Integrated management of stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) and its impact on the growth and yield of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) in Ethiopia

Abstract

Bread wheat is one of the key food grains in Ethiopia. However, its production and productivity are affected by stripe rust. The objective of this study was to investigate and develop integrated management options for stripe rust using varieties and fungicide application frequency in the study area. A field experiment was conducted at Enarj Enawuga district in the Metaya Kebele farmer training center during the 2022 main cropping season. There were sixteen total treatment combinations [four bread wheat varieties (Ogolcho, Lemu, Hidase, and Local as check), and four Tilt 250 EC fungicide application frequencies (nil, 1, 2, and 3 times)]. The design of the experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangements within three replications. Both disease and yield-related data were collected and analyzed using SAS 9.4 software. The disease and yield parameters showed a significant (p < 0.01) difference, and all treated plots had higher yield and lower disease severity than untreated plots. On the untreated plots, the final mean stripe rust severity was 18.53%, 22.57%, 36.73%, and 57.63% on Ogolcho, Lemu, Hidase, and local varieties, respectively. The maximum disease control was recorded from Ogolcho variety (61.31%) with a three-time application of Tilt 250EC. Grain yield and thousand kernel weight increment were obtained at 79.72% and 17.37% from Ogolcho, 100% and 23.44% from Lemu, 94.85% and 34.54% from Hidase, and 102.85% and 49.56% from local varieties treated by three times of Tilt 250EC, respectively. A higher yield reduction and AUDPC (114 DAS) were recorded from untreated plots of local (50.70%, 2,031.49% days⁻¹), and Hidase (48.68%, 1,020.6% days⁻¹) varieties, receptively. The 15-day interval application frequency of Propiconazole increased the grain yield of all tested varieties and reduced stripe rust severity. The Ogolcho variety treated three times yielded the maximum net benefit (216,750 Birr/ha) with an accepted marginal rate of return (22,810%). Therefore, based on the results obtained, producers use the Ogolcho variety with three-time application of propiconazole fungicide for optimum wheat production and could be recommended to manage stripe rust in the study area.

Keywords:

• Disease progress rate
• disease severity
• fungicide frequency
• thousand kernel weight

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Adet Agriculture Research Centre for their support in providing bread wheat seeds. Additionally, the authors would like to express their gratitude to the Enarj Enawuga district agricultural office for providing the experimental field.

Author´s contributions

Adane Fentaye Belay (M.Sc.) prepared the manuscript, conceived, and designed the study, collected, and analyzed the data, and interpreted the results. Abaynew Jemal Jenber (Ph.D.) contributed to edited the manuscript. All authors reviewed the results and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The corresponding author can supply the datasets produced and/or analyzed during the current work by reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

For this study, the authors have not received any financial money.