Phenotypic and genotypic identification of anthracnose resistance in kidney bean cultivars grown in western Canada

Five previously published molecular markers that are closely linked to the genes conditioning the resistance of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) to anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum) and the seedling reactions to six anthracnose races were used to detect the presence or absence of four anthracnose resistance genes in seven kidney bean entries, five race differentials and two check cultivars. Under controlled environmental conditions, the kidney bean cultivar Napoleon and the navy bean Envoy were resistant against all of the anthracnose races and they appear to combine resistance genes Co-1 and Co-2 with either a third unidentified gene or is controlled by Co-12. The kidney bean cultivar AC Elk was only susceptible to race 31, which suggested that it carries genes Co-1 and Co-2, but molecular analyses only detected the presence of Co-1. Kidney bean cultivar GTS 401 was susceptible to all the races and no resistance genes were detected. Five other kidney bean entries, namely AC Calmont, Pink Panther, W K380, Red Hawk and Michigan Dark Red Kidney (MDRK), were only susceptible to races 2, 23 and 31. In these five kidney bean cultivars, the presence of gene Co-1 alone conferred the resistance to races 73, 89 and 1096. Genes Co-4, Co-42 and Co-5 were not detected with molecular markers in any of the seven kidney bean entries. Key words: Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum), disease resistance, gene identification, kidney bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)