Survey of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) diseases in major faba bean growing districts of North Gondar

Field survey was done in North Gondar during 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 cropping seasons with the objective of, assessing the importance of faba bean diseases. Disease severity varied across and within districts. Chocolate spot (Botrytis fabae), gall-forming (Olpidium viciae), rust (Uromyces fabae) and aschochyta blight (Aschochyta fabae) were the most dominate and frequently occurring diseases of faba bean. The highest mean severity of chocolate spot (43%) and rust (36%) were recorded at Takusa district whereas the highest mean severity (42%) of gall-forming disease was recorded at Debark district. The association of independent variables with faba bean disease varied among themselves. Variables such as year, altitude, growth stage of the crop and crop conditions were significantly associated with the chocolate spot, gall-forming, and rust diseases. Chocolate spot, gall-forming, and aschochyta blight diseases severity was higher in surveyed fields with an altitude greater than 2,700 m above sea level (masl). However, rust severity was higher in areas with an elevation below 2,200 m.a.s.l. Among growth stages, the highest disease severity of chocolate spot, rust, and aschochyta blight was recorded on fields during the flowering stage.  Therefore, integrated disease management options should be developed for the future for those major diseases of faba bean. Key words: Aschochyta blight, chocolate spot, gall-forming disease, severity, rust.