ASSESSMENT OF ETHIOPIAN ADVANCED BREAD WHEAT GENOTYPES AND VARIETIES TO SEPTORIA TRITICI LEAF BLOTCH

Abstract

Wheat production and productivity is significantly constrained by multiple pathogens of which Septoria tritici blotch is an economically important foliar disease in the major wheat-growing areas of the world including Ethiopia. Host plant resistance rests the first mark of protection to mitigate this foliar disease, principally in developing countries for economically humble farmers and the most eco-friendly and lucrative strategy for profitable farmers. Thus, the present experiment was executed with the aim of screening of wheat genotypes against septoria leaf blotch. A total of 451 wheat genotypes comprising 436 advanced bread wheat genotypes and 15 commercial released varieties were incorporated in the study. The study shown that none of the genotypes were displayed immune reaction. Close to half (47.1%) of examined wheat genotypes showed good tolerance to the diseases, while the remaining, exceeding half of test genotypes displayed moderately susceptible to susceptible reaction. Therefore, those genotypes which express highly to moderately resistant reaction to septoria tritici could have an imperative role in resistance breeding to septoria leaf blotch which intern play key role for maximizing yield and reduce hunger.

Keywords

• advanced wheat genotypes
• commercial
• wheat
• varieties
• septoria tritici blotch