Abstract:

Bean root rot is the most important disease affecting beans in South Western Uganda. The disease has resulted in
complete loss of the crop in some areas. At the moment there is urgent need to look for means of reducing the disease
and revitalizing bean production. The main objective of this study was to identify control measures that can reduce the
disease on farmers fields. A rapid rural appraisal was carried out to determine the incidence of the disease and
identify the disease causing organisms. Experiments set up included (i) integrated disease management, (ii) varietal
resistance and (iii) combination of (i) and (ii). The experimental design in (i) and (iii) was a split plot while in (ii) the
design was a randomized block design. The disease incidence in the district ranged between 80-100% on farmers
fields. It was noted that 75% of the attacked crops were attaclied by Pythium spp alone. The other 25% was a
combination of Pythium spp with one or both of the following: Fusarium solani and Rhizoctonia spp. The use of soil
organic amendments such as farm yard manure, green manure and earthing up was only effective where the disease
was not very severe when a susceptible variety was used. Where the incidence was high, then these treatments were
not effective. The most tolerant varieties identified were RWR 179, MLB 49/89A, G2333, Flora and Vuninkingi. A
combination of farm yard manure, earthing up and tolerant varieties with seed dressing with fungicide and insecticide
gave the highest yield of2 tons per hactare as compared to tolerant varieties and green manure that gave a yield of 0.7
tons per ha only. It was therefore concluded that an integrated disease management strategy involving tolerant
varieties, farm yard manure and earthing up be adopted in order to reduce the disease in South Western Uganda.