Abstract

Enset bacterial wilt (EBW) caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv.Musacearum is one of the most serious diseases in enset growing areas of Ethiopia. There were no documented reports on the distribution of enset bacterial wilt in South Omo zone. Therefore, the objectives were to determine the prevalence and incidence of EBW. The study was carried out during 2017/2018. South Ari and North Ari districts were purposely selected based on enset production. Nine and six representative kebeles in South Ari and North Ari districts respectively were selected. Ten enset fields from each kebele were randomly assessed. In each enset field, the plants were grouped into three cycles (Cycle 1, 2 and 3) based on the crop growth stages. Disease assessment in fields was performed in “X” fashion for cycle 3 and 2, respectively and for cycle 1, ten suckers were randomly selected from each of mass grown suckers. The survey result revealed that the disease was detected in both districts and all kebeles but in varying extent. At district level, the higher disease prevalence (65%) and incidence (6.85%) were recorded in North Ari, while the lower prevalence (40%) and incidence (2.73%) were observed in South Ari district. At kebele level, the prevalence varied from 10% to 90%, while incidence 1.21% to 15.46% in Komer and Kalet kebeles, respectively.