Abstract: In addition to inquiring about the knowledge of Nuquí producers, the goal of this research was to prove that the fields of healthy rice plants were set in a specific landscape, which is different to the landscape where rice plants managed with fungicides are located; the composition and structure of the landscapes were determined through participant observation, bibliographic resources and photographic records. The study variables were defined in order to perform correspondence and conglomerate/cluster analysis, both univariate and bivariate. There are two clusters, Nuquí and Lerida, and the index number of different species for Nuquí-Chocó was higher compared with that of Lerida-Tolima, which indicates that Nuquí producers usually establish their rice fields among vegetable species such as weeds, shrubbery, and trees and preserved a very particular structure of landscape, allowing them to maintain their crops free of diseases.

Abstract: The effect of Pseudomonas fluorescence, Trichoderma viride and Trichoderma harzianum on anthracnose was studied at Ambo, Ethiopia during the 2013 cropping season. There were highly significant differences between disease levels and seed yield among bio agent seed treated plots. Anthracnose on beans from untreated seed-planted was more in diseases incidence and severity than on beans from seed treated plots with Pseudomonas fluorescence, Trichoderma harzianum, and Trichoderma viride. Bean seed yield and yield components aspect were also influenced by the bioagents. Lower hundred seed weight, infected pods per plant and seed yield were obtained from seed untreated plots. There were no significant differences in pods per plant and seeds per pod. Highly significant AUDPC of 1529.8%-day occurred in the control plot and 672.2%-day in the seed treated with Pseudomonas fluorescence plot. Management options that highly reduce anthracnose primary inoculum should be promoted indicating that the purpose of seed treatment was to reduce the primary inoculum.

Abstract: Ascochyta blight is the Ethiopia's most important disease of chickpea that affects the quantitative and qualitative chickpea yield. Fungicides management is essential to control this disease. To evaluate the effect of new fungicide management on the ascochyta blight field trial was conducted in 2013 cropping season on randomized complete blocks design with three replications. Factors including: foliar sprays (Top, mancozeb and without spray as control). Statistical analysis showed significant differences among the treatments. The comparison of means showed that application of top fungicide was a suitable strategy for reduction of ascochyta blight severity, incidence and AUDPC as well as the maximum seeds per pod, pods per plant and grain yield recorded on new fungicide. Up to 244.29% marginal rates of return and 14595.5 Birr/ha net benefits were obtained by Top fungicide application. In general, as any other chemical systems, Top fungicide control of ascochyta blight should be regarded as one facet of the integrated control program rather than a method to be used alone.

Abstract: Plum pox virus (PPV), the agent of sharka, is the most devastating virus infecting stone fruits. The PPV control is mainly based on prevention, and its quick and reliable detection is considered crucial in this strategy. In this study DAS-ELISA and Real-time PCR were compared for evaluating their potentialities and limits for large scale surveys. Different hosts (apricot and peach), plant organs (phloem, buds, flowers, leaves and fruits) and parts of them, different periods of the year, the presence or absence of symptoms were considered for comparison. No significant differences were observed between the two techniques when the titre of the virus in the plant is high (on spring). Conversely, Real-time is preferable to ELISA for testing tissues with low virus concentration (in the early stages of infection or during summer). Moreover, the accurate and careful observation of symptoms in the field remains crucial in the application of the disease monitoring and eradication programs.

Abstract: 25 plant species were screened for food preference of cotton mealybug, Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, using a multi-choice experiment under laboratory conditions maintained at 25 ± 1ºC, 55 ± 5% relative humidity with a 16 h light: 8 h dark photoperiod. The proportion of 1st, 2nd and 3rd nymphal instars was recorded on 24 plant species at 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours after release as compared with Chinese rose as control. The proportion of 1st and 3rd instar of P. solenopsis was maximum on cotton, but highest proportion of 2nd instar was recorded on weed plants including hazardani, qulfa and itsit as compared with control (Chinese rose). In contrast proportion of nymphal instars of P. solenopsis on other tested weeds i.e., loosen booti, tandla and krund.