Assessment of diseases on rice (Oriza sativa L.) in major growing fields of Pawe district, Northwestern Ethiopia

Disease survey was carried out on 37 rice fields in Pawe woreda of Metekel zone to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of different diseases on rice. 0.5m by 0.5m (0.25m2) quadrates was used to assess the type of diseases prevailed in the field. Disease prevalence was calculated as the proportion or percentage of fields showing the disease, out of the total number of fields assessed. Disease incidences were determined as the proportion of plants showing symptoms, expressed as a percentage of the total number of plants assessed. The diseases prevalence, incidence and severity were leaf blast showed the highest prevalence, incidence as well as severity rate 80.08, 75 and 5.2%, respectively at vegetative growth stage as compared to other diseases. From vegetative to heading growth stage leaf blast, panicle blast and bacterial panicle blight were radically increased in prevalence, incidence and severity percentage; leaf blast recorded 80.08, 75, 5.2% at vegetative while 100, 96 and 7.21%, respectively at heading, panicle blast recorded 13.51, 11.15, 1.15 at vegetative while 100, 100 and 10.3% at heading stage and bacterial panicle blight was recorded 9.67, 13.46, 0.9% at vegetative while 21.2, 32.3 and 4.2%, respectively at heading growth stage. In general, the future rice diseases management research direction should be on the diseases with high incidence and severity such as leaf blast, panicle blast and bacterial panicle blight.