Author(s): Adina Getinet, Desalegn Yalew and Muluadam Berhan

Abstract: Late blight disease is the major diseases for potato production in Ethiopia. Hence survey was conducted with the objective of finding out the intensity of late blight disease on major potato growing districts in South Gondar zone of Ethiopia during the main cropping season 2019. In the selected field, the potato late blight disease assessment was made along the two diagonals in an (‘’X’’ fashion). A total of 53 fields were visited during the survey and information on variety, locality, disease severity and plant protection measures taken were recorded. Highest average disease severity was recorded from Lay Gaient (80.88%), Guna Begemdir (76.96%) and Farta (74.13%) districts. Mean disease severity was higher (86.94%) on local cultivar fields than improved variety fields (40.29%). The mean disease severity was higher (85.9%) on unsprayed fields followed by (39.6%) one times sprayed fields. While, two times sprayed fields recorded the least (17.5%) mean disease severity. Most of the farmers interviewed did not know the fungicides frequency, interval of application, growth stage at which fungicides applied. So this work advises popularizing late blight resistant varieties and adoption of recommended spray schedules with proper dose for improving farm productivity. Moreover, trials about disease risk analyses based on host–pathogen interactions should be planned, and research on host response should be conducted to understand how change in the climatic conditions could affect the progress of late blight diseases.

Pages: 37-39 | Views: 516 | Downloads: 211

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