Chickpea fusarium wilt: A review of predominant challenge to chickpea production in Ethiopia

Chickpea Fusarium wilt is a major challenge to chickpea production in Ethiopia, impacting yields across agro-ecological zones. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the disease’s distribution, disease pressure, pathogenic variability, and various management practices within the country. The objective was to provide a comprehensive overview of chickpea Fusarium wilt in Ethiopia and to evaluate current management strategies. Data were compiled from peer-reviewed publications, research reports, and surveys conducted between 2008 and 2025. The review highlights the wide-spread occurrence of the disease, with incidence rates ranging from 5% to 58% and severity indices from 3% to 42% across major chickpea-producing regions. In the Amhara region, where the disease pressure is impactful, more than 65% of the surveyed districts retained a mean wilt incidence of above 25%. The pathogenic diversity of F. oxysporum f.sp. ciceris is substantial, with isolates exhibiting varying degrees of virulence. Sustainable and effective management necessitates an integrated approach, incorporating agronomic practices and cropping systems, including delayed planting, intercropping and cereal-based long-term crop rotation. Application of bio-control agents that consist Psudomonas, Trichoderma, and Bacillus species is pivotal against Fusarium wilt in chickpea. Host resistance, including the use of Arerti, Mastewal, Natoli, and Chefe varieties and fungicides like Goldazim 500SC, Carbondazim, Apron star, Thiram, Thio-phanate-methyl and Mancozeb alone or in combination, significantly reduced the Fusarium wilt intensity.