Hot Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici) Distribution, Epidemiology, and Management Methods in Ethiopia.

Hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is an important cash crop and dietary staple in Ethiopia, providing essential income for smallholder farmers and vital nutrients. However, pepper production is severely constrained by a devastating soil-borne fungal disease, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. capsici. It is the fifth most economically important fungal phytopathogen. In Ethiopia, wilt-causing fungal pathogens were reported to be the leading problem of pepper crops, causing huge yield losses. Warm and humid conditions prevalent in major pepper-growing regions, such as Amhara, Oromia, and the South, are highly conducive to the disease. The pathogen's longevity in the soil and ability to spread via infected seeds, seedlings, tools, and irrigation water make it a persistent threat. The pathogen has shown a significant variation in disease severity across and within the major pepper-growing regions. In the Amhara region, a severity of 70% in Jabi Tehena district and a severity of 15% in Guagusa Shekudad district were documented. Similarly, in the southern region, pepper Fusarium wilt disease incidence reached 91% in Alaba district and 79% in Meskan district. In the Oromia region, incidence was recorded at 50% in Dugda district and 19% in Adami Tullu district. In the Assosa and Kamashi Zones, it reached up to 50%. These observed variations in pepper Fusarium wilt disease severity are attributed to various biophysical factors such as agroecological differences, cropping systems, seed sources, disease management methods, and agronomic practices. These disease-causing factors highlight the need to develop holistic disease management practices. F. oxysporum management is challenging due to the pathogen's genetic diversity, limited research activity, and poor extension services. Therefore, this review is aimed at synthesizing the current status, pathogen ecology, epidemiology, and management strategies of pepper Fusarium wilt disease in Ethiopia.