Assessment of Important Diseases of Major Fruit Crops (Mango, Avocado, Papaya and Orange) in South Omo Zone of Ethiopia

Abstract

Production and productivity of Mango, Avocado, Papaya and Orange is highly threatened by different diseases in South Omo zone of Southern Nation Nationality Peoples Region state of Ethiopia. However, the relative importance of each disease across locations has not been assessed and well profiled to create sound management strategy. With the objective of  determining the occurrence, distribution and the status of these fruit diseases in the zone , survey was carried out in four kebeles of South Ari districts of South Omo zone i.e. Metser,Baytsemal,Shekamer and Geza (South Ari woreda) in 2014 cropping seasons. The result revealed that the highest mean infection ofAnthracnose(35.71%) and (32.5%) in mango were recorded at Metser and Bytsemalkebeles of South Ari woreda respectively mine while (85%) and (40%) of anthracnose  in Avocado were recorded at Metser and Shekamerkebeles of South Ari woreda of South Omo zone respectively. In addition at Metser and Baytemalkebeles of South Ari woreda 77% and 32.5% of powdery mildewwere recorded as the highest mean infection of Avocado and Mango, respectively. The mean infectionof  Orange by fruit rot and powdery mildew was 12.5%  and 30.25% respectivelyat Baytsemalkebele of South Ari woreda. The current study indicated that a complex of  fruitdiseases exists on different fruit crops at different locations and the occurrence across kebeles is highly variable despite of  introduction and promotion of different management practices so, holistic and cumulative integrated approach is required to manage the complex diseases in the surveyed areas.

Keywords: Diseases, assessment, pathogens