Overview of virus research on food legumes in Ethiopia

Abstract

Due to farming system changes and weather variability, chickpea and lentil diseases and inset pests are increasing and reduced the production of the two crops. For example, lentil area decreased from 120,000 ha in 2017/18 to 99,000 ha in 2018/19 cropping season in Ethiopia. ✓ Based on serological testing and molecular characterization of chickpea and lentil viruses, we found that the 50% yield reduction that observed during 2018 and 2019 is based on the infection with Chickpea chlorotic stunt virus and Pea seed-borne mosaic virus. ✓ New innovations (integrated pest management) should be developed and introduced to manage viruses and their vectors on both crops to minimize yield losses in areas where virus incidence is high and the crop is very important for small holder farmers. ✓ New sources of virus resistance should be developed for both chickpea and lentil. ✓ Research centers and farmers should be advised to plant health seeds to combat emerging virus epidemics in the country. ✓ Research of pesticide efficacy based on insect pest developmental stage needs to be tested since most farmers complained that the pesticide they spayed did not control mainly aphids in lentil and pod borer on chickpea.