EVALUATION OF SESAME CULTIVARS AND FUNGICIDE SEED TREATMENT AGAINST FUSARIUM WILT DISEASE (FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM F. SP. SESAMI) IN WESTERN TIGRAY, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Sesame is an important oil crop in Ethiopia produced mainly for international market, but its production is challenged by several abiotic and biotic factors. Among the biotic factors sesame Fusarium wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. sesami is the major threat for sesame production and inflicts great yield losses. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of fungicide seed treatment and to assess differences in the Ethiopian sesame cultivars for resistance to Fusarium wilt disease. Field experiment was conducted at May-kadra and Dansha locations during the 2018 cropping season using eight cultivars and two fungicides as seed treatment. Besides, untreated seeds were left as control. Treatments were evaluated with split plot design arrangement with three replications. Fungicide seed treatment was used as main plot and sesame cultivars as sub-plot treatments. Fungicides seed treatment was significant effect at initial date of assessment or in the early crop growth stage. However, in the rest of assessment dates there were no significant effect of fungicide seed treatments in reducing Fusarium wilt disease incidence in both locations. Carbendazim 50% EC was the most effective fungicide in controlling Fusarium wilt disease compared to the other fungicide tested (Thiram 75% WP). There was significant (p < 0.001) variation among the tested sesame cultivars with regard to disease incidence, AUDPC, stand count at maturity and seed yield in both locations. Cultivars Gojam-azene and Hirhir had the lowest disease incidence and AUDPC in both locations. The highest Fusarium wilt disease incidence was recorded from sesame cultivars Setit-3 and Achawuchey. The highest yield was recorded from Hirhir cultivar in both locations. Cultivars with low disease incidence could be useful in breeding programs aimed at developing varieties with higher resistance to Fusarium wilt disease.