Assessing the Prevalence and Management of Chocolate Spot (Botrytis Fabae L.) of Faba Bean (Vicia Faba L.) Using Host Resistance and Fungicide Spray Frequencies in Dabat District, North Western Ethiopia

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is one of the oldest domesticated food legumes, cultivated for over 5,000 years. It is a vital crop for farming communities, especially in Ethiopia, where it provides an essential source of food, income, and soil fertility. However, one of the major challenges faced by faba bean farmers is Chocolate Spot disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Botrytis fabae . This disease is a significant yield limiter, with losses reaching up to 68% in some regions of Ethiopia. To address this issue, a study was conducted in the Dabat district of the South Gondar Administrative Zone during the 2022/2023 cropping season. The primary goal was to assess integrated management strategies for controlling Chocolate Spot in faba bean. The experiment involved three faba bean varieties—Local, Walki, and Hachalu—and four fungicide spraying frequencies (unsprayed, one-time spray, two-time spray, and three-time spray). The fungicide used was Trust Cymocop 439.5% WP, applied at a rate of 1.5 kg/ha. A randomized complete block design with three replications was employed, and the results revealed significant interactions between the variety of faba bean and the frequency of fungicide spraying. The study found that the Walki variety, when sprayed three times with the fungicide, exhibited the lowest disease severity at 25.33%, compared to the Local variety, which had the highest severity at 52.33% when left unsprayed. The Area under Disease Progress Curve (AUDPC) was also significantly lower in Walki with three sprays (573%-unit day), suggesting that fungicide application coupled with resistant varieties can effectively manage Chocolate Spot disease. This research highlights the importance of using resistant varieties and appropriate fungicide application to control Chocolate Spot disease and improve faba bean yields. However, to strengthen these findings, further research is recommended over multiple cropping seasons.