Evaluation of Agronomic Performance and Resistance to Cercospora (Cercospora sojina) Leaf Spot of Selected Soya bean Genotypes in Western Tigray, Ethiopia

Aim of the current study was to evaluate soya bean genotypes for yield and yield traits and cercospora (Cercosporasojina) leaf spot disease under field condition. Field experiment was conducted at Humera district during 2018 cropping season using 16soya bean genotypes. Treatments were evaluated with RCBD and replicated three times. Number of days from planting to days of flowering and days of maturity, number of pod per plant, pod shattering, seed yield and cercospora leaf spot disease were showed a significant (P<0.01) variation among genotypes. All varieties were moderately resistance to pod shattering except PN13-1 (3.1) was moderately susceptible and Parc-3, Parc-5 and PN13-10were resistance. Highest yields were recorded from genotypes PN13-2 at 20.32q/ha and PN13-9 at 19.77q/ha. On the other hand, the lowest yields were recorded from genotypes PN13-3 at 7.49q/ha and PN13-1 at 9.95q/ha. Genotypes PN13-2 and PN13-7 have been identified as displaying resistance to Cercospora leaf spot. Highest disease severity recorded in genotypes Awassa 04 and PN13-1. Further research is needed in future to cover a wide range of environments and genotypes to screen high yielder and cercospora leaf spot disease resistance.