Article HistoryIn order to investigate the adaptability of mung bean varities; a study was carried out at the research field of Mehoni Agricultural Research Center in 2014/15 cropping season. Nine varities were arranged in 3*3 lattice design with three replications in six rows per plot with 2.4 m wide and 4 m long, and with spacing of 40 cm between rows and 10 cm between plants. Days to flowering, Days to maturity, Plant height, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, hundred seed weight and grain yield per hectare was significantly influenced by variety. The highest grain yield (1362.50 kg ha -1 ) was obtained from Black bean variety; followed by Shewa robit (1225.00 kg ha -1 ). On the contrary, the lowest grain yield value (242.60 kg ha -1 ) was obtained at MH BR-1 variety. Thus, both black bean and Shewa robit varities were best adapted in Raya valley.Contribution/Originality: This research finding contributes concrete information and attends the issues of best adaptable varieties to the specific agro-ecology (Raya valley) for mung bean producers.

Broomrapes (Orobanche spp.) are the serious roots parasitic weed to legumes crop production in many countries. In Ethiopia, Orobanche crenata is a dominant parasite and a major constraint to faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivation, especially in the Northern parts of the country. Presently, it reduces crop production and has forced farmers to stop growing faba bean crop. Thus, it is necessary to find new sources of resistance, understand means of resistance mechanisms to facilitate faba bean resistance breeding, and identify the best performed with high yielding variety to sustain their production and productivity. Thus, to evaluate the performance and their degree of resistance, twenty faba bean varieties were tested under the area affected by Orobanche infestation, at Korem experimental site of Alamata Agricultural Research Center, Tigray, Ethiopia during 2017 cropping season by using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). All difference among faba bean varieties was analyzed using Tukey's Standardized Range (P ≤ 5%) Test. Higher level of broomrape infection was observed during host-pod setting stage. During evaluation, 13 out of 20 tested faba bean varieties were the superior yielding varieties (312.5-3129.17 kg ha-1), whereas the remaining seven varieties completely lost yield due to 100% Orobanche infestation. Cluster analysis was then carried out and the varieties were grouped into different clusters with different sizes based on their level of resistance or susceptibility. Three varieties 'Ashenge, Dedia and Obse' were selected for their best performance. Accordingly, Ashenge variety was selected as partially resistant with highest yield provided due to lowest occurrence of Orobanche infestation within variety. Future breeding program therefore, should mainly focus on these three selected varieties to improve the problem of faba bean production by using conventional and molecular breeding methods.

A cross sectional study was conducted at Assosa zone of Benishangul Gumuz, North West Ethiopia, to determine the prevalence of trypanosomosis in local breeds of sheep and goats. Blood sample from 384 randomly selected sheep and goats (177 from Assosa and 207 from Homosha districts) of different species, sex, age groups were examined by dark phase contrast buffy coat and thin smear examination for species identification of trypanosome. Among the animals examined during the study period, 10 (2.6%) were infected with trypanosomes. From this survey, Trypanosoma vivax was found to be the major cause of trypanosomosis (1.82%), followed by Trypanosoma congolense (0.52%) and Trypanosoma brucei (0.26%). There was no statical difference (p > 0.05) in infection between sex, species, and among age groups. Mean packed cell volume (PCV) of the parastemic animals was significantly lower than (P < 0.05) that of aparastemic animals. In attempt to identify the vector involved in transmition, tsetse flies group (Glossina morsitans submorsitans) and mechanical vectors of trypanosomosis that belonging to Tabanidae (Tabanus, Stomoxys and Haematopota) were captured in both districts at an altitude range of 1270 to 1507 m above sea level. The results of the prevalence of the disease in small ruminants and its vectors indicate that an effective management and control measures for the disease and transmitting vectors should be designed and implemented.

Orobanche crenata is a serious parasitic weed and a major constraint on legume crops, particularly for faba bean, which causes about 75–100% of yield losses in Ethiopia. Twenty faba bean genotypes were evaluated in Orobanche infested fields and pot experiments in Tigray, Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to determine the critical stage of host plants affected by parasite and to evaluate resistance level of faba bean genotypes. The degree of infection and host resistance level was evaluated at three host growing stages (flowering, pod setting, and maturity stages) using different traits like number of Orobanche emerged per plant, per plot, incidence, and severity. The agronomic data such as stand count at emergence, flowering, pod setting, maturity, plant height, pod number, seed per pod, hundred seed weight, and grain yield were recorded from five and three randomly selected plants in the field and pot experiments, respectively. The analysis of variance showed that there were high significant variations p < 0.01 in measured traits between the three host growing stages and between genotypes in agronomic traits. The effect of O. crenata on host plant was started from the flowering stage, but the pod setting stage is economically important stage at which actual effect of the parasite was observed both at field and pot experiments. Based on the result of the study, all tested traits at field and pot experiments allowed separating the faba bean genotypes into three groups: partially resistant and or tolerant genotypes “Ashange, Dide’a, and Obse,” moderately susceptible genotypes “Holleta, Selale, Wayu, Welki, Mesay, Bulga, Degaga, Gachena, Mosise, and Shalo,” and highly susceptible genotypes “Moti, Gebelcho, Dosha, Tumsa, Hachalu, and Tesfa Aloshe.”

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