Host resistance by sowing date interaction reduced Fusarium wilt pressure and improved grain yield of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in North Shoa, Ethiopia

Abstract

AbstractChickpea Fusarium wilt is seriously damaging chickpea productivity. To determine the integrated effects of three sowing dates and four chickpea varieties on epidemics of Chickpea Fusarium wilt and grain yield, field experiments were conducted in naturally infested soils at Alem Ketema and Enewari, Ethiopia, during 2018. Treatments were factorial arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that variety Mastewal recorded relatively low mean Fusarium wilt incidence at Alem Ketema (15.344%) and Enewari (38.19%) compared with the other test varieties. Variety Mastewal also produced high grain yield over others at Alem Ketema (1155.14 kg ha−1) and Enewari (1120.91 kg ha−1). Related trends were observed for infection rate, area under disease progress curve (AUDPC), and yield components at both locations. Late August sowing resulted in higher stand count at harvest (132.08 and 102.08), number of pods (50.28 and 40.62), grain yield (1030.86 and 1122.08 kg ha−1), and lower AUDPC value (321.30%‐days and 540.34%‐days) than early August sowing in that order at Alem Ketema and Enewari. Interaction of variety Mastewal by late August sowing gave relatively high grain yield (1341.36 and 1331.85 kg ha−1), and it had low AUDPC (196.58%‐days and 483.36%‐days) at Alem Ketema and Enewari, respectively. Conversely, early planting caused up to 25.32% (Alem Ketema) and 193.67% (Enewari) yield reductions in chickpea varieties over late planting. Therefore, delaying sowing date and growing variety Mastewal found to maximize chickpea yield and minimize effect and progression of Fusarium wilt, and hence, recommended for the study areas.