Assessment of the Occurrence and Prevalence of Faba Bean Gall (Olpidium viciae) in Western Highlands of Oromiya,Ethiopia

Abstract

Faba bean gall disease has become a serious threat to faba bean production and productivity in some parts of Ethiopia causing a yield loss as high as 100%. The assessment was carried out during 2015 main cropping season in Western Oromiya, at which faba bean is mainly grown:  West Shewa, Horo Guduru Wellega and East Wellega zones to confirm the temporal and spatial occurrence and distribution of faba bean gall   diseases with the objective to find out   distribution, status and the prevalence. The assessment was made along the main roads and accessible routes in each targeted district at every 5-10 km intervals as per faba bean fields available. Five samples were taken from each sampling points by moving “W” fashion. The mean prevalence of faba bean gall was 17%. However, the overall mean severity of faba bean gall was (7%). Faba bean gall disease was more severe in West Shewa zone with mean severity of 15% followed by East Wellega (4%) and Horo Guduru Wellega (4%), respectively. Its prevalence was more prevalent in Mida Kegn district (80%) and followed by f 50%, 20%, and 17% at Horo, Jardaga Jarte and Gida Ayana, district, respectively. However, the least disease prevalence was observed in Gida Ayana district prevalence value of 17%. Faba bean gall disease observed in Western Oromiya was the most devastating and widely disseminated in the area within a few years since its occurrence, specifically in Mida kegn district. Farmers and woreda experts in Meda kegn witnessed that the occurrence of the disease was first observed   in 2012. However, the disease was found in 2015 at Horo Guduru Wellega, East Wellega zones .They observed fast dissemination and increasing coverage of the pathogen in time and space. In fact the disease was epidemic and more serious from the recorded data in the surveyed areas. Based on the result of quick survey, it is very mandatory to give attentions in order to find immediate solutions to enhance the production and productivity of the crop. Therefore, Joint work, and collaboration of plant pathologist with Agricultural experts are crucial to develop different management options for newly emerged faba bean gall disease.

Keywords: Faba bean, Faba bean gall, Incidence, Prevalence, and Severity