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Wheat stem rust is an important disease affecting wheat production in the world. In Ethiopia, it is one of the most destructive diseases constraining wheat production. Field experiments were carried in the districts of Adet and Aneded of Ethiopia in 2017 and 2018 main cropping seasons to manage wheat stem rust infection through reuse of old varieties. Forty-nine wheat varieties were tested in a simple lattice design with two replications. The results indicated that wheat varieties varied significantly (p < 0.05) in severity, the area under the disease progress curve, disease progress rate and grain yield. Four reaction groups of wheat varieties were identified, susceptible, moderately susceptible, moderately resistant and resistant. Varieties Hoggana, Shorima, and Sanete at Adet and varieties Hoggana, Shorima and Abola at Aneded were resistant to stem rust in both seasons. Varieties Enkoy, Sofumer, ET13A2, Tuse, Senkegna, Dinknesh, Alidoro, Tay, Honqollo, Tsehay, Mandoyu, Mitike, Medawalabu were moderately resistant to stem rust in both seasons at both locations. Similar reactions were recorded from variety KBG-01 and Dashen at Adet, and G'ambo, Galema, Danda'a, Katar, Pavon76, Guna, Densa, K6290, Sulla, Dereselign, and Dure at Aneded in both seasons. Among these varieties, Enkoy and Tsehay were abandoned due to resistance breakdown to stem rust in the 1990s. These two varieties may be reintroduced to production or may be used as sources of resistance to the prevailing races in northwest Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]