Abstract:

Bean anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum)isa destructive disease of susceptible common bean in Uganda especially in the high altitude and low temperature areas.Marker assisted pyramiding of race specific resistance (R) alleles has been proposed as one of the approaches to develop resistant varieties. This requires knowledge of resistant alleles and cordominant markers tightly linked to them. This research therefore sought to improve marker assisted pyramiding of Co-2 anthracnose resistance gene in dry been cultivars; with specific objectives of (i) identifying effective anthracnose resistant alleles and their source and (ii) mapping the Co-2 anthracnose resistance gene using SNP markers. A set of 11 lines obtained from Embrapa Brazil, 12 anthracnose differential varieties and two Ugandan susceptible checks were evaluated in the field for two seasons in 1Cabale, South Western Uganda. The experiment was laid in a randomised complete block design with bean lines as treatments in three replicates. Three C. /indemuthianum races (336, 375, and 381) were used to screen the bean cultivars under controlled conditions and thus evaluated for anthracnose severity.