Yield loss of ginger (Zingiber officinale) due to bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) in different wilt management systems in Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Ginger bacterial wilt is the most destructive disease that causes qualitative and quantitative rhizome yield losses in Ethiopia. Field studies were conducted to assess yield loss caused by bacterial wilt of ginger in different wilt management systems at Teppi and Jimma, Ethiopia, during 2017. Management systems were host resistance (Boziab and Local) and cultural practices (lemon grass, potassium fertilizer and soil solarization), which were applied as sole and in different levels of integrations. The experiments were factorial arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Disease, growth, yield and yield-related data were collected from central rows of each experimental plot. Data were subjected to analysis of variance using linear general model (GLM) procedure of SAS version 9.3. Mean separation was made using least significant difference test. Correlation among parameters and linear regression of rhizome yield versus final wilt incidence were computed using Minitab 14 statistical package. Results: Analysis of variance indicated that variety, cultural practices and variety × cultural practice interaction effects significantly reduced wilt incidence and increased rhizome yield and its components. Variety Boziab recorded relatively more yield and yield components than the Local variety. Rhizome yield gains of about 51.4% in Local and 51.9% in Boziab at Teppi and 39.4% in Local and 49.1% in Boziab at Jimma were obtained due to integrated application of lemon grass with soil solarization and soil fertilization. The mean relative yield loss calculated for control plots due to bacterial wilt ranged from 51.4 to 51.9% at Teppi and 39.4 to 49.1% at Jimma. The lowest relative yield loss was computed from plots treated with either lemon grass with soil fertilization and solarization or lemon grass with soil fertilization. Final wilt incidence was inversely and highly significantly (P ≤ 0.001) correlated (r = − 0.90** and − 0.88**) with rhizome yield of Boziab and Local, respectively, at Teppi. The slope of the regression line also estimated that for each unit increase in percent of final mean wilt incidence, there was a rhizome yield reduction of 0.18 t ha −1 for Boziab and 0.19 t ha −1 for Local variety at Teppi. Similar trends were observed at Jimma. Moreover, the most integrated treatment provided higher net benefit with optimum marginal rate of return than others. Conclusion: The overall results indicated that integration of host resistance with cultural practices reduces yield loss, improves ginger productivity and significantly reduces bacterial wilt epidemics, and thus, it is recommended in the study areas and other related agroecologies.

Transcriptomic analysis to reveal the differentially expressed miRNA targets and their miRNAs in response to Ralstonia solanacearum in ginger species

“…Ginger, a herbaceous tropical perennial crop, belongs to the family Zingiberaceae [20]. Among the diseases that affect ginger, bacterial wilt caused by R. solanacerum is one of the major production constraints in several regions of the world [21]. Even though there are several released varieties in ginger, none of them is resistant to R. solanacearum infection due to lack of genetic variability.…”

Cultivation and postharvest handling practices affecting yield and quality of major spices crops in Ethiopia: A review

“…(Habetewold et al, 2015 andTariku et al, 2016). Recently, ginger bacterial wilt is the most destructive disease that causes qualitative and quantitative rhizome yield losses in Ethiopia (Merga et al, 2019). In Ethiopia, almost 90% ginger production had been devastated because of this disease (Habetewold et al, 2015;Tariku et al, 2016).…”

“…Combined application of diverse methods such as host resistance, cultural practices, and biological and chemical control in integrated disease management schemes is recommended to control some level of bacterial wilt (Merga et al, 2019). Also, Nybe et al (2007) reported that, selection of disease free rhizomes, soil and rhizome solarization, crop rotation, hot water treatment of rhizome (50°C for 10 min or 40°C for 15 min), using animal dung (farmyard manure), etc.…”

Image-Based Plant Wilting Estimation

“…Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs) [2] is a soil-borne bacterium that infects plant roots and ultimately causes susceptible plants to wilt and die. Bacterial wilt caused by Rs [2] is a major threat to crop production around the world [15,18,34]. In the United States, some of the most important vegetable crops, such as tomatoes and potatoes [1], can suffer significant yield loss from bacterial wilt [3,34].…”