Yield Loss Due to Septoria tritici Blotch (Septoria Tritici) of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract

Septoria tritici blotch (STB) is an economically important foliar disease on wheat. The current research was conducted to determine the yield loss of STB on wheat at Holeta and Kulumsa in 2017. Maximum relative grain yield loss (36%) was recorded on unsprayed plots of the variety Kekeba at Holetta. Whereas; at Kulumsa, maximum relative grain yield loss (39%) was on unsprayed plots of the variety Madawalabu. Disease severity, incidence and AUDPC showed highly significant and negative correlations with grain yield, spike length, plant height, and weight of kernel per spike, kernel number per spike, thousand seed weight and hectoliter weight. The present findings confirmed the importance of STB in Ethiopia and the role fungicides play in managing the disease on partially resistant varieties.

Keywords:  Correlation, Septoria tritici blotch, Yield Loss, Yield recovery.

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-10-01

Publication date:May 31^st 2020