean has an important place in Ethiopian national dietary and is consumed in various forms, the average yield of faba bean is very low. Its production is severely challenged by biotic factors. Chocholet spot (Botrytis fabae) is major biotic factor that reduced faba been grain yield. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate and screen faba bean varieties against this disease at farmers’ fields of major faba bean growing area of East Gojjam zonen in Gozamin, Sinan and Debay Tilatgen Districts. The field study was conducted with seventeen faba bean varieties of one local control and sixteen released varieties in Complete Randomized Block Design replicated three times. The reaction of faba been varieties to B. fabae was significant (P<0.001). B. fabae was prevalent in all experimental fields posing a significant yield loss with their highest and least severity was recorded at Gebelecho and Dosha varieties, respectively when comparing to the local control. The area under disease progress curve was significant (P<0.001). Yield and yield parameters were significantly (P<0.001) different in all locations.  In general Dosha, Tumsa, Wolki and Hachalu varieties were high yielder and resistant to B. fabae in all localities. Therefore in the future, in the study areas, the farmers should plant among these four varieties which are high yielder and resistant to B. fabae.

Keywords: Chocholet spot, Dosha, Tumsa, and Wolki