Vol. 9(5), pp. 178-184, October 2021
https://doi.org/10.14662/arjasr2021250
Copyright 2021
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article
ISSN: 2360-7874
http://www.academicresearchjournals.org/ARJASR/Index.htm
 

Research paper

Assessment of Economically Important Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Fungal Diseases in Raya Valley, Southern Tigray, Ethiopia

 

Gizachew Hirpa Regasa1 and Hailu Negesa Dabesa2

 

1Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia "Arial","sans-serif""> 

2Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Jimma Agricultural Research Center, Jimma, Ethiopia Corresponding author’s Email: - gizachewhirpa@gmail.com

 

Date of Submission: 8 August 2021 Accepted 18 October 2021

Abstract

Tomato is one of the most important vegetable crops in Ethiopia. Notwithstanding, tomato production was hampered by a number of biotic and abiotic factors. Among the biotic factors limiting tomato productivity, diseases caused by fungal pathogens are the most significant. However, the importance and distribution of the diseases in Raya valley, Tigray region, have yet to be studied. As a result, the current study was carried out to assess the relative importance and distribution of tomato fungal diseases in Southern Tigray, Ethiopia. The survey was carried out in 2018 and 2019 to assess the distribution and relative importance of the diseases limiting tomato production in the study area. The assessment was carried out purposive multistage sampling procedures and systematically based on tomato fields at 5-10 km intervals along the main and feeder (accessible) roadsides on pre-planned routes in areas where tomato predominantly grown. Results indicated that late blight, early blight, septoria leaf spot, fusarium wilt and powdery mildew were among the most important fungal diseases observed in tomato fields of the study areas. The survey results revealed that tomato fungal diseases were prevalent and significantly (p<0.05) varied in disease intensity among the districts and peasant associations. The highest extent of prevalence and intensity of the diseases have been recorded from Raya Azebo than Raya Alamata district for both consecutive years. Similarly, under peasant association level there was a significant variation in prevalence and intensity of the diseases. Overall, the present survey showed that fungal diseases are found in a different extent of prevalence and intensity with different degrees of economic importance in the study areas. Therefore, research should focus on the variability of pathogens, the association of agronomic practices, and environmental conditions with these major diseases detected. Besides, all management practices must be consolidated in the form of integrated disease management to avoid annihilation and yield losses.

 

Key words: Disease, Fungal, Incidence, Prevalence, Severity, Tomato

 

How to cite this article (APA Style): Gizachew H.R., Hailu, N. D. (2021). Assessment of Economically Important Fungal Diseases of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Raya Valley, Southern Tigray, Ethiopia. Acad. Res. J. Agri. Sci. Res. 9(5): 178-184