ISSN 2167-0447
International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 16 (6), pp. 001-010, June, 2026. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Wheat disease surveys in Zambia mainly targeted to wheat blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum (MoT)
Batiseba Tembo1*, Xinyao He2, Voster M’dumuka,1 Suwilanji Sichilima1, Clement Chanda1, Kangwa Maura Mwamba3, Aakash Chawade4, David Paul Hodson5 and Pawan Kumar Singh2.
1Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), Mt. Makulu Research Station, P/B 7, Chilanga, Zambia
2International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), El Batan, Texcoco, CP 565237, Mexico
3The University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
4Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 23053 Alnarp, Sweden.
5International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), NARC Research Station, Khumaltar, Lalitpur 44700, Nepal.
Abstract
Received 20 April, 2026; Revised 22 May, 2026; Accepted 23 May, 2026 and Published 19 June, 2026
Wheat is an important cereal crop worldwide and in Zambia it is the second most cultivated cereal crop after maize. It is produced in both winter and summer seasons. However, the production of wheat in Zambia is threatened by wheat blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae pathotype Triticum. The disease was first detected in Zambia during the 2017/18 cropping season. It is prevalent rainy season due to conducive weather conditions prevailing during this period. To assess the distribution of wheat blast, a survey was conducted in wheat fields grown in winter and summer season from 2021 to 2024. A zigzag or W sampling pattern was used during the survey. The survey revealed the presence of wheat blast in wheat grown during rainy season. The incidences and severity varied each season, depending on the prevailing weather conditions. High disease incidences were observed in seasons with good rainfall and humidity such as 2021-22 and 2022-23, while in the 2023-24 season, disease incidences were very low due to the severe drought experienced in the country. However, no blast was detected in wheat grown under the cool and dry irrigated season in all four years when surveillance was conducted.
Keywords: Climate change, incidences, monitoring, pathogen, rainy season, winter season, wheat.