Field Response of Wheat Genotypes to Septoria Tritici Blotch In Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

Septoria tritici blotch is an economically important foliar disease in the major wheat-growing areas of Ethiopia. Genetic resistance remains the first line of defense against this foliar disease, especially in developing countries for resource poor farmers and the most environmentally friendly and profitable strategy for commercial farmers. Hence, screening of host plant resistance against Septoria tritici blotch was the prime objective this study. A total of 200 bread wheat lines, commercial and candidates of bread and durum varieties were included in the evaluation. The study revealed that none of the genotypes were immune. The majority (75.5%) of the wheat genotypes were vulnerable to the disease and classified as susceptible to highly susceptible infection response. About 12% of the genotypes were moderately susceptible. The remaining limited genotypes (12.5%) were within the range of highly to moderately resistant. Therefore, incorporating of host plant resistant (gene pyramiding) in breeding programme could be utmost important for narrowing the potential and actual yield gabs along with study of pathogen structure.

Key words: Bread, Durum, Genotype, Septoria tritici blotch, Wheat