Response of Enset Clones to Enset Bacterial wilt Disease in South Omo Zone, South Ethiopia

Kedir Bamud; Elfinesh Shikur; Fikre Handoro

Abstract

Xanthomonas campestris pv.musacearum (enset bacterial wilt)) is one of the most serious diseases in South Omo zone. Proper management of enset bacterial wilt (EBW) is important to maximize the enset yield. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate enset clones’ reaction to EBW. The study was carried out during 2017/2018. Nineteen enset clones (17 from South Omo zone and 2 cheks namely Meziya (resistant) and Arkiya (susceptible)) from Areka Agricultural Research Center were collected and evaluated at Southern Agricultural Research Institute, under field condition in plastic pots. Six pots were arranged as a plot and single sucker was planted per pot filled with soil. RCBD with three replications was used. After a period of three months of transplanting, the clones were subjected to inoculation with 3 ml bacterial suspension at concentration of 108 cfu/ml bacteria cells. The first disease symptoms were observed on the inoculated leaves from 14 to 28 days after inoculation (DAI). The mean incubation and complete wilting period of the clones varied from 14.8 to 32.7 and 37.7 to 70 days for Shufa and Meziya, respectively. Significant differences (P<0.05) were recorded in incubation period, wilt incidence, severity, AUDPC and mean complete wilting period. Only four clones (Meziya, Maza, Chelaka and Golla) were found to be moderately resistant with wilt incidence of 33.3%, 38.9%, 44.4% and 44.4% at 42 DAI, respectively. Six clones were susceptible while the rest nine clones were highly susceptible.

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