Effects of Environment on Wheat Varieties’ Yellow Rust Resistance, Yield and Yield Related Traits in South-Eastern Ethiopia
Wubishet Alemu,
Chemeda Fininsa
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 3, May 2016
Pages:
14-22
Received:
15 June 2016
Accepted:
27 June 2016
Published:
6 August 2016
Abstract: Bread Wheat is one of Ethiopia’s most important cereal crops in terms of area allocated, volume produced and the number of farmers engaged in its production. However, its production and productivity is curtailed by biotic and abiotic factors. Among biotic factors, wheat yellow rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici is the most important disease. Field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of environment on wheat varieties’ yellow rust resistance and yield performance at three locations, Sinana, Agarfa and Ginir in Bale in 2012 main cropping season. Six bread wheat varieties having different level of resistance to yellow rust were used in the experiment. Plots were arranged in randomized complete block design in three replication. Environment had a significant effect on epidemic development of yellow rust through its effect on growth and progress rate of the pathogen. The test locations were different in their weather variables and created significant difference (p≤ 0.05) in yellow rust severity among the varieties. Due to weather variables across locations, the same variety responded differently to yellow rust severities at different locations. Environment had varying effect on yield and yield related traits. The tested bread wheat varieties had significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) for all yield-related traits at all locations. There was inconsistent behavior of the varieties across locations for yield and yield components. Variation in the environmental factors affected wheat varieties’ yellow rust resistance and yield performance. The varieties responded differently in their resistance to yellow rust and yield performance when exposed to different environments varying in minimum and maximum temperature regimes and rainfall status.
Abstract: Bread Wheat is one of Ethiopia’s most important cereal crops in terms of area allocated, volume produced and the number of farmers engaged in its production. However, its production and productivity is curtailed by biotic and abiotic factors. Among biotic factors, wheat yellow rust caused by Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici is the most important ...
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