Research on plant-parasitic and entomopathogenic nematodes in Ethiopia: a review of current state and future direction

Abstract

Food self-sufficiency is Ethiopia’s national priority goal. Given that pest management seriously impacts agriculture, research on crop diseases is of paramount significance to the national goal. Here we provide a comprehensive account of research on plant-parasitic and entomopathogenic nematodes in Ethiopia. We show that the limited information available indicates that plant-parasitic nematodes impact crop production. There exists a serious gap in knowledge with regard to the effects of plant-parasitic nematodes on almost all major crops. This gap includes surveys with appropriate levels of identification, distribution, and yield loss and damage threshold studies on target crops. The current state of knowledge hinders the nation’s ability to design and implement appropriate control strategies for plant-parasitic nematodes. We propose a strategic assessment of plant-parasitic nematodes of all major crops, the need for systematic manpower training and continued search for entomopathogenic nematodes in the major agro-ecological zones of the nation and further research on those entomopathogenic nematodes already identified.

Integration of nematology as a training and research discipline in sub-Saharan Africa: progress and prospects

“…Improvements are also gradually being observed in Ethiopia, largely at the M.Sc. level; in 2015, nematology was taught only at Haramaya University (HU) and Hawassa University (HU) ( Abebe et al , 2015 ) but has since been included in the curricula of Jimma University (JU), Ambo University (AU), Mekelle University (MU), Debre Berhan University (DBU), Madda Walabu University (MWU) and Bahir Dar University (BDU). At JU and HU, there are currently 10 M.Sc.…”

“…In East Africa the main factors attributed to the ‘brain drain’ and the low uptake of nematology in SSA are: i ) the lack of financial support to conduct research; ii ) limited infrastructure and equipment; and iii ) relocation into other roles ( i.e. , entomology) at their job placement ( Abebe et al , 2015 ; Talwana et al , 2015 ). There is no information available for the rest of SSA, but it could be speculated that such challenges are similarly applicable across SSA.…”

“…We could suggest, therefore, that insufficient local expertise is a constraining factor, which is compounded by the limited available information regarding this subject in SSA. The reference to ‘insufficient’ nematologists in SSA in the scarce available literature has been attributed to an overarching lack of funding and capacity across public and private sectors, from academia to national extension systems ( Abebe et al , 2015 ; Talwana et al , 2015 ). Yet, when embarking on this line of research, we were unable to establish any information reporting on systematic, specific or even broad data collection and analysis regarding the presence of SSA students in (inter)national nematology training programmes, the role of the local research organisations in the support and promotion of this subject, or the inclusion of nematology in the curriculum of the universities in a broader geographic context for the SSA region.…”

Status of Root-Knot Nematode (<i>Meloidogyne</i> Species) and Fusarium Wilt (<i>Fusarium oxysporum</i>) Disease Complex on Tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.) in the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia

“…The prevalence of Meloidogyne species and FOL co-occurrence has not been reported before in Ethiopia. However, mixed population of M. ethiopica (32.7%) and M. incognita with M. javanica (3.9%) have been reported, Mandefro and Mekete [30] and Abebe et al [31]. The remarkable co-occurrence of these pathogens in tomato crop grown in the CRV of Ethiopia depicts sever direct or indirect damage to this crop.…”

Plant-Parasitic Nematodes and Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…Although there has been much improvement regarding nematology within university curricula and in available expertise in SSA, evidence indicates that this has not necessarily translated into increased awareness at the national government level ( 4 , 132 ). Consequently, capacity building across the agricultural spectrum is required to improve the productivity of smallholders, ideally under a decentralized and unpoliticized extension system involving the private sector ( 154 ) and with adequate coordination, motivation, and financial support that also enable the agricultural policies already in place ( 115 ).…”