Evaluation of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Germplasm for Wheat Rust Diseases Resistance and Yield Performance
Rut Duga *
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Tafesse Solomon
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Berhanu Sime
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Demeke Zewedu
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Negash Geleta
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Gadisa Alemu
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Alemu Dabi
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Abebe Delesa
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Habteamriam Zegeye
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Bayisa Asefa
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Tamirat Negash
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Daniel Kasa
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Dawit Asnake
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Abebe Getamesay
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Megeresa Bayisa
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Getenet Muche
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Alemu Ayele
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
Niguse Degefa
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kulumsa Agricultural Research Center, Asella (P.O.Box 489), Ethiopia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The most important biotic constraints for wheat production in Ethiopia are Wheat rust diseases, insects, and weeds. Among wheat rust diseases, stem rust and yellow rust are the more limiting factors for yield. A study was undertaken at Kulumsa and Melkasa in alpha lattice design with two replications from July to December 2023 to evaluate the performance of introduced bread wheat materials from CIMMYT for wheat rust diseases and yield. Data were collected for stem rust, yellow rust, and agronomic traits, including grain yield. The ANOVA showed high and significant genotypic variation (p<0.05) on Days to heading (DTH), Hectoliter weight (HLW), Thousand kernels weight (TKW), and Yield (YLD). Then, the result from LSD mean comparision revealed genotypes: EBW222102 YLD=7.7 t ha-1, EBW222106 YLD= 7.61 t ha-1, EBW222108 YLD=7.66 tha-1, EBW222136 YLD= 7.76 t ha-1 to be significantly higher than the check variety Daka YLD= 6.22 t ha-1 (p<0.05) at Kulumsa. Genotypes: EBW222108, EBW222109, EBW222111, EBW222112, EBW222114, EBW222125, EBW222142, and EBW222143 showed resistance to moderate resistance for yellow rust and stem rust across both locations. About eighteen genotypes were susceptible to stem rust diseases with the coefficient of infection YRCI≥30 at Melkasa. Genotypes EBW222111, EBW222126, EBW222129, EBW222134, and EBW222142 delivered high yield, greater than or equal to 2 t ha-1 at Melkasa. Generally, selection for disease resistance and high-yielding genotypes enable the development and release of noble varieties for wheat-producing farmers.
Keywords: CI, CIMMYT’ genotype, SAWYT, pipelines, resistance, YLD, stem rust