Survey of Barley and Wheat Diseases in the Central Highlands of Eritrea

Abstract

Annual surveys of barley and wheat diseases were conducted in Eritrea from 2000 to 2002. The surveys
covered six zones of the central highlands where barley and wheat are grown. The main diseases of barley were netform
net blotch, spot-form net blotch, leaf rust and scald. Other, less important diseases were loose smut, covered
smut, barley stripe and septoria leaf blotch. Wheat was mainly affected by yellow rust and leaf rust. Loose smut,
septoria leaf spot and tan spot diseases were less prevalent. The average incidence of these diseases varied according
to the zone. Among barley diseases, net blotch incidence was high in four of the six zones surveyed. Leaf rust occurred
at medium incidence in five zones. Loose smut was more severe in the southern highland plains, while covered smut
was more common in the south-eastern highland terraces. For wheat, yellow rust incidence was high in two zones.
Areas with a high incidence of yellow rust were not necessarily those with a high incidence of leaf rust. Leaf rust was
important in the south-eastern and western highland terraces and in the western highland plains. The number of
diseases found in the same field varied from 2 to 5. The south eastern highland terraces, the western highland
terraces and the northern highland terraces had the highest proportions of individual barley fields with three or
more diseases.