Survey of Septoria Tritici Blotch (Septoria Tritici) of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Septoria tritici blotch (STB) is an economically important foliar disease in the major wheat-growing areas of Ethiopia. The current research was conducted to determine the incidence and severity of STB in the central highlands of Ethiopia. A total of 59 wheat fields were surveyed in 27 districts of three administrative zones i.e. South west, west and North shewa zones. The overall mean incidence of STB across the three zones varied from 52 to 75%. Similarly, mean severity ranged from 45 to 83%. Our results also confirmed susceptibility of almost all bread wheat varieties under production in the study area to STB. Current results also suggest the vulnerability of improved wheat varieties to STB although results need to be confirmed with additional studies. The present findings confirmed the importance of STB in Ethiopia