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Screening of Maize Inbred Lines Under Artificial Epiphytotic for Their Reaction to Grey Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis)

Received: 14 March 2024     Accepted: 2 April 2024     Published: 17 May 2024
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Abstract

Maize (Zea mays L) is one of the most widely cultivated crops and it is the basis for food security in many developing countries in Africa, and is an important food crop in Ethiopia. Despite of, its importance the crop it is affected by many biotic stresses such as pest and diseases attack. Grey leaf spot, caused by Cercospora Zeae maydis is the most important foliar disease of maize. The disease is characterized by relatively rapid leaf necrosis and premature death of foliage which eventually reduces grain yield. Development of host resistance to this disease can provide an important component of integrated disease management; which is the most effective and practical method of managing maize disease. The study was conducted to evaluate the reaction of maize inbred lines to GLS in the main cropping season during 2020. The inbred lines were obtained from Bako National Maize Research Center, breeding program, and it was arranged using alpha-lattice design with two replications. The inbred lines were evaluated in GLS screening field under artificial inoculation at Bako West Shewa, Ethiopia. Plot based Disease severity scores (1-5 scale) was used to assess at ten days intervals from disease onset to maturity. All the inbred lines showed disease symptom during the season, but the intensity of the diseases differed significantly at (P<0.05) among the inbred lines. Out of 72 genotypes screened for GLS, 20 inbred lines viz. BKL002, BKLOO4, CML 165, MBRC5BCF108-2-3-1, TZMI746, TZMI719, TZMI733, CML547, CML543, CML536, CZLQ1, CZLQ2, CML511, ILO'00E-5-5-3-1-1, 30H83-7-1-3-1-1-1-1, TZMI750, TZMI763, 30H83-7-1-2-1-1-1-#-#, DE-38-Z-126-3-2-2-2-1-1-#, TZMI407-short-#-#-# were identified to be resistant whereas TZMI746 and CML536 inbred lines are suitable candidates for utilization in both grain yield and GLS resistance, thus recommended for inclusion in hybrid development programs.

Published in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.eeb.20240902.11
Page(s) 30-36
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Maize, Resistant, GLS, Inbred Lines

1. Introduction
Maize (Zea mays L) is one of the most widely cultivated crops in the world. It is one of the three most popular cereal crops next to wheat, and rice in the world. Maize is an important cereal crop in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) critical for food security as well as a source of income for millions of small-holder farmers . It is the basis for food security in many developing countries in Africa and is an important food crop in Ethiopia .
In Ethiopia currently, about 2.5 million ha of land is covered by maize with an average production of 10.5 million tons . Maize accounting for 35% of cereals production followed by Wheat, Teff and Sorghum with 19, 18 and 15 percent respectively . The average national yield of maize is very low under small-scale farmers, which is 4.2 t/ha in the country whereas, the world average productivity 6.1 t/ha .
Despite of, this global importance the crop it is affected by many biotic stresses such as pest and diseases attack. The major foliar diseases include Turcicum leaf blight (Exserohilum turcicum (Pass) Leonard & Suggs), grey leaf spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis Tehon & Daniels), leaf rust (Puccinia sorghi Schr.), maize streak virus disease . Of these diseases affecting maize, particularly grey leaf spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis Tehon & Daniels) is the most important foliar disease causing moderate to severe losses in yield . The disease takes heavy toll during the main season when conditions of relative humidity coupled with low night temperature. This pathogen causes intense water loss from the plant thereby leading to severe blighting of the leaves and reduced photosynthesis. This eventually leads to undersized ears, low grain yield and premature death of maize plants. Severe blighting of the upper eight or nine leaves that contribute 75 to 90% of the photosynthates for grain fill may lead to stalk weakening or even infectious stalk rot diseases leading to premature stalk death and lodging . Methods to manage GLS disease include cultural practices, chemical and host plant resistance . Due to its inconsistency with environment and expensiveness, uses of chemical fungicides are not effective.
The most effective and cost-efficient means of managing this disease is the use of host plant resistance. It is, therefore, desirable to identify resistant inbred lines from diverse sources in maize pre-breeding program in order to improve genetic resistance to this foliar disease. Though early research efforts made to identify maize germplasm resistant to the disease and utilizing them for maize breeding program, subsequent study for additional source of maize germplasm should be screened under artificial inoculation to obtain new and stable resistance.
The objective of this study was to select maize inbred lines that are resistant/tolerant to GLS through evaluation from locally developed and adapted maize inbred lines for use in maize improvement program.
2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Description of the Study Area

The experiment was conducted at Bako national maize research center of maize disease nursery field during main season of 2020. The site is located at 9°06’ N and 37°09' E and receives the annual rain fall of about 1237 mm and situated at an altitude of 1650 m above sea level, which represent mid altitude sub-humid agro-ecology zone of Ethiopia. It has minimum and maximum average temperature of 15. 6°C and 30.7°C, respectively. The experiment was conducted in the field under artificial inoculation conditions for evaluation against GLS.

2.2. Description of Experimental Materials and Design

A total of Seventy-two white maize inbred lines were used and arranged in 9x8 alpha lattice design with two replications. Some of the genotypes were developed by BNMRC and the rest are obtained from CIMMYT. Each inbred line was planted in a plot consisting of two rows of 3.6m long spaced at 25 and 75cm between plants and rows, respectively. Maize inbred lines SC-22 was used as susceptible check. Nitrogen (N2) and diammonium phosphate (P2O5) fertilizers were applied at the recommended rates of 92 kg/ha and 69 kg/ha, respectively. All agronomic management practices for the area were applied as per the recommendations.

2.3. Inoculum Preparation and Inoculation

Inoculum of C. zeae maydis was prepared a year before experimentation by collecting from heavily infected maize fields showing distinct GLS symptoms. The infected leaves were dried under shade and crushed/grounded in to mill about the coarseness of wheat bran and stored in paper bags at a temperature of 4°C until inoculation date. The pulverized leaves then dusted in the whorls of the plants according to Dagne by placing a pinch of leaf mill when plant attains 6-8 leaf stage during moisten environments in order to retain long enough to permit spore germination. Some of the genotypes were developed by BNMRC and the rest are adopted from CIMMYT. A second inoculation was made ten days later after the first inoculation to ensure adequate infection.

2.4. Assessment of Disease Reaction

The GLS disease symptom was visually assessed in the field two weeks after artificial inoculation on a plot basis from the two rows. Data collected included date first disease appeared, disease incidence, disease severity, and other agronomic traits including plant height (cm) and grain yield (t/ha). The progress of severity of the disease on each inbred lines was quantified at ten days intervals starting from onset of disease until dent stages and the highest or final severity value of each inbred lines were used for statistical analysis. Disease incidence was measured as percent of infected plants per total plant per plot. Disease severity was rated based on 1-5 scoring scale (CIMMYT, 1985); where 1=no disease symptoms, 2=moderate lesion below the leaf subtending the ear, 3=heavy infestation on and below the leaf subtending the ear with few lesions above it, 4=severe lesion on all but the uppermost leaves which may have a few lesions, 5=all leaves dead. The categorization of the disease reactions was made on the basis of disease severity ratings using a 1-5 scale with some modifications, where; 1.0–2.0=Resistant (R); 2.1-2.5 = Moderately Resistant (MR); 2.6-3.0= Susceptible (S), and >3.0 Highly susceptible (HS).

2.5. Statistical Data Analysis

Data were analyzed using PROC GLM of SAS version 9.2 . Mean separation was performed to compare treatment means using LSD-test at 5% level of significance.
3. Results and Discussion
A total of seventy-two Maize inbred lines were screened for resistance to GLS. The mean disease severity and yield results indicated significant (P < 0.05) variation among the inbred lines for GLS resistance (Table 1).
Table 1. Mean GLS severity, yield and other agronomic traits of 72 Maize inbred lines evaluated under artificial inoculation during 2020 main cropping season at Bako.

Entry No

Pedigree

Plant Height (Cm)

Ear Height (Cm)

Anthesis date (days)

Yield t/ha

Disease Severity Scale (1-5)

Resistance Category

1

142-1-e

229.8

141.0

90.7

2.95

2.3

MR

2

F 7215

163.1

77.5

92.9

1.20

3.1

SS

3

BKLOO1

188.2

89.0

86.2

2.36

2.6

SS

4

BKL002

109.4

43.7

80.6

2.01

1.4

RR

5

BKLOO3

136.6

79.0

89.3

0.91

2.2

MR

6

BKLOO4

157.4

69.2

89.6

1.39

1.8

RR

7

CML 161

113.7

59.1

84.8

1.10

2.2

MR

8

CML 165

92.9

37.8

89.1

1.08

1.5

RR

9

CML 312BK

181.3

87.7

86.7

2.25

2.2

MR

10

CML 144

141.4

64.2

88.6

1.11

4.1

HS

11

CML 202

140.2

66.1

89.2

0.45

3.0

SS

12

CML 159

133.2

57.1

87.3

1.27

4.2

HS

13

A7033

195.1

110.5

81.3

3.21

3.9

HS

14

SC 22

152.3

84.8

85.2

1.81

3.7

HS

15

CML 395

109.4

60.2

83.6

0.71

4.8

HS

16

CML 204

158.3

74.1

84.7

0.93

3.8

HS

17

KUBA/GUDAC1…

137.9

61.6

80.6

0.96

2.1

MR

18

124b(113)

191.7

84.0

81.3

4.03

4.4

HS

19

CML 176/KULEN...

20

CML 334

145.5

77.9

89.4

0.92

3.4

SS

21

MBRC5BCF108-2-3-1

130.6

53.9

83.9

1.30

1.7

RR

22

Zim line/kat#24

23

CML 445

109.3

38.6

88.2

0.81

3.1

SS

24

TZMI723

152.6

61.4

91.9

1.09

2.7

SS

25

TZMI730

167.4

99.2

85.4

3.69

2.4

MR

26

TZMI746

148.1

84.8

90.3

2.30

1.3

RR

27

TZMI719

138.1

70.0

90.4

0.78

1.7

RR

28

TZMI733

135.0

66.8

92.5

1.27

1.6

RR

29

CML547

163.2

62.4

82.3

1.18

1.8

RR

30

CML444

31

CML543

134.2

64.1

87.7

0.37

1.7

RR

32

CML536

164.7

74.6

89.2

2.65

1.5

RR

33

124-b(109)

184.9

88.6

81.6

2.62

4.1

HS

34

CZLQ1

146.9

70.8

81.6

1.42

2.0

RR

35

CZLQ2

157.2

85.1

89.7

1.05

1.5

RR

36

CZLQ3

97.6

39.3

87.3

0.99

2.1

MR

37

CZLQ5

113.7

46.4

83.8

1.91

4.6

HS

38

CML511

126.9

54.4

87.1

1.49

2.0

RR

39

TZMI745

166.2

91.0

85.2

2.41

3.3

SS

40

ILO'00E-5-5-3-1-1

145.3

63.6

86.6

1.75

1.9

RR

41

35B-190-O-S-10-2-1-2-2

184.4

96.7

88.0

1.63

3.6

HS

42

30H83-7-1-3-1-1-1-1

153.7

67.0

82.3

2.21

1.5

RR

43

30H83-7-1-5-1-1-1-1

180.7

85.4

88.8

1.72

3.1

SS

44

30H83-7-3-4-1-1-1

205.8

85.7

79.7

5.47

1.5

RR

45

TZMI750

210.5

82.2

88.9

1.42

1.5

RR

46

TZMI751

117.2

65.4

86.7

1.15

3.8

HS

47

TZMI753

48

TZMI754

121.1

70.0

93.8

1.19

3.0

SS

49

TZMI755

125.7

76.4

93.3

1.33

4.0

HS

50

TZMI759

104.5

58.9

83.9

1.25

3.2

SS

51

TZMI760

160.8

97.7

88.2

1.83

2.5

MR

52

TZMI761

53

TZMI763

162.8

63.0

93.1

0.18

1.4

RR

54

TZMI764

120.7

57.1

89.3

1.70

4.7

HS

55

TZMI766

149.5

86.3

85.0

3.45

3.6

HS

56

CML498

88.0

28.7

90.9

0.10

2.3

MR

57

CML539

103.1

42.9

85.3

0.42

4.6

HS

58

CML488

59

TZMI717

162.8

75.2

94.2

0.68

3.2

SS

60

GIBE-1-178-2-1-2-1-#-#

143.3

69.6

89.2

0.17

3.3

SS

61

DE-38-Z-126-3-2-2-2-2-#

139.7

63.6

79.7

1.99

2.2

MR

62

30H83-7-1-5-1-1-1-1-#

216.4

101.7

87.0

1.34

3.6

HS

63

CKL05019-#

176.3

88.5

86.2

3.22

2.8

SS

64

CML 197

175.0

103.8

86.4

3.92

4.4

HS

65

30H83-7-1-2-1-1-1-#-#

170.6

63.3

81.8

3.39

1.8

RR

66

DE-38-Z-126-3-2-2-2-1-1-#

153.3

77.6

83.1

1.95

1.6

RR

67

TZMI407-short-#-#-#

119.3

51.3

88.1

0.82

1.5

RR

68

Kuleni C 1-0080-2-4-1-2-1-#-#

160.5

76.8

88.0

0.79

2.4

MR

69

30G 19F2-54-1-1-1-#-#

147.1

70.9

87.9

0.80

2.4

MR

70

KULENI 320-2-3-1-1-2-1-1-#-#

179.5

93.3

83.0

2.28

2.9

SS

71

[CML444/DRB-F2-60-1-1-1-BBB//[LZ956441/LZ966205]-B-3-4-4-B-5-B*7-#-#-#

174.8

104.0

90.8

1.55

2.5

MR

72

30H83-56-1-1-3-1-1-#-#

Mean

149.8

72.6

87.2

1.60

2.7

LSD_0.05

47.7

23.9

4.2

1.18

1.1

CV

16.0

16.5

2.3

36.66

20.7

pValue

0.001

0.001

0.001

0.001

0.001

Min

88.7

28.3

79.9

0.10

1.3

Max

230.3

140.7

94.3

4.03

4.8

Figure 1. Number of normal maize inbred lines with Resistant (RR), Moderately Resistant (RM), Susceptible (SS) & highly susceptible (HS).
Disease severity ranged from 1.5 to 4.8 for GLS disease were recorded. Inbred lines with mean severity values of < 2 were categorized under resistant (RR) /tolerant to GLS. Whereas inbred lines with mean severity values ranging from 2.1- 2.5 categorized as moderately resistant (RM), from 2.6-3.5 as susceptible (SS), and those with severity value > 3.5 were considered as highly susceptible (HS) to GLS. Accordingly, 20 inbred lines were resistant/tolerant, 13 inbred lines moderately resistant and 14 were Susceptible and 17 were highly susceptible to GLS disease. Those inbred lines, which have showed resistance/tolerance were compared to the susceptible and resistant checks SC 22 and 142-1-e respectively. Best selected inbred lines could be used as source material of GLS resistance for use in maize resistance breeding programs.
Out of seventy-two genotypes screened for GLS, 20 inbred lines viz. BKL002, BKLOO4, CML 165, MBRC5BCF108-2-3-1, TZMI746, TZMI719, TZMI733, CML547, CML543, CML536, CZLQ1, CZLQ2, CML511, ILO'00E-5-5-3-1-1, 30H83-7-1-3-1-1-1-1, TZMI750, TZMI763, 30H83-7-1-2-1-1-1-#-#, DE-38-Z-126-3-2-2-2-1-1-#, TZMI407-short-#-#-# were identified to be resistant whereas (CML 144, CML 159, A7033, SC 22, CML 395, CML 204, 124b(113), 124-b(109), CZLQ5, 35B-190-O-S-10-2-1-2-2, TZMI751, TZMI755, TZMI764, TZMI766, CML539, 30H83-7-1-5-1-1-1-1-#, CML 197 were identified to be susceptible. From maize inbred lines that are categorized to be resistance 30H83-7-1-2-1-1-1-#-#, TZMI746 and CML536 inbred lines are suitable candidates for utilization in both grain yield and GLS resistance, thus recommended for inclusion in hybrid development programs. This result is similar with research conducted at Kenya
4. Conclusion
From the above result twenty inbred lines were showed resistant to GLS (C. Zeae maydis) under artificial inoculation. It is recommended that maize inbred line that showed to be resistant in the study would better be repeated under controlled environment in order to accurately confirm the extent of their resistant to GLS disease. Additionally, to identify the gene or genes causing the resistance and add them to cultivars with desirable agronomic traits, it would be preferable to employ molecular techniques. In addition, the investigation's promising lines with high yield and other agronomic traits can be used to sustainably increase the yield of maize in disease-endemic areas. As an alternative, the aforementioned promising genotypes could be employed as parents in hybridization to give current high yielding cultivars that have been adapted the gene for resistance Grey leaf spot.
Abbreviations
GLS: Grey Leaf Spot
BNMRC: Bako National Maize Research Center
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization
CSA: Central Statistical Agency
SSA: Sub-Saharan Africa
LSD: Least Significance Difference
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, the author would like to thank EIAR for financial support provided to conduct the experiment. Also, the author is thankful to Bako National Maize Research -breeding program for supplying maize inbred lines. Finally, It is my pleasure to thank Maize protection staff (Geta Gelana, Abebech Yilma, and Diriba Oljira) for field management assistance and data collection.
Author Contributions
Midekssa Dida is the sole author. The author read and approved the final manuscript.
Funding
Author(s) are required to disclose all sources of research funding, including grants supporting the work, but there is no any received funds covering publication costs.
Data Availability Statement
The data supporting the outcome of this research work has been reported in this manuscript.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
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    Dida, M. (2024). Screening of Maize Inbred Lines Under Artificial Epiphytotic for Their Reaction to Grey Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis). Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 9(2), 30-36. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20240902.11

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    Dida, M. Screening of Maize Inbred Lines Under Artificial Epiphytotic for Their Reaction to Grey Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis). Ecol. Evol. Biol. 2024, 9(2), 30-36. doi: 10.11648/j.eeb.20240902.11

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    Dida M. Screening of Maize Inbred Lines Under Artificial Epiphytotic for Their Reaction to Grey Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis). Ecol Evol Biol. 2024;9(2):30-36. doi: 10.11648/j.eeb.20240902.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.eeb.20240902.11,
      author = {Midekssa Dida},
      title = {Screening of Maize Inbred Lines Under Artificial Epiphytotic for Their Reaction to Grey Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis)
    },
      journal = {Ecology and Evolutionary Biology},
      volume = {9},
      number = {2},
      pages = {30-36},
      doi = {10.11648/j.eeb.20240902.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20240902.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.eeb.20240902.11},
      abstract = {Maize (Zea mays L) is one of the most widely cultivated crops and it is the basis for food security in many developing countries in Africa, and is an important food crop in Ethiopia. Despite of, its importance the crop it is affected by many biotic stresses such as pest and diseases attack. Grey leaf spot, caused by Cercospora Zeae maydis is the most important foliar disease of maize. The disease is characterized by relatively rapid leaf necrosis and premature death of foliage which eventually reduces grain yield. Development of host resistance to this disease can provide an important component of integrated disease management; which is the most effective and practical method of managing maize disease. The study was conducted to evaluate the reaction of maize inbred lines to GLS in the main cropping season during 2020. The inbred lines were obtained from Bako National Maize Research Center, breeding program, and it was arranged using alpha-lattice design with two replications. The inbred lines were evaluated in GLS screening field under artificial inoculation at Bako West Shewa, Ethiopia. Plot based Disease severity scores (1-5 scale) was used to assess at ten days intervals from disease onset to maturity. All the inbred lines showed disease symptom during the season, but the intensity of the diseases differed significantly at (P<0.05) among the inbred lines. Out of 72 genotypes screened for GLS, 20 inbred lines viz. BKL002, BKLOO4, CML 165, MBRC5BCF108-2-3-1, TZMI746, TZMI719, TZMI733, CML547, CML543, CML536, CZLQ1, CZLQ2, CML511, ILO'00E-5-5-3-1-1, 30H83-7-1-3-1-1-1-1, TZMI750, TZMI763, 30H83-7-1-2-1-1-1-#-#, DE-38-Z-126-3-2-2-2-1-1-#, TZMI407-short-#-#-# were identified to be resistant whereas TZMI746 and CML536 inbred lines are suitable candidates for utilization in both grain yield and GLS resistance, thus recommended for inclusion in hybrid development programs.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Screening of Maize Inbred Lines Under Artificial Epiphytotic for Their Reaction to Grey Leaf Spot (Cercospora zeae-maydis)
    
    AU  - Midekssa Dida
    Y1  - 2024/05/17
    PY  - 2024
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20240902.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.eeb.20240902.11
    T2  - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    JF  - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    JO  - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
    SP  - 30
    EP  - 36
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-3762
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20240902.11
    AB  - Maize (Zea mays L) is one of the most widely cultivated crops and it is the basis for food security in many developing countries in Africa, and is an important food crop in Ethiopia. Despite of, its importance the crop it is affected by many biotic stresses such as pest and diseases attack. Grey leaf spot, caused by Cercospora Zeae maydis is the most important foliar disease of maize. The disease is characterized by relatively rapid leaf necrosis and premature death of foliage which eventually reduces grain yield. Development of host resistance to this disease can provide an important component of integrated disease management; which is the most effective and practical method of managing maize disease. The study was conducted to evaluate the reaction of maize inbred lines to GLS in the main cropping season during 2020. The inbred lines were obtained from Bako National Maize Research Center, breeding program, and it was arranged using alpha-lattice design with two replications. The inbred lines were evaluated in GLS screening field under artificial inoculation at Bako West Shewa, Ethiopia. Plot based Disease severity scores (1-5 scale) was used to assess at ten days intervals from disease onset to maturity. All the inbred lines showed disease symptom during the season, but the intensity of the diseases differed significantly at (P<0.05) among the inbred lines. Out of 72 genotypes screened for GLS, 20 inbred lines viz. BKL002, BKLOO4, CML 165, MBRC5BCF108-2-3-1, TZMI746, TZMI719, TZMI733, CML547, CML543, CML536, CZLQ1, CZLQ2, CML511, ILO'00E-5-5-3-1-1, 30H83-7-1-3-1-1-1-1, TZMI750, TZMI763, 30H83-7-1-2-1-1-1-#-#, DE-38-Z-126-3-2-2-2-1-1-#, TZMI407-short-#-#-# were identified to be resistant whereas TZMI746 and CML536 inbred lines are suitable candidates for utilization in both grain yield and GLS resistance, thus recommended for inclusion in hybrid development programs.
    
    VL  - 9
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Plant Pathology Program, Ambo, Ethiopia

    Biography: Midekssa Dida is a researcher I at Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Researcher based at Ambo Agriculture Research Center, Plant Pathology Department. He acquired his MSc in Plant Pathology from Jimma University in 2018, and his BSc in Plant Science from Ambo University in 2012. He has been participated on different short-term Trainings. He has participated in some international research collaboration projects in recent years. Also, he was a case team Leader of Maize protection at Bako Maize research Center. Additionally, he is currently a focal person of MERCI-Pathology project. He currently working his full time as Plant pathologist at Ambo Agricultural Research center in Pathology department.