White rust (Albugo candida) disease distribution, intensity and association with biophysical factors in Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract Field survey was conducted in 2021 to determine distribution and association of white rust intensity with biophysical factors. Spatio-temporal analysis of its epidemics in the farms revealed a wide distribution of the disease. The prevalence ranged from 80% to 100% indicating that white rust was distributed almost in all of the surveyed areas. Its incidence varied from 41% to 100% and the severity ranged from 4% to 50%. White rust epidemics were significantly influenced by weeding frequency, crop rotation, source of seed and planting date with an incidence of ≤ 50.5% and severity of ≤16.2%. Overall, the present study concludes that the management practices such as tillage, crop rotation, source of seed and weed management are very important for white rust. Again, the assessment of white rust status in other areas and the evaluation of management practices are very important.