Advances in Crop Science and Technology
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Faba bean is a diploid (2n=12 chromosomes) crop which is one of the most important food legumes ranking in the world fourth after garden pea, chickpeas and lentil. It is an annual herbaceous plant with coarse hollow stems that can reach height of 0.3-2 meter. It has large pinnate leaves, consisting of two to six leaflets. White flowers with purple markings form in clusters of one to five, and one to four pods usually develop from each flower cluster [1].

Faba bean production is concentrated in the nine-world major agroecological regions: The Mediterranean Basin, the Nile Valley, Ethiopia, Central Asia, East Asia, Oceania, Latin America, Northern Europe, and North America. China leads the world in faba bean production in both area coverage and production and Ethiopia is the second major production areas.

The faba bean (Vicia faba L.) in Ethiopia locally known as ''Bakela'' has been grown in the highlands of Ethiopia between 1800 and 3000 m above sea level and an annual rainfall of 700-1000 mm where the need for cold temperature is met. The primary producers of pulses are small-scale farmers with small and dispersed plots under rain fed conditions with substantially lower yields of less than 0.9 t/ha as compared to the improved faba bean varieties in highland and mid highland altitude areas of the country [2].

Ethiopia is the second largest faba bean producer in world about 1,070,636.54 tons total annual production especially, Oromia region has contributed to the highest production about 536,430.10 tonnes in the country followed by the Amhara region 346,352.40 ton of the area per year.

Faba bean takes the largest share of area (466,698 ha) and production (1006751.828 tones) among the pulses grown. The average national yield of faba bean crop is about 2.2 tha^-1 which is very low compared to the average yield of 3.7 tha^-1 in major producer countries.

The Oromia region has the biggest faba bean production area (230,114.95 ha) and contributes to the very best production (5,364,300.99 quintal) within the country followed by Amhara region that has (180,245.56 ha) and contributes (3,463,523.97 quintal) to National production.

Faba bean grows in several eco-geographical regions of the country including Arsi and Bale highlands, Central highlands of Ethiopia (South-West, West and North Showa), Tigray, North and South Wollo, North and South Gondar, East and West part of Gojam, Wollega, Guji highlands, Hadiya, Sidama and Gamogofa.

Despite its wide cultivation, there are many biotic and abiotic factors which hamper faba bean production in the world. Among the biotic factor, faba bean chocolate spot caused by Botrytis fabae, is the most important disease throughout Europe, South East Asia, South America, Korea, India, Canada, Norway, the Middle East, North East and Southern Africa, and Australia. Yield losses as high as 90% and total crop failure in severe epidemics of Botrytis fabae have been reported from areas where extended periods of wet weather conditions prevail. Faba bean chocolate spot (Botrytis fabae) is the major fungal disease hampering faba bean production in Ethiopia. It is a highly prevalent and destructive disease, causing yield loss up to 61% on a susceptible and 34% on tolerant faba bean genotypes in the central highlands. Samuel et al., reported that higher yield losses of 67.5% within the unsprayed faba bean plots in northwest Ethiopia. The assembly of the crop is hugely declining because the native faba bean cultivars area unit entirely attacked by chocolate spot and alternative diseases in southwest Ethiopia. This disease exists across all the agroecological zones. However, it's additional serious in areas of high precipitation (>900 mm) and high elevation of >2000 m.a.s.l.

Different management methods are developed in numerous countries for reducing the losses in yield of faba bean caused by chocolate spot disease. These management choices embrace exploitation resistant/tolerant genotypes, the employment of chemical fungicides, adopting practices like crop residue management and sowing date alteration. Among them, resistant varieties are the foremost popular management method providing a sensible, long and friendly. In addition to the resistant varieties, fungicides have been loosely used strategy and provide effective and reliable diseases management measures. However, fungicides might not be eco-friendly and cost effective [3].

The growing importance of faba bean as an export crop in Ethiopia has led to a renewed interest by farmers to increase the area under production. However, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the distribution of the disease. Survey data are useful for gaining insights into the occurrence, distribution and relative importance of different crop diseases. Very little survey work has been done for chocolate spot in Ethiopia, especially in North western Ethiopia particularly in my study place, where such information is totally lacking. So that Integration of faba bean varieties with different fungicide sparing frequency is importance to protect the faba bean varieties from high chocolate spot epidemics, increased yield, yield components and maximized marginal benefit compared to a single control approach. There is no documented information of faba bean cultivars combination with Trust-Cymocop 439.5 WP fungicide and the effect of fungicide application frequency and application interval relationship against chocolate spot disease of faba bean management in Ethiopia. Even though there is limited information about status and management of faba bean chocolate spot disease, there is no extensive information about the prevalence and disease management options, in Dabat district.

Statement of the problem

Faba bean is the most important pulse crop in terms of both area coverage and the volume of annual production in the country. Nationally, about 511,908.4 ha of land were covered annually by faba bean and 3,682,512 smallholder farmers were engaged in growing the crop.

Chocolate spot disease is the major problem in Ethiopia and it is more serious in Amhara region and it has the largest faba bean production area (42.98%) compared with other regions.

In the Amhara region, faba bean production has been extremely declining from year to year in both area coverage and yield. The faba bean yield reduction in the Amhara region from 2007 to 2021 was about 14%. In Amhara region particularly north Gondar at Dabat district chocolate spot is serious problems disease affecting major faba bean growing areas. With increasing faba bean diseases, particularly chocolate spot disease, farmers have shifted their land from faba bean to cereal crop production. Mean disease incidence of 47 to 100% and disease severity index ranging from 17 to 49% for chocolate spot have been reported from surveys conducted in 2004 and 2005 in northern Ethiopia. Therefore, compatible disease control measures must have needed to minimize yield loss. Several improved faba bean varieties are released and important fungicides are recommended.

Chocolate spot was caused yield losses of faba bean that varying from 34% on a tolerant genotype and up to 61% on susceptible genotype in Ethiopia. Furthermore, complete crop failure might be occurred due to long lasting favorable environmental condition for the disease. Therefore, this research was initiated with the following objectives [4].

Objectives of the study

General objective: To managed the chocolate spot (Botrytis fabae L.) disease of faba bean through integrated use of host resistance and fungicide frequencies sprays in Dabat district, Northwest Ethiopia.

Specific objectives

• To managed chocolate spot (L.) disease of faba bean through integrated use of host resistance and fungicide frequencies sprays
• To determine the effect of host resistance and fungicide frequencies sprays on yield and yield components of faba bean.

This research comprises two components, viz. field assessment on chocolate spot disease and field experiment to determine the effect of faba bean varieties and fungicide spray frequencies on chocolate spot disease development and its effect on yield and yield components on faba bean in Dabat district, northwestern, Ethiopia [5].

Description of the study area

The study was conducted in Dabat district, North Gondar, Amhara region of Ethiopia during 2022 cropping season. Dabat is bordered in the south by Wegera district, in the west by Tach Armachiho district, in the northwest by Tegeda district, and in the Northeast by Debark district.

The district is situated 13°09'60.00"N latitude and 37°39'59.99"E longitude. The altitude of the district ranges 1500 to 3200 m.a.s.l. The mean annual rainfall in the Dabat district a ranges 800 to 1400 mm.

The main rainy season starts at the beginning of June and continues up to the end of September Dabat district is located 814 km and 75 km from Addis Ababa and north Gondar city, respectively. The cultivated land of the district was 36,213 ha and out of this, 2445 ha was used for faba bean cultivation, and 22,970 tons of faba bean were produced by the cropping seasons of 2019 to 2020 from this cultivation land. The local faba bean varieties production potential in the area was 1.6 t h⁻¹ and the improved faba bean varieties’ production potential was 2 t h⁻¹ (Dabat Agriculture Department office, 2021 unpublished annual crop production report, and personal communication).

The minimum and maximum temperature of the district is 18 and 35°C respectively. The major soil types are clay loam and loamy sand. Major crops grown in the area are wheat (Triticum ostium L.), faba bean (Vicia fabae), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), potato (Solanum tubersum L.) and teff (Eragrostis teff L.). Among these crops, faba bean accounts for 56.7% of production in the area (Figure 1) [6].

 

Figure 1: location map of the study area.

Management of chocolate spot (Botrytis fabae L.) of faba bean through integrated use of host resistance and fungicide frequencies sprays

Description of the experimental site: The experiment was conducted at Dabat zuria Kebele Administration (KAs) in Dabat district on farmer field during 2022/2023 cropping season. Dabat zuria Kebele lies at altitude of 2720 m.a.s.l. The mean annual temperature and rain fall of Dabat zuria is 190 C and 980 mm respectively. The Agro ecological zone of Dabat zuria is Dega and has clay loam soil type. The study area is located 11.856°N latitude and 37.654°E longitude [7].

Dabat zuria KAs were located around Dabat town. It was 5 km away from Dabat town. The main reason to prefer this Kebele administration for field experiment is due to hot spot area for the disease and capacity for faba bean production, accessibility and logistic.

Experimental materials: Three faba bean varieties viz., Hachalu, Wolki and one Local were used in this experimental study. Varieties were selected based on their resistance level to chocolate spot. Walki is moderately resistance; Hachalu is moderately Susceptible and local susceptible to chocolate spot. Samuel et al. reported that in most cases local varieties are low yielding and highly susceptible to both biotic and abiotic stresses. The varieties were obtained from Gondar Agricultural Research Center and local cultivar from loca market. Fungicide (Trust cymocop 439.5 WP) was used in this study and it was obtained from local market (Tables 1 and 2) [8].

Table 1: List of faba bean varieties, growth habit yield, year of released and disease reaction to chocolate spot disease.

Table 2: Description of trust cymocop 439.5 WP.

Experimental treatments, design, and procedures: Three faba bean varieties viz. Walki and Hachalu (improved varieties) and one local were used in this experimental study. The two improved varieties and one local variety was combined randomly with fungicide (Trust Cymocop WP (1.5 kg/ha)) application frequencies (one, two and three times spraying) including un-spray treatment which used as a control check. That was 3 varieties and 4 fungicide spray frequency and totally 12 treatments used. The unsprayed plots were included for each variety to allow maximum chocolate spot development for comparison of the effect of disease levels on different parameters. The total numbers of plots were 36. The field experiment was arranged in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in factorial combination with three replication [9].

During fungicide sprays, plastic sheet was used to separate the plot being sprayed from the adjacent plots to prevent inter-plot interference of spray drift. Between plots and blocks were 0.5 m, and 1 m apart respectively. Each plot has an area of (4.8 m²) 2 m × 2.4 m.

Treatments were assigned to each plot randomly. Each plot had six rows and the distance between rows was 0.4 m. The number of plants per row was 24 and the distance between plants was 0.1 m. The middle four rows were used for all data collection. The leaving with two outer rows on both sides to avoid the border effect.

The seeds were sown by row planting method at a depth of 5 cm to ensure adequate emergence. The plots were fertilized with Nitrogen Phosphorus Sulfur (NPS) at the rate of 100 kg ha^-1 and land preparation, weeding, and other crop management practices were carried out uniformly for each plot per the recommendation (Table 3). The yield data of the plots was converted to Kilogram per hectare [10].

Table 3: Experimental treatment combinations.

Data collected: Disease parameter: Disease incidence and severity: Disease assessment was made on the plot using quadrant from the whole plot starting from the onset of the disease and continued every seven days until crop maturity. Both diseased and healthy plants were counted from the quadrant for disease incidence. The Percentage of Disease Incidence (PDI) was calculated according to the formula [11].

Disease incidence=(No. of total diseased plant/Total plants observed) × 100

The disease severity was recorded from 12 pre-tagged plants in each plot. The disease severity of chocolate spot was recorded starting from the onset of disease in 7-days interval for three times using a 0–9 rating scale. The severity grades were converted into Percentage Severity Index (PSI) according to the formula by Wheeler.

Disease severity=(Area disease coverage)/(Total area covered observed) × 100

PSI=(Sum of numerical ratings)/(Number of plants scored × maximum score on scale) × 100

The Area under the Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) was calculated from PSI as follows:

Where, X_i represents the cumulative disease severity expressed as a proportion at the i^th observation, ti the time of the i^th assessment, and n the total number of observations.

Disease progress rate: The disease severity observation records at seven-day intervals were regressed over time and the disease progress rates were calculated for each variety using the formula adopted by Vander Plank, The apparent infection rate, expressed in disease units per day, was calculated from disease severity data transformed to logistic model (ln [(Y/1-Y)]) and Gompertz, -ln[-ln(Y)] where Y and 1-Y represent the proportion of infected plants and the proportion of healthy plants remaining in the plot, respectively. The transformed values (y) were regressed over

Prior comparison of the goodness of fit with the logistic model (ln [(Y/1-Y)], showed that the Gompertz function is superior as generally higher coefficients of determination indicated by (R²).

Crop parameter: Plant height at flowering, numbers of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, and pod length were determined from the four middle rows of 12 pre-tagged plants and seed yield per plot were recorded from four middle harvested rows, and yield per plot converted in to kg ha⁻¹ .

Days to flowering (50%): Collected as the number of days form crop emergence to the time when 50% of the plant in each treatment shows the flower bud.

Days to 90% maturity: It was recorded when 90% of the plant is physiologically matured.

Plant height (cm): Average length of plant from the bottom to the tip of the plant was measured and recorded from 12 pre-tagged plant in each experimental unit at full maturity stage.

Number of pod per plant: It was counted from randomly selected 12 pre-tagged plant in each experimental unit at maturity.

Pod length (cm): The average length of the pod from bottom to tip was measured using ruler from randomly selected 12 pre-tagged plant in each experimental unit at maturity.

Number of seed per pod: It was counted from is randomly 12 pre-tagged plants in each experimental unit at maturity.

100 seed weight (g): Weight in grams of 100 randomly chosen seed was measured by electronic balance.

Total grain yield (kg/ha): Grain yield was harvested from central rows by avoiding border effects and converted to kg/ha after adjusted to a constant moisture level of pulses grains (10%) using a moisture tester.

Relative yield loss (%): The relative loss in yield of each treatment was determined as percentage of that of protected plots of the experiment. Losses were calculated separately for each of the treatment and yield component of faba bean was determined as a percentage of that of the protected plots and the yield loss were calculated based on the formulas:

Where,

RYL=Relative Yield Loss in percent, Yp=Yield from the maximum protected plots and YT=Yield from other plots.

Correlation between yield and disease parameters

The correlations among the disease parameters and with the all yield components were tested at 5% probability level and the reliable yield loss estimated on the basis of the severity level by employing regression equations.

Data analysis

AUDPC values were used in the analysis of variance to compare amount of disease among plots with different treatments. ANOVA in the significant of treatment effect, means were having separated using Fisher’s protected Least Significance Difference (LSD) test at 0.05 level of probability. The data was analyzed using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software version 9.2.

Cost benefit analysis

The prices for each variety of faba bean seeds (birr/kg) were assessed and the total price of the commodity obtained from each treatment was computed. Input costs like fungicide, cultivars, and labor was calculated according to their frequencies used. Cost of spray equipment to spray was also calculated. Based on the data obtain from the parameters, cost benefit analysis were perform using partial budget analysis, which is used to organize data and information about the cost and benefit of various agricultural alternatives to assess profitability of any new technologies (practice) to be imposed to the agricultural. Adjusted yield, gross field benefit, total cost, net benefit, marginal return and finally marginal rate of return was calculated as follows [12].

Adjusted yield (AjY): Average yield is reduced by 10% to reflect the difference between

Experimental yield and yield in farmers’ field.

Gross Field Benefit (GFB): Was calculating by multiplying farm gate price that farmers received for the crop when they sold as adjusted yield.

Total Cost (TC): Cost of fungicide treatment other than the control in the experiment. The cost of other inputs and production practices were considered as insignificant among treatments.

Net Benefit (NB) is a gain computed by subtracting the total cost from gross field benefit.

Marginal Return (MR): It is amount of increasing in return due to the increasing of input.

Marginal Rate of Return (MRR): it was calculating as follows.

Where, MRR is marginal rate of returns, ∆NB difference in net income compared with control, ∆TC difference in input cost compared.

Management of chocolate spot (Botrytis Fabae L.) of faba bean through integrated use of host resistance and fungicide frequencies sprays

Chocolate spot disease incidence: The analysis of variance indicated that the main effect of varieties and fungicide spraying frequencies had highly significant differences (P<0.01) in reducing the incidence of chocolate spot disease recorded on all assessment dates from 67-102 DAS. Variation in the disease might be due to the difference in levels of resistance of the varieties (Table 4) [13].

The disease was more rapid on local variety, which reached at highest level of final disease incidence (68.00%), followed by Hachalu and Walki (63.00% and 58.92%), respectively at 102DAS. This observation was agreed with the earlier reports by Sahile, et al., and Guta, et al., found that the disease development rate that was affected by the resistant level of the crop which is high on susceptible and low on resistant ones.

Fungicide spraying frequencies also had highly significantly different (P<0.01) from each other for disease incidence and the initial disease incidence was 30.64 % (67DAS) and final 72.67 % (102DAS) on unsprayed plots and 23.42% at initial (67DAS) and 57.22 d% on final (102DAS) on three times spraying frequency of 1.5 kg/ha Trust Cymocop439.5WP fungicide sprayed. Guta et al. reported that Trust Cymocop439 at the rate of 1.5 kg/ha applied every week at threshold level reduced incidence and severity of this disease. In this study 1.5 kg/ha Trust Cymocop439.5 WP three times spraying frequency at threshold level reduced incidence of this disease (Table 5). There were no significant differences between three times spraying frequencies and two-times spraying frequency of Trust Cymocop439.5 WP at the rate of 1.5 kg/ha at the final date of assessment (102DAS) [14].

Table 4: Main effects of faba bean varieties and fungicide application frequency on incidence of chocolate spot disease under field condition.

Table 5: Interaction Effect of faba bean varieties and fungicide application frequency on incidence of chocolate spot disease under field condition.

Chocolate spot disease severity: There were highly significant (P<0.001) differences among varieties and fungicide spraying frequencies at 74 and 81DAS, respectively. The interaction analysis of variance also revealed that there was very high significant (P<0.001), variations on chocolate spot disease severity at 67DAS and 102 DAS (Table 6) [15].

On the first date of disease assessment (67DAS), the highest disease severity 14.03% was observed on the local variety while the lowest 10.13 %, and 11.59% were recorded from Walki, and Hachalu varieties, respectively. At the final date of disease assessment (102DAS), the highest (47.67%,) and the lowest (33.75%) disease severity were recorded from the local and Walki varieties, respectively. Variety Hachalu showed moderately level of final disease severity of 37.00% (Table 6). This observation was agreed with an earlier report by Guta, et al. found that the Walki and Hachalu cultivar was moderately resistant to faba bean chocolate spot disease.

The fungicide spraying frequency result showed that, the highest disease severity was observed on unsprayed plots whereas the minimum amount of disease was recorded from three times spraying frequency (30.56%) at the final date of assessment (102DAS).

The interaction effect of fungicide spraying frequency and varieties on Chocolate spot disease severity revealed very highly significant (P<0.01) difference at all date of assessment.

In the interaction effects of varieties and fungicide spraying frequency, the maximum disease severity was recorded from the unsprayed local variety (52.33%), followed by Hachalu and Walki varieties (46.00% and 41.67%), respectively and the least disease severity was recorded from three times fungicide spraying frequency (Table 7). The study conducted by AARC indicated that, three to four sprays of Trust Cymocop439.5 WP at a rate of 0.7 kg per hectare proved more effective than Chlorothalonil to manage chocolate spot of faba bean.

Chocolate spot disease severity was reduced from three times fungicide spraying frequency of Trust Cymocop439.5 WP application on all varieties in this experimental study and had better ability to resist the disease than other spray frequency combinations. Teshome and Tagging reported that, a fungicide (Trust Cymocop439.5 WP at rate of 1.5 kg/ha) was integrated with sowing date and resistant faba bean variety gave the highest yield from plot treated with four times fungicide spray. This result agreed with Sahile et al. reported that application of Trust Cymocop439.5 WP at fungicide spraying frequency significantly reduced chocolate spot severity. Kora, et al. also indicated management of chocolate spot by Trust Cymocop439.5 WP fungicide effectively control faba been chocolate spot [16].

Table 6: Main effects of faba bean varieties and fungicide application frequency on severity of chocolate spot disease under field condition.

Table 7: Interaction effect of faba bean varieties and fungicide application frequency on severity of chocolate spot disease under field condition.

Area under disease progress curve: The analysis of variance showed that there was very highly significant difference (P<0.001) among the varieties, fungicide spraying frequencies and the interaction effects of varieties and fungicide spraying frequencies on AUDPC. The highest AUDPC value was recorded on Local variety (1121% day) and the lowest from variety Walki (747%-day).

Variety Hachalu showed moderate level of AUDPC value (893% day) compared with Walki and Local varieties (Table 8). This result was agreed with an earlier report by Guta, et al. found that the Walki variety was moderately resistant to faba bean chocolate spot disease.

There were very highly significant differences (P<0.001) of fungicide spraying frequency on AUDPC (Table 8). The maximum AUDPC value was recorded from the unsprayed varieties, 1155%-day whereas, the least (715%-day) AUDPC value was recorded from varieties treated with three times spraying frequency of Trust Cymocop439.5 WP fungicide at the rate of 1.5 kgha^-1. Jeger showed that comparisons of disease progress curves and AUDPC between treatments are the most commonly used tools for evaluating practical disease management strategies.

The interaction effect of varieties and fungicide spraying frequency reduced the AUDPC very highly significantly (P<0.001). The local variety sprayed with one time, two times and three times fungicide spraying frequency of 1.5 kg/ha Trust Cymocop439.5 WP showed that mean AUDPC value of 1135, 1035 and 903 (% unit/day), respectively, but the unsprayed Local variety showed mean AUDPC value of 1408% unit/day. The improved varieties Walki and Hachalu showed that the mean AUDPC value of (796, 675 and 573)%-day and (979,810 and 669)%-day sprayed with one time, two times and three times fungicide spraying frequency, respectively. However, the unsprayed varieties Wolki and Hachalu showed mean AUDPC value of 944 and 1112 (% unit-day) respectively (Table 8). The highest (1408% unit-day) mean AUDPC value was observed from local unsprayed and lowest (573%-day) AUDPC from Wolki sprayed with three times fungicide spraying frequency at the rate of 1.5 kgha^-1 of Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP fungicide (Figure 2). This result agreed with Kora et al. who indicated that, spraying of fungicide every week on improved varieties significantly reduced the AUDPC value compared to the rest fungicide spray schedules and the unsprayed control [17].

Figure 2: Chocolate spot progress curve based on percentage severity index as influenced by different rates of Trust Cymocop fungicide on Local variety.

Note: T=Treatment (T1=Unsprayed Local with 1.5 kg/ha of Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP fungicide; T2=One times sprayed local with 1.5 kg/ha of Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP; T3=Two times sprayed local with 1.5 kg/ha of Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP; T4=Three time local; T5=Unsprayed Walki with 1.5 kg/ha of Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP; T6=One times sprayed Walki with 1.5 kg/ha of Mancozeb; T7=Two times sprayed Walki with 1.5 kg/ha of Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP; T8=Three times Walki; T9=Unsprayed Hachalu with 1.5 kg/ha of Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP; T10=One times sprayed Hachalu with 1.5 kg/ha of Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP; T11=Two times sprayed local with 2.5 kg/ha of Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP; T12=Three times sprayed Hachalu.

Disease progress rat: Both logistic ln[(y/1-y)], Vander plank and Gompertz, -ln[-ln(y)] models were tested to choose the best fitted one in describing the rate of the disease development. The goodness of fit of models was tested based on the magnitude of the coefficient of determination (R²). Then based on their coefficient of determination values (R²), Gompertz model was better than the logistic model for the chocolate spot disease and was used to determine the disease progress rate parameters in the study.

The chocolate spot infection rate is apparently related to the logarithm of the ratio of the amount of diseased and healthy tissues present as described by Campbell and Madden.

A highly significant (P<0.01) differences were observed on disease progress rate among varieties, fungicide frequencies and their interaction. Disease progress rate of 0.025, 0.020 and 0.020 units/day were recorded on varieties Local, Hachalu and Walki, respectively. Based on fungicide spraying frequencies 0.023, 0.022, 0.022 and 0.019 units/day were recorded from unsprayed, one time spray, two times spray and three times spray of Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP fungicide spraying frequencies at the rate of 1.5 kg/ha, respectively. These results indicated that the disease has progressed at faster rate on the unsprayed plots.

The interaction effect of Local variety with one time, two times and three times spray frequencies showed that, 0.026, 0.024 and 0.024 units/day of disease progress rate as compared to unsprayed plots (0.027 units/day) and variety Walki with one time, two times and three times spray showed 0.019, 0.018 and 0.015 units/day of disease progress rate as compared to unsprayed (0.020 units/day) plots. In addition, the disease progress rate of variety Hachalu with one time, two times and three times sprayed showed that 0.022, 0.021 and 0.021 units/day as compared with unsprayed plots (0.02179 units/day) (Table 9).

These results indicated that the disease has progressed at faster rate on the unsprayed plot than plots which were sprayed with Trust Cymocop fungicide. This result is in agreement with Sahile Samuel et al. who showed that plots sprayed fungicide retarded the apparent infection rate than unsprayed plots. Similarly, Guta et al. reported that varieties sprayed with Mancozeb 80% WP were effective to reduce the apparent infection rate of chocolate spot disease than unsprayed varieties.

Maximum apparent infection rate was recorded from Local unsprayed (0.025 units/day) and the minimum was from Walki sprayed with three times spray frequencies (0.015 units/day). This finding becomes in agreement with Estayih Animawu who showed that integrated use of resistance varieties with fungicide effectively reduced apparent infection rate of chocolate spot disease (Figures 3-5) [18].

Table 8: Main effects of faba bean varieties and fungicide spraying frequency on area under disease progress curve and apparent infection rate of chocolate spot disease under field condition.

Table 9: Interaction effect of faba bean varieties and fungicide spraying frequency on area under disease progress curve and infection rate of chocolate spot disease under field condition.

Figure 3: Chocolate spot progress curve based on percentage severity index as influenced by different spraying frequency of Trust Cymocop fungicide on Walki variety.

Figure 4: Chocolate spot progress curve based on percentage severity index as influenced by Different spraying frequency of Trust Cymocop fungicide on Hachalu Variety.

Figure 5: Chocolate spot progress curve based on percentage severity index as influenced by Different spraying frequency of Trust Cymocop fungicide on Hachalu Variety.

Effect of treatments on yield and yield components

Date to flowering and maturity: The mean days of 50% flowering of faba bean varieties ranged from 45.33 to 60.67 days. The longest period to flowering was recorded on the variety Hachalu (60.67^th days). Hachalu had more days leading to 50% flowering than other variety, this difference may result from genetic variations of faba bean in similar to this result of Alemayehu, et al. reported that days to 50% flowering ranged from 61.3 to 58.7. Data presented in Table 5 showed that fungicide applications frequencies significantly affect days to 90% maturity of faba bean. When three faba bean varieties compared, Walki and Local varieties showed 131 and 132 days to 90% maturity, respectively (Table 10). The longest durations of 134 90% maturity were recorded for the varieties of Hachalu, respectively. But there were no significant differences all varieties.

This difference may be due to the variation in genetic back ground of the faba bean varieties and environmental conditions. The significant differences (P ≤ 0.01) days to 90% maturity between weekly spray intervals and unsprayed on all varieties. From sprayed plots, every one-week fungicide spray showed longest to 90% days to maturity as compared to the other spray schedule. Varieties Walki, Local and Hachalu showed 132.67, 131.33, and 134.00 90% when weekly fungicide applied compared to untreated plots 117.67, 92.67, and 119 90% maturity dates, respectively. This indicated that frequent usage of fungicides that reduces disease infection and enhances the plants for performing its physiological function. The shortest duration of days to 90% maturity were recorded from untreated and 21-days treated plots of all varieties. These results are also relatively confirmed by the findings of Abay Guta, et al. who reported that faba bean cultivar treated with fungicide showed longest days to matured when compared to untreated plots.

Plant height: Based on the analysis of variance plant height was highly significantly difference (P<0.01) among varieties at maturity stages. The maximum plant height at maturity was recorded from variety Walki 127.09 (cm) and Minimum height was recorded from Local variety 87.37 (cm) and followed by variety Hachalu 118.28 (cm) maturity stages respectively. Mussa Jarso, et al. Showed that plant height of faba bean is ranged from 0.3 to 2 m depends on the nature of varieties and environmental conditions.

Plant height was highly significantly difference (P<0.01) among fungicide spraying frequency (main effects). The main effects of fungicide spraying frequency the maximum plant height was recorded from plots sprayed with three times fungicide spraying frequency of 1.5 kg/ha Trust Cymocop439.5 WP (140.17 cm and 121.81 cm) fungicide rates and the minimum plant height from unsprayed plots 79.94 (cm) at maturity. Mussa Jarso, et al showed that plant height of faba bean is ranged from 0.3 to 2 m depends on the nature of varieties and environmental conditions (Table 11).

The interaction effect of varieties and fungicide spraying frequency analysis of variance plant height was highly significantly difference (P<0.01). The maximum plant height at maturity was recorded from varieties Walki and Hachalu treated with three times fungicide spraying frequency of 1.5 kg/ha Trust Cymocop439.5 WP (151.07 cm and 141.90 cm) respectively and variety Local treated with three times fungicide spraying frequency with mean value (127.53 cm). And the minimum plant height was recorded from unsprayed varieties local (44.60 cm) and Hachalu and Walki (90.80 g cm and 104.43 cm) respectively. Shahzad, et al. reported that the height of the crop is mainly controlled by the genetic makeup of a genotype and it can also be affected by the environmental factor [19].

Table 10: Main effects of faba bean varieties and fungicide spray frequency on Date to flowering 50%, maturity 90% and plant height.

Table 11: Interaction effects of faba bean varieties and fungicide spraying frequency on Date to flowering 50 %, maturity 90% and plant height.

Pod length, number of pods per plant and number of seeds per pod: The highest mean pod length among the varieties was obtained from variety Wolki 9.14 cm Hachalu 8.85 and the lowest mean pod length was obtained from local variety 3.91 cm (Table 12). The analysis of variance revealed that the interaction of variety with fungicide spraying frequency showed very highly significant effect (P<0.001) on pod length. There were very highly significant effects (P<0.001) in pod length among the main effects of Trust Cymocop439.5 WP fungicide spraying frequency. The maximum pod length (10.38 cm) was with three times fungicide spraying frequency of fungicide application and the intermediate pod length 8.23 cm was recorded on two times fungicide spraying frequency of fungicide application. While the minimum pod length (3.84 cm) was recorded on untreated variety (Table 12). This variation of pod length occurs due to the resistance level of variety and time of fungicide application. Samuel Sahile, et al., reported that in most cases local varieties are low yielding and highly susceptible to both biotic and abiotic stresses.

The analysis of variance showed that the main effect of fungicide spraying frequency had very highly significantly difference (p<0.001) and interaction effect there was no significantly difference (p<0.05) on the number of pods per plant.

Among faba bean variety the maximum number of pods per plant (9.14 cm) was observed on Walki variety followed by Hachalu variety (8.85). The minimum number of pods per plant (3.91 cm) was recorded on Local variety (Table 12). This result is similar with Abay, et al. Who reported that the significant different of pods per plant was observed among faba bean varieties.

The main effects of fungicide spraying frequency with three times fungicide spraying frequency sprayed with 1.5 kg/ha of Trust Cymocop439.5 WP fungicide rate and two times fungicide spraying frequency sprayed were the maximum pods per plants were recorded. And the minimum pods per plant were recorded from unsprayed varieties.

The results of this study were in line with Hawthorne who found that application of fungicide gave maximum pods per plant compared to unsprayed.

The interaction effect of varieties and fungicide spraying frequency had significantly difference (p<0.001) on the number of pods per plant. the maximum pods per plants were recorded from varieties Walki and Hachalu three times fungicide spraying frequency sprayed with 1.5 kg/ha of Trust Cymocop439.5 WP fungicide rate (13.04 and 12.57 pods) and (5.53 pods) on local varieties respectively. And the minimum pods per plant was recorded from unsprayed varieties of Walki, Hachalu and Local (5.70 pods, 3.80 pods and 2.02 pods) respectively (Table 12). This result agreed with Dagne Kora, et al. who indicated shorter fungicide spray frequency reduced the disease and increased the yield compared to the unsprayed plots. This observation also agrees with the findings of Torres, et al.,) who reported that yield reductions were observed when plans lose their flower because plants fail to set pods due to chocolate spot disease.

The main effects seeds per pod of varieties had significance difference between Wolki and Hachalu variety and highly significant effect on unsprayed local varieties relatively. Number of seeds per pod the main effects seeds per pod of varieties had significance difference (p<0.001) between varieties and the interaction of effect of varieties and fungicide rates (Table 11).

Hundred seed weight: The maximum amount of hundred seed weight was recorded from on variety Hachalu a mean value of (77.80 gm) followed by variety Wolki mean value (67.61 gm). The least hundred seed weight was recorded from local variety (52.7 gm) (Table 12). This was due to genetic variations on seed size. The results in line with the wok of Abay et al. who found 100 seeds weight variation observed among faba bean varieties and fungicide sprayed. There were very highly significant effects (P<0.001) in hundred seed weight among the main effects of Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP fungicide spraying frequency. Trust Cymocop439.5 WP fungicide at a rate of 1.5 kg ha^-1 three times fungicide spraying frequency gave the highest hundred seed weight of faba bean 86.53 gm compared to the respective unsprayed plots 39.62 gm. From this study showed that there was the reduction of hundred seed weight in all unsprayed varieties compared to the sprayed varieties. This suggested that Trust Cymocop fungicide application reduced seed infections that decrease the quality of the seed due to disease.

The analysis of variance indicated that interaction of varieties and fungicide spraying frequency had very highly significant effect (p<0.001) on hundred seed weight. The maximum hundred seed weight (94.67 gm) was recorded on Hachalu variety treated at three times fungicide spraying frequency followed by variety Walki (85.50 gm) while the minimum hundred seed weight (76.43 gm) was recorded on unsprayed local variety (Table 12). From this study showed that there was the reduction of hundred seed weight in all unsprayed varieties compared to the sprayed varieties. This result agreed with Dagne Kora, et al, who indicated shorter fungicide spray intervals reduced the disease and increased the yield compared to the unsprayed plots. Dagne Kora, et al. also indicated that integration of moderately resistant variety with Trust Cymocop439.5 WP spray reduced the disease and increased the grain yield, as well as the seed weight of faba bean. This finding is in line with Dagne kora, et al. who reported that chocolate spot disease has reduced the grain yield and quality by reducing 100 seeds weight.

Grain yield: Based on the analysis of variance, the interaction of variety and fungicide spraying frequency had highly significant effect (p<0.001) on yield of faba bean (Table 12). There was also a significant difference between Walki and Hachalu variety and highly significant Effect on unsprayed local varieties on grain yield. The highest mean grain yield among the varieties was obtained from variety Walki (3.96 ton ha^-1) and the lowest mean grain yield was obtained from local variety (2.62 ton ha^-1). There were highly significant effects (P<0.001) in grain yield among fungicide spraying frequencies. Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP fungicide at a rate of 2.5 kg ha^-1 three times fungicide spraying frequency showed the highest yield of faba bean compared to the respective unsprayed plots. These results were agreed with Yekedem Bimrew and Hassen Shifa, that, the Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP fungicide at a rate of 1.5 kg ha^-1 gave good result than the respective unsprayed. Similarly, Kora et al., also reported that, Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP application increased the yield of faba bean varieties, compared to the respective unsprayed controls.

The interaction of varieties and three times fungicide spraying frequency at a rate of 1.5 kg ha^-1 showed the highest grain yield (4.65 ton ha^-1, 4.14 ton ha^-1 and 3.21 ton ha^-1) on Walki, Hachalu and local varieties, respectively. The lowest grain yield was recorded from unsprayed plots (1.78 ton ha^-1, 3.33 ton ha^-1 and 3.43 ton ha^-1) on local, Hachalu and Walki varieties, respectively (Table 12). Similarly, Samuel Sahile et al. indicated that fungicide spray reduced the disease severity and disease progress rate and increased the yield than the other spray fungicide. Another finding by Abay Guta, et al. reported the use of improved cultivars and fungicide protection as an integrated disease management increases yield and yield components.

The analysis of variance showed combination of variety and fungicide spraying frequency very highly significant effect (p<0.001) on yield loss (Table 12). Research done in Northern Ethiopia showed that the use of improved faba bean varieties reduces chocolate spot disease incidence and severity and as a result it minimizes the yield losses.

According to the interaction effect of varieties and fungicide spraying frequency the highest relative yield loss was recorded on the local variety (49.37%) (Table 12) which was unsprayed (control). Relatively, lower yield loss of (11.68 %) was recorded from plots sprayed with two times 1.5 kg/ha of Trust Cymocop439.5 WP fungicide spraying frequency on Hachalu varieties (Table 12). This result agreed with Dereje Gorfu and Yaynu Haile who reported that Chocolate spot caused yield losses of faba bean that varying from 34% on a tolerant genotype up to 61% on a susceptible genotype in Ethiopia. Misgana Mitiku indicated that complete crop loss can occur when the environmental condition become conducive for chocolate spot disease [20].

Table 12: Main effect of faba bean varieties and fungicide spray frequency on Pod length, number of pods per plant, number of seed per pod, hundred seed weight and grain yield.

Table 13 interaction effects of faba bean varieties and fungicide spraying frequencies on pod length, number of pods per plant, number of seed per pod, hundred seed weight grain yield.

Table 13: Interaction effects of faba bean varieties and fungicide spraying frequencies on pod length, number of pods per plant, number of seed per pod, hundred seed weight grain yield.

Relative yield loss: The analysis of variance showed that the combination of variety and fungicide application schedule had significant effect (p<0.01) on yield loss (Table 14). The highest grain yield (4.65 ton ha^-1) was obtained from the variety Walki sprayed three times with Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP application fungicide and the lowest grain yield (1.78 ton ha^-1) obtained from unsprayed local variety (Table 14). In this case three times spray frequencies of Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP application fungicide reduces the yield loss in all three faba bean variety. The maximum yield loss (26.03 %) recorded on unsprayed.

Local variety and the minimum yield loss recorded on three faba bean variety with fungicide three time sprays of Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP application fungicide application. This result agreed with Dereje Gorfu and Yaynu Haile who reported that Chocolate spot caused yield losses of faba bean that varying from 34% on a tolerant genotype up to 61% on a susceptible genotype in Ethiopia. Mitiku indicated that complete crop loss can occur when the environmental condition become conducive for chocolate spot disease. From this study showed that there was the reduction of hundred seed Weight in all unsprayed varieties compared to the sprayed varieties. This result agreed with Kora et al, study result that indicated fungicide spray reduced the disease and increased the yield compared to the unsprayed plots. Kora, et al. also indicated that integration of moderately resistant variety with Trust Cymocop 439.5 WP spray reduced the disease and increased the grain yield, as well as the seed weight of faba bean.

Based on the interaction effect of variety with fungicide application, the highest hundred seed weight (94.67 gm) was recorded from Hachalu variety with three times spray fungicide application and the lowest hundred seed weight (23.10 gm) was recorded from unsprayed local variety. In this case the highest yield loss (49.37%) recorded from unsprayed local variety whereas the lowest yield loss (0.0%) recorded from Wolki variety with three-time sprays fungicide application (Table 15). This result indicated that the use of three-time sprays fungicide application reduces hundred seed weight yield loss in all three faba bean variety. Samuel, et al. research done in Northern Ethiopia showed that the use of improved faba bean varieties reduces chocolate spot disease incidence and severity and as a result it minimizes the yield loss [21].

Table 14: Main effects of faba bean varieties and fungicide spraying frequency on grain yield and relative yield loss.

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Citation: Atnafu D, Jemal A, Azmeraw Y (2025) Management of Chocolate Spot (Botrytis fabae L.) of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Using Host Resistance and Fungicide Spray Frequencies in Dabat District, North Western Ethiopia. Adv Crop Sci Tech 13: 775.

Copyright: © 2025 Atnafu D, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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Varieties	FSF	Yield ton/ha	RYL%
Local	S0	1.78h	49.37a
	S1	2.52g	28.32b
	S2	2.59g	26.39b
	S3	3.53e	0
Walki	S0	3.68d	20.86cd
	S1	3.83c	17.70de
	S2	4.11b	11.68f
	S3	4.65a	0
Hachalu	S0	3.21f	22.38c
	S1	3.41e	17.70de
	S2	3.53e	14.64ef
	S3	4.14b	0
LSD (0.05)		0.13	3.98