Evaluation of Enset Clones Resistance against Enset Bacterial Wilt Disease ( Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum )

Enset (Ensete ventricosum Welw. Cheesman) is one of the most important staple and co-stable food crops for around 20 million people in Ethiopia. However its production has been threatened by a devastating bacterial disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum. This disease was officially reported in Ethiopia for the first time in the 1960‟s. Therefore, this study was conducted with the objective to screen field-grown Enset clones collected for reaction against bacterial wilt and to assess the farmers practices used for the management of the target pathogen. A large number of Enset clones (20) assessed and collected from the Dire Inchini, Jibat and Wonchi distrcts and were screened against resistance/tolerance to Enset bacterial wilt, X. campestris through artificial inoculation. All artificially inoculated Enset clones with X. campesrtris suspensions of different concentration were developed disease symptom of variable intensity levels during the first 30 days after inoculation. The Enset clones, Suite, Warke, Bidu, Astera and Kekari showed 100% disease symptoms at 30 days after inoculation and could, hence, be used as susceptible checks in future screening trials. This vascular disease was resulted in yellowing of the leaves, wilting and finally collapsing of the entire plant. Disease symptoms were not observed on Enset clones of Mezya, Bedadet, Hiniba and Nech Enset after 90 days of inoculation periods and were taken relatively as resistant to the target wilt causing pathogen. Those Enset clones showed tolerance to Enset bacterial wilt causing pathogen should be multiplied, demonstrated and addressed for the final user or Enset producing farmers and help as one disease management option; in addition to cultural practices and others effective phyto-sanitary measures Enset producing farmers are using.