Survey was carried out to study the distribution, infestation and damaging level of insect pests of black pepper during 2013/2014 cropping season in Southwestern Ethiopia. Insect pests were observed and identified at their sites in the surveyed areas. In addition, samples of insect pests and infected plant parts were collected and insect images were taken. The samples were diagnosed in Tepi National Spice Research Center laboratory. A total of twenty two species of insect pests were recorded as black pepper insect pest with different rate of infestation and damage level. Biting black ants (Tetramorium species), black pepper flea beetle (Longitarsus species), leaf gal trips (Liothrips species), and stink bugs (Pentatomidae) were recorded with relatively high infestation and damage level from all surveyed area, while others were considered as intermediate and minor pest due to low infestation and damage level. Therefore, it is important to design control options for these major insect pests to ensure plant health and pest action under economic threshold level.

In Ethiopia coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) and black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) are economically important seeds spices in the family of Apiaceae, Fabaceae and Apiaceae (Umbelliferae), respectively. They are highly suffering due to weed infestation especially competing for water and nutrient. However, before estimating yield losses due to weeds and devising weed control strategies, identification and quantification of weeds are very important. The weed survey was conducted in East showa, Arsi, Bale, North wollo and North Gondar zones during 2016 and 2018 in main cropping seasons to identify most common and prevalent weeds associated with seeds spice (coriander, fenugreek and black cumin). Weed species characteristics, density, frequency, relative density, relative frequency, summed dominant ratio over locations and seasons were calculated. The result shows that a total of 22, 37 and 21 weed species were identified in coriander, fenugreek and black cumin fields, respectively. The most important families according to the number of represented species were Amaranthaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Primulaceae and Fabaceae in coriander, Amaranthaceae, Fabaceae and Polygonaceae in fenugreek and Chlorideae and Scrophulariaceae in black cumin fields. The frequency of individual weed species in coriander, fenugreek and black cumin field ranged from 0.14% up to 1%, 0.13% up to 1% and 0.25% up to 5% while the dominance value ranged from 0.14 up to 49.1%, 0.25 up to 26.5% and 0.25 up to 4.5%, respectively. The most frequent and dominant weed was Chenopodium album in coriander field whereas, the most frequent weed was Chenopodium album and the most dominant weed was Drymaria cordata in fenugreek field. In black cumin field Cynadon dactylon and Solanum nigrum are most dominat and the most frequent weeds respectively. This survey has ranked the most abundant and troublesome weed species in coriander, fenugreek and black cumin growing areas of Ethiopia. Therefore this information is vital for setting research and developmental work priorities concerning coriander, fenugreek and black cumin weeds of the study area

Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) is the only genus of the Orchidaceae family whose species produces a commercially important flavoring material. The study was conducted to evaluate the adaptability of introduced vanilla genotype in Ethiopia. A single observation plot was established in three locations. Vanilla was found adaptable in all location with comparable yield and quality. And results one variety with the name "Yeki 1" were registered for production.

63%, 21.467% and 27.119% in 2012, whereas 1.999%, 7.656% and 8.0926% in 2013 respectively. The result reviled that yield advantage of 45.264%, 38.408 and 33.63 in 2012 and 33.36%, 29.27% and 28.94%

Unacquainted disease was reported at epidemic level in ginger crop in southwestern part of Ethiopia and induces heavy annual losses. To quantify the distribution of the disease, survey was conducted in Southern Nation Nationality and People Sate zones in 2012-and 2014 main crop season and covered 11 zones. In ginger farmers' and private farm fields, it was observed that some plants with pathogenicity symptoms including yellowing of leaves and wilting, stunting growth and chlorosis. The prevalence of the disease was 100% but the mean maximum incidence was recorded in Sheka zone, 93.5%, followed by Benchmajizone, 91.6 %, while the lowest wilt incidence was recorded in Gamogofa zone 10.7 %. During 2014 season wilt incidence was increased to 98.9% and 97.4% in Benchmaji zone and Sheka zone respectively. In the same season 78.4% was recorded in Keffa zone. Alongside some studies was carried out to identify the causal organism of the disease; pathogenicity test and classify the strains on biovars, types and races. The result showed that the pathogen isolated and inoculated on disease free ginger plant generated from rhizomes produced through tissue culture have been developing identical symptoms to the symptom observed on the diseased plants at field conditions. Cultural characteristics of isolates on Tetrazolium Chloride (TZC) Agar selective medium showed light to red color with the characteristic red center which resembles the pathogen Ralstoniasolanascearum. Biochemical and physiological characteristic revealed that similarities among isolates and strains were grouped in biovar III and corresponds to race 4 of the pathogen.