Survey of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L) Ascochyta Blight (Ascochyta rabiei Pass.) Disease Status in Production Regions of Ethiopia

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is one of the most important pulse crops in Ethiopia. Earlier reports and field observations have shown that Ascochyta blight caused by Ascochyta rabiei is one of the most devastating diseases of this crop in Ethiopia. Survey was conducted during August 2015 to February 2016 to determine the status of the blight disease in major chickpea the growing area of Ethiopia. A total of 251 on-station and on-farm fields were surveyed. Ascochyta blight was observed in 30 of the 251 fields and incidence ranged from 0 to 45.6 % with mean of < 10%. The highest mean incidence was observed in Ensaro district of Amhara region (46.6%) followed by Lume district of Oromia region (15%). The severity varied from 1 to 7 with mean severity of 1 to 3.2 which was observed in few fields. The low incidence and severity of the disease observed in the 2015/2016 season was associated with the drought conditions occasioned by El nino conditions

Symbiotic Effectiveness of Elite Rhizobia Strains Nodulating Desi Type Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Varieties

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), is a multi-functional crop with important role in the diet as affordable protein source and in sustaining soil fertility through nitrogen fixation. However, its productivity in Ethiopia of 1.9 t ha-1 is lower than its potential of 5 t ha-1 under well managed conditions, partly due to soil fertility limitations. Field experiments were conducted to evaluate effectiveness of elite rhizobia strains on productivity of chickpea. Four rhizobial inoculant treatments and one control with three chickpea varieties were used. Inoculated plants had significantly (p<0.05) better performance with most of the symbiotic traits, grain yield and yield related traits than non-inoculated treatments. Shoot nitrogen yield was increased in the range of 13.0 – 31.34% by inoculation with strain ICRE-025 over the two test sites. The highest level of N fixation was achieved in genotype ICC-4918 by inoculation with EAL-029 and ICRE-025. Investigations at both test sites demonstrated that inoculation of chickpea varieties with native rhizobial strains were effective and useful for optimized chickpea production

Nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum endophytes provide field control of nematodes, improving yield of banana (Musa sp.)

Endophytic colonization by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum can result in increased host resistance topests and diseases, and greater biomass production. However, few studies have assessed the field performanceof this fungus for biological control of pests and diseases in banana. Further to greenhouse assessment,studies were carried out to evaluate the performance of F. oxysporum strains against plant-parasiticnematodes on banana (Musa sp., cv. Giant Cavendish and cv. Grand Nain) in the field using tissue-culturedplants. Plants were inoculated separately with one of three strains (V5W2, Eny 7.11o and Emb 2.4o)before being inoculated with Pratylenchus goodeyi and Helicotylenchus multicinctus in an on-station trialand in an on-farm trial planted in a field naturally infested with the same nematodes. All three endophyticstrains significantly suppressed P. goodeyi and H. multicinctus densities and damage in the field.On-station, nematode population densities were reduced by >45% in endophyte-inoculated plants comparedto non-inoculated plants, while percentage root necrosis was reduced by >20%. Similarly, on-farm,nematode damage to roots and densities were also significantly lower in endophyte-inoculated plantscompared with control plants. Significantly improved yields were observed for plants inoculated withendophytes when compared to the control plants, with inoculation with strains Emb 2.4o and V5W2resulting in up to 35% and 36% increased banana yields, respectively, for the on-station trial. For theon-farm trial, up to 20% increase in yields were observed for strain Eny 7.11o compared to control plants.This study provides the first report from the field in Africa on the reduction of nematode populations anddamage, and the increase in banana production by fungal endophytes. The study shows that endophyteshave potential to enhance yields of tissue-cultured banana plants and protect them against pests

Endophyte enhanced banana tissue culture: technology transfer through publicprivate partnerships in Kenya and Uganda

The lack of clean planting material is a major constraint for banana production in East and Central Africa. When establishing new fields, tissue culture plantlets will reduce damage by banana pests and diseases. Pest infestation or reinfestation, however, remains a vital concern. Fungal endophytes, when inoculated into banana tissue culture plants, extend the benefits of clean planting material. Endophyte-enhanced tissue culture technology is being developed at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA). Tissue culture production facilities in Uganda are in their infancy, while in Kenya the situation is more developed. Public-private partnerships between IITA and Agro-Genetic Technologies Ltd (Uganda), and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Kenya) have recently enabled IITA’s project to make great progress towards bridging upstream research and downstream technology transfer. Additionally, unexpected synergisms have emerged through mutual exchange of information and experience. Based on IITA’s highly positive experience, such public-private partnerships should be introduced as early as possible in the developmental stages of activities to maximize the benefits to research for development