Control Strategies of Wheat Stripe Rust in Ethiopia

IZMIR, TURKEY

APRIL 28-MAY 01, 2014

By;Zerihun T.

Coordinator, National Wheat Research 

2ND INTERNATIONAL WHEAT STRIPE RUST SYMPOSIUM

Wheat in Ethiopia:

Major staple & strategic food security crop

BW (introduction) & DW (indigenous) are dominant species

Largest producer in SSA

Area: close to 2 million hectares

Production – 4.5 million MT (2013/14 forecast CSA)

HHs - 5 million small scale farmers

National average yield 2.4 t/ha from a 0.8 t/ha in 1980s (CSA, 2014)

Background

Wheat Production Trend in Ethiopia (1960 – 2013)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

19

60

19

62

19

64

19

66

19

68

19

70

19

72

19

74

19

76

19

78

19

80

19

82

19

84

19

86

19

88

19

90

19

92

19

94

19

96

19

98

20

00

20

02

20

04

20

06

20

08

20

10

20

12

Pro

du

cti

on

(,0

00

MT

)

Production Year

Source: USDA (http://www.indexmundi.com/agriculture/?country=et&commodity=wheat&graph=production)

Turning point due to;

Rust epidemics and/or environmental fluctuation

Released wheat varieties in Ethiopia(1950 - 2012)

How many of the varieties are under production???

Factors affecting wheat productivity in Ethiopia

Biotic stress

Wheat rusts (Yellow, stem and leaf) and septoria

Weeds (grass)

Abiotc stress Water logging Low soil fertility Drought-low moisture

in lowlands

Technical constraints Shortage of appropriate

varieties for d/f AEZs

Socio-economic factors Inputs

Yellow Stem Leaf

Year Epidemic

Variety Year of release

EpidemicEstimated

loss (%)1974 Laketch Stem rust  1988 Dashen 1984 Yellow rust 581994 Enkoy 1974 Stem rust 67-100

2010 Kubsa Galama

1995 Yellow rust Up to 100

2013 Digelu 2005 Stem rust Up to 100

Major Rust Epidemics and Estimated Yield Losses in Ethiopia

Dead Wheat 2010 YR Epidemic, Meraro,

Dead Wheat 2013 SR Epidemic, Bale

What will be next???

Continuous release of cultivars with similar parentages

Absence of resistance in cultivars preferred by farmers and the

rapid break down of resistance gene in the existing cultivars

Wheat monoculture

Extensive use of one or two wheat varieties

Year round wheat production-green bridging

Spores from neighboring countries

Limited use of chemicals

The recurrent outbreak of wheat rusts could be

Fast resistant variety deployment

Awareness creation

Strong survey and surveillance activities (Early waning)

Strong collaboration with CGAIR centers & other national

program

Fungicide intervention

Fast seed multiplication strategy

Strategies implemented to control Stripe Rust in Ethiopia

Wheat Breeding Approaches

Evaluation & selection of segregating lines in Evaluation & selection of segregating lines in East Africa region level East Africa region level

Major breeding objectives: High and stable grain yield Resistance to biotic & abiotic stresses Quality (Bread, Pasta & Macaroni)

2005 - 2013 International Nurseries Screened in Ethiopia

YearEntries Tested

Entries Selected

% Selected

2005 5,017 1,049 20.91

2006 9,559 1,102 11.53

2007 15,993 1,200 7.50

2008 17,385 1,565 9.00

2009 12,379 1,362 11.00

2010 16,432 822 5.00

2011 12,237 734 6.00

2012 13,738 655 4.77

2013 14,119 700 4.96

Total 116,859 9,189 7.86

Collaborators and germplasm source - CIMMYT, ICARDA, USDA, Egypt, India, Germany, Sudan, Yemen, Turkey, Pakistan, Syria, Russia

Rapid and extended replacement of old and disease susceptible varieties

Wheat seed multiplication strategies; Pre and Post -release seed increase Two crop cycles per year

Planting with low seed rate

Dissemination Method:

Fast multiplication of seeds of new varieties

Demonstration & pre-scaling up

Informal seed multiplication & dissemination

Training of farmers, DAs, and SMS

Farmers’ field days for popularization

2010 Vs 2013 YR Situation

2010 2013

Environment Favorable Favorable

Time & place of occurrence Early August, Asasa Early August, Asasa

Awareness Low High

Varieties Mostly susceptible Mostly resistant

Chemical availability Unavailable Available

Losses High loss No loss

Productivity Decrease Increase

Future Direction

Breeding for durable resistance

Develop variety deployment strategy (AEZ based)

Avoid wider use of mega variety

Strengthen national crossing program

Continue strong screening of introductions

Release verities with known genes

Support rapid seed multiplication & distribution

Periodic monitoring of races and virulence

Enhance research capacity (Facilities & Man power)

National science, technology and innovation outstanding recognition certificate in 2012 for the problem solving research achievement on rust resistant wheat varieties

Major Achievements

"Gene Stewardship Award" in 2014 BGRI workshop in Obregon, for the effort and success to combat rusts by Ethiopia wheat research team

Projects EAAPP DRRW USAID/

ICARDA SARD-SCSARD-SC CD-SeedCD-Seed

Partners CIMMYT ICARDA

Acknowledgement