Verification of Comet Plus 475 G/L EC Fungicide Against Wheat Stripe Rust (Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici) Disease on Bread Wheat in Bale, Southeastern Ethiopia

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is the most widely cultivated crops in Ethiopia. However, wheat production is very low due to many factors. Of these, disease like stripe rust of wheat is the main constrained biotic factor and cause great yield losses. The field experiment was conducted at three hot-spot locations of wheat rust diseases in the zone namely; Sinana, Selka, and Agarfa during the 2019 cropping season to evaluate the effectiveness of newly introduced fungicide for the management of yellow rust disease of wheat. Variety Kubsa, which is susceptible to the three wheat rusts were used. The trial was laid out at three locations with non-replicated plots. Two systemic fungicides (Comet plus and Rex®Duo) and untreated plot (control) were used as a treatment. A significant difference (P<0.05) was observed between fungicide treatments and unsprayed plots on yellow rust severity, grain yield, thousand kernel weight, and hectoliter. Based on field observation and analyzed data results revealed that the newly introduced fungicide found to be effective in controlling stripe rust of wheat. Thus, Comet plus 475 G/L EC is recommended as an alternative fungicide for the management of stripe rust of wheat in wheat-growing areas of the country.