Prevalence and Management Practices of Faba Bean Gall (<i>Physoderma viciae</i>) in the Ethiopian Highlands

Dinku Atnafu; Zemed Wobale

doi:doi:10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11

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Prevalence and Management Practices of Faba Bean Gall (Physoderma viciae) in the Ethiopian Highlands

Dinku Atnafu^*

, Zemed Wobale

Published in Science Futures (Volume 1, Issue 1)

Received: 1 September 2025 Accepted: 7 October 2025 Published: 3 December 2025

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Abstract

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important legume crop and is grown extensively in the Ethiopian highlands, 1,800 to 3,000 m.a.s.l. While this crop provides agronomic and effects and nutrition, production of faba beans is especially under threat from biotic stresses such as faba bean gall disease caused by Physoderma viciae. The present study investigated the distribution and traditional management of faba bean gall in the main production areas of the Ethiopian highlands. Researchers conducted field surveys in the sampled districts during the 2023/2024 major cropping season to assess disease severity and incidence as well as semi-structured interviews with farmers to obtain information on the traditional and modern management practices. Overall, faba bean gall disease, prevalence varied by altitude, host variety, and cropping management systems. Prevalence of disease was especially high in fields where faba beans were produced continuously and where there was no proper crop residue management. Farmers indicated that they attempted to combine traditional practices like crop rotation and fire clearing residues with very little use of resistant varieties. However most farmers did not integrate IDM in their management due to a lack of awareness and also low level of availability of resistant or tolerant cultivars. The research highlights the importance of extension services in promoting the IDM practices, such as use of certified seeds, crop rotation, and creating awareness, to lessen the incidence and impact of faba bean gall in the highland agro-ecosystem of Ethiopia.

Published in	Science Futures (Volume 1, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11
Page(s)	1-8
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), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Faba Bean Gall, Physoderma viciae, Prevalence, Management Practices, Ethiopian Highlands

References

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APA Style

Atnafu, D., Wobale, Z. (2025). Prevalence and Management Practices of Faba Bean Gall (Physoderma viciae) in the Ethiopian Highlands. Science Futures, 1(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11

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ACS Style

Atnafu, D.; Wobale, Z. Prevalence and Management Practices of Faba Bean Gall (Physoderma viciae) in the Ethiopian Highlands. Sci. Futures 2025, 1(1), 1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11

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AMA Style

Atnafu D, Wobale Z. Prevalence and Management Practices of Faba Bean Gall (Physoderma viciae) in the Ethiopian Highlands. Sci Futures. 2025;1(1):1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11

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@article{10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11,
  author = {Dinku Atnafu and Zemed Wobale},
  title = {Prevalence and Management Practices of Faba Bean Gall (Physoderma viciae) in the Ethiopian Highlands
},
  journal = {Science Futures},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-8},
  doi = {10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.scif.20250101.11},
  abstract = {Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important legume crop and is grown extensively in the Ethiopian highlands, 1,800 to 3,000 m.a.s.l. While this crop provides agronomic and effects and nutrition, production of faba beans is especially under threat from biotic stresses such as faba bean gall disease caused by Physoderma viciae. The present study investigated the distribution and traditional management of faba bean gall in the main production areas of the Ethiopian highlands. Researchers conducted field surveys in the sampled districts during the 2023/2024 major cropping season to assess disease severity and incidence as well as semi-structured interviews with farmers to obtain information on the traditional and modern management practices. Overall, faba bean gall disease, prevalence varied by altitude, host variety, and cropping management systems. Prevalence of disease was especially high in fields where faba beans were produced continuously and where there was no proper crop residue management. Farmers indicated that they attempted to combine traditional practices like crop rotation and fire clearing residues with very little use of resistant varieties. However most farmers did not integrate IDM in their management due to a lack of awareness and also low level of availability of resistant or tolerant cultivars. The research highlights the importance of extension services in promoting the IDM practices, such as use of certified seeds, crop rotation, and creating awareness, to lessen the incidence and impact of faba bean gall in the highland agro-ecosystem of Ethiopia.
},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Prevalence and Management Practices of Faba Bean Gall (Physoderma viciae) in the Ethiopian Highlands

AU  - Dinku Atnafu
AU  - Zemed Wobale
Y1  - 2025/12/03
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11
T2  - Science Futures
JF  - Science Futures
JO  - Science Futures
SP  - 1
EP  - 8
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11
AB  - Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important legume crop and is grown extensively in the Ethiopian highlands, 1,800 to 3,000 m.a.s.l. While this crop provides agronomic and effects and nutrition, production of faba beans is especially under threat from biotic stresses such as faba bean gall disease caused by Physoderma viciae. The present study investigated the distribution and traditional management of faba bean gall in the main production areas of the Ethiopian highlands. Researchers conducted field surveys in the sampled districts during the 2023/2024 major cropping season to assess disease severity and incidence as well as semi-structured interviews with farmers to obtain information on the traditional and modern management practices. Overall, faba bean gall disease, prevalence varied by altitude, host variety, and cropping management systems. Prevalence of disease was especially high in fields where faba beans were produced continuously and where there was no proper crop residue management. Farmers indicated that they attempted to combine traditional practices like crop rotation and fire clearing residues with very little use of resistant varieties. However most farmers did not integrate IDM in their management due to a lack of awareness and also low level of availability of resistant or tolerant cultivars. The research highlights the importance of extension services in promoting the IDM practices, such as use of certified seeds, crop rotation, and creating awareness, to lessen the incidence and impact of faba bean gall in the highland agro-ecosystem of Ethiopia.

VL  - 1
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Dinku Atnafu

Department of Plant Sciences, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia

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http://orcid.org/0009-0008-0159-9779
Zemed Wobale

Department of Plant Sciences, Dilla University, Dilla, Ethiopia

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APA Style

Atnafu, D., Wobale, Z. (2025). Prevalence and Management Practices of Faba Bean Gall (Physoderma viciae) in the Ethiopian Highlands. Science Futures, 1(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11

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ACS Style

Atnafu, D.; Wobale, Z. Prevalence and Management Practices of Faba Bean Gall (Physoderma viciae) in the Ethiopian Highlands. Sci. Futures 2025, 1(1), 1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11

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AMA Style

Atnafu D, Wobale Z. Prevalence and Management Practices of Faba Bean Gall (Physoderma viciae) in the Ethiopian Highlands. Sci Futures. 2025;1(1):1-8. doi: 10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11,
  author = {Dinku Atnafu and Zemed Wobale},
  title = {Prevalence and Management Practices of Faba Bean Gall (Physoderma viciae) in the Ethiopian Highlands
},
  journal = {Science Futures},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {1-8},
  doi = {10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.scif.20250101.11},
  abstract = {Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important legume crop and is grown extensively in the Ethiopian highlands, 1,800 to 3,000 m.a.s.l. While this crop provides agronomic and effects and nutrition, production of faba beans is especially under threat from biotic stresses such as faba bean gall disease caused by Physoderma viciae. The present study investigated the distribution and traditional management of faba bean gall in the main production areas of the Ethiopian highlands. Researchers conducted field surveys in the sampled districts during the 2023/2024 major cropping season to assess disease severity and incidence as well as semi-structured interviews with farmers to obtain information on the traditional and modern management practices. Overall, faba bean gall disease, prevalence varied by altitude, host variety, and cropping management systems. Prevalence of disease was especially high in fields where faba beans were produced continuously and where there was no proper crop residue management. Farmers indicated that they attempted to combine traditional practices like crop rotation and fire clearing residues with very little use of resistant varieties. However most farmers did not integrate IDM in their management due to a lack of awareness and also low level of availability of resistant or tolerant cultivars. The research highlights the importance of extension services in promoting the IDM practices, such as use of certified seeds, crop rotation, and creating awareness, to lessen the incidence and impact of faba bean gall in the highland agro-ecosystem of Ethiopia.
},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Prevalence and Management Practices of Faba Bean Gall (Physoderma viciae) in the Ethiopian Highlands

AU  - Dinku Atnafu
AU  - Zemed Wobale
Y1  - 2025/12/03
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11
T2  - Science Futures
JF  - Science Futures
JO  - Science Futures
SP  - 1
EP  - 8
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.scif.20250101.11
AB  - Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important legume crop and is grown extensively in the Ethiopian highlands, 1,800 to 3,000 m.a.s.l. While this crop provides agronomic and effects and nutrition, production of faba beans is especially under threat from biotic stresses such as faba bean gall disease caused by Physoderma viciae. The present study investigated the distribution and traditional management of faba bean gall in the main production areas of the Ethiopian highlands. Researchers conducted field surveys in the sampled districts during the 2023/2024 major cropping season to assess disease severity and incidence as well as semi-structured interviews with farmers to obtain information on the traditional and modern management practices. Overall, faba bean gall disease, prevalence varied by altitude, host variety, and cropping management systems. Prevalence of disease was especially high in fields where faba beans were produced continuously and where there was no proper crop residue management. Farmers indicated that they attempted to combine traditional practices like crop rotation and fire clearing residues with very little use of resistant varieties. However most farmers did not integrate IDM in their management due to a lack of awareness and also low level of availability of resistant or tolerant cultivars. The research highlights the importance of extension services in promoting the IDM practices, such as use of certified seeds, crop rotation, and creating awareness, to lessen the incidence and impact of faba bean gall in the highland agro-ecosystem of Ethiopia.

VL  - 1
IS  - 1
ER  -

Copy | Download