Distribution and severity of sorghum covered kernel smut in North Western Ethiopia

Field survey for sorghum covered kernel smut incidence and severity were done in two districts of North Gondar Administrative zone, Amhara National Regional State in North western Ethiopia, during the main crop season. In each district eleven representative Peasant Administrations (PAs) were selected randomly based mainly on sorghum area coverage. In each PA disease was assessed in ten randomly selected farmer fields. In Gondar Zuria district, the disease was highly distributed through out the surveyed areas and disease incidence ranged from 10.5 to 29.2%. The highest (29.2%) and the lowest disease incidence (10.5%) were recorded at Tach Teda and Sarwuha PAs respectively. The severity was the highest (54.66%) at Bahiriginb and the lowest (26.57%) at Sarwuha PAs. In Alefa Takussa district, the disease was found to be distributed with mean disease incidence of 12.25%. The higher disease incidence (17.43%) was at Goy while it was the lowest (5.5%) at Chima Lembez PAs. The Highest disease severity (48.35%) was encountered at Ayibiga and it was the lowest (31.05%) at Chima Lembez.