Epidemic of fusarium wilt (fusarium oxysporum f.sp.ciceris) of chickpea at wilt sick plot in adet-Ethiopia

A 2-year experiment was conducted at wilt sick plot infested with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceris at Adet research center in northwestern Ethiopia in order to assess efficacy of an integrated management strategy for Fusarium wilt of chickpea that combined the effect of varieties, sowing dates and seed bed preparation methods on fusaruim wilt on chickpea. Four varieties, i.e., JG-62 (susceptible check), Adet local (control), Marye and Shasho (both improved); three sowing dates at 15-day intervals, i.e., at Adet 12th Sept., (early), 27th Sept. (farmers') and 12th Oct. (late) and three seed bed preparation methods including flat bed, raised bed and ridge and furrow were used as treatments. Treatments were arranged in a factorial combination in a Randomized Complete Block Design in three replications. The number of seedlings emerged, dead plants due to wilt, soil temperature and soil moisture were recorded at 15-day intervals for each variety of chickpea. Data were analyzed using the SAS system for windows V8. Percent, Disease progress curve and AUDPC%/day was also computed. In the experiments the results indicated that the disease progress rate was significantly different among varieties and management practices and showed Shasho was the most resistant variety to wilt, followed by Marye. Among the sowing dates it was observed a reduction in the rate of epidemic development over time, a reduction of disease intensity, and the farmer sowing date exhibited relatively lower rate of mortality. AUDPC%/day value was higher on flat bed and ridge and furrow than on raised bed. Among the varieties lower AUDPC%/day value was recorded on Shasho followed by Marye in both seasons. The AUDPC%/day value was higher in early and late sowing dates than the farmers' sowing date. The results indicate the advantage of using cultural management as integrated as a sustainable and environmentally friendly option to control chickpea fusarium wilt disease and boost the production of chickpea. The importance of integrating existing cultural control practices, partially effective by themselves, with other control measures to achieve appropriate management of Fusarium wilt and increase of its productivity in chickpea in East African-type environments is demonstrated by the results of this study.