Management of loose smut (Ustilago nuda) of barley (Hordeum vulgare) through seed dressing and coating materials on barley in Western Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Barley production has been constrained by various factors, of which loose smut (Ustilago nuda) is the main biotic factor. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of seed dressing fungicides along with coating materials on loose smut incidence and yield and yield components. The field experiment was conducted at two locations (Adet and Debiretabor) using a randomised complete block design with three replications. Barley seeds were treated by dressing with different fungicides (thiram, Apron star, Dynamic and propiconazole) and coating with different formulations (Genius Coat™ and Disco AG Blue L-237). Seed treatment resulted in highly significant (P ≤ 0.01) differences in days to emergence and flowering, tiller number, smut incidence and yield, whereas plant height, grain-filling period, thousand seed weight and hectoliter weight were not significantly affected. Minimum (0.00%) loose smut incidence was recorded on seeds treated with propiconazole, while maximum (15.83%) incidence was recorded for plots sown with untreated seeds. Maximum yield (1727.8 kg ha^-1) was obtained from seeds treated with thiram and coated with Genius plus Disco. Hence, seed treatment and use of seed coating materials would significantly reduce barley loose smut incidence and needs to be promoted.