Assessment of Sesame Bacterial Blight (Xanthomonas Campestris Pv. Sesami) on Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) in North Gondar, Ethiopia

Sesame is one of the important oil crops in Ethiopia for the international market while its production has challenged by lack of appropriate agronomic practices, weather uncertainties, weeds, insects and diseases outbreaks. Bacterial leaf blight caused by Xanthomonas campestris PV. sesami is the most common and inflicts heavy qualitative and quantitative losses. The objectives of the present study were to assess bacterial blight incidence, severity and its association with agronomic practices in north Gondar Ethiopia. A Field survey was conducted in Metema and Mirab Armachiho in 2014 cropping season at flowering and fruiting growth stages. A total of 80 fields were assessed for the disease assessment from both large and small-scale farmers. Data on prevalence, incidence, severity and, management practices have been recorded. All surveyed fields were infected both at flowering and fruiting stage of the crop. Mean incidence over the two districts varied from 78% at Metema to 96.5% at Mirab Armachiho. The minimum mean severity (6.1%) has been recorded in Metema district and, the highest mean severity (76.9%) has been recorded at Mirab Armachiho. The association of independent variables with bacterial blight incidence and severity were varied. The district, variety, growth stage, altitude, slope, crop density, previous crop, soil type, and weed density variables have significantly associated with bacterial blight incidence. Variables producer and sowing date were non-significant as a single predictor in the logistic regression model. Similarly, all the variables were significantly associated with bacterial blight severity.