A SURVEY OF PARASITIC VEGETABLE DISEASES IN EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Vegetable crops are produced in large quantities and play an important role in the lives of many people in the Eastern part of Ethiopia. Until recently, vegetables were regarded as being second in importance to 'chat' (Cathaedulis) as cash crops. Present trends, however, indicate that vegetables are becoming primary cash crops in this region.

One of the most important limiting factors in the production of vegetables is the disease/pest complex. Vegetable yields and qualities in almost all areas suffer from a wide range of diseases, ranging from fungal, bacterial, virus, nematode and nutritional diseases. Unfavourable climatic conditions also affect plant health during certain periods of the year. Disease damage is not only limited to the field but also extends to storage. Virtually every part of the plant or every stage of growth of almost all vegetables may be liable to infection by one or more diseases.

The list of diseases presented in this paper is far from complete, since many diseases in Ethiopia have still to be identified, but some diseases which have already been described by Yirgou (1967), together with diseases which have been personally identified, have been included.