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Disease and abiotic stress are important factors limiting bean production wherever beans are grown. The development of bean cultivars having resistance to these stresses is a cost-effective and sustainable means to address these constraints. During the past 20 years, the Bean/Cowpea Collaborative Research Support Project (B/C CRSP) has supported common bean cultivar development and germplasm improvement programs in the USA and developing countries. Plant breeders have developed and released in Central America and the Caribbean bean cultivars and germplasm with one or more of the following traits; resistance to bean golden yellow mosaic virus (BGYMV), bean common mosaic necrotic virus (BCMNV), rust, web blight and common bacterial blight (CBB) and greater tolerance to high temperatures. In the highlands of Mexico and Ecuador bean cultivars with resistance to anthracnose, rust, root rots and bean common mosaic virus (BCMV), greater biological nitrogen fixation and improved adaptation to intermittent drought have been released. The bean breeding programs in East Africa have developed and released bean cultivars and germplasm with resistance to BCMNV, rust and bruchid seed weevils. Participation in the B/C CRSP has permitted USA bean breeding programs to develop and release bean cultivars and germplasm with resistance to BGYMV, BCMNV, anthracnose, rust, CBB, architectural avoidance to white mold and greater yield potential. Numerous plant breeders, plant pathologists and agronomists from developing countries have received advanced degree training in the USA, which has enhanced the capacity to develop improved bean cultivars for Latin America and Africa. The lack of sustainable seed production and delivery systems continues to limit the impact of the release of improved bean cultivars in many parts of Latin America and East Africa.

Diseases are a major constraint to production of beans in developing countries, reducing yields and seed quality. Contributing factors include poor disease management, lack of resistant cultivars, and the limited availability of certified disease-free seed. From the outset the Bean/Cowpea Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP) has emphasized integrated disease management, and breeding for resistance to bean rust (Uromyces appendiculatus), common bacterial blight (Xanthomonas campestris (=X. axonopodis) pv. phaseoli) (CBB) and web blight (Thanatephorus cucumeris (anamorph Rhizoctonia solani)) (WB). Later in the 1990s, angular leaf spot (Phaeoisariopsis griseola) (ALS), and virus induced bean common mosaic (BCM) and bean common mosaic necrosis (BCMN) became more widespread and epidemic. The research included development of disease-resistant germplasm and studies of pathogenic variation and epidemiology. During the early 1990s bean golden yellow mosaic (BGYM), became a major disease of common bean in the Caribbean and Central America. No cultivar resistant to the gemini virus causing BGYM was available in the Dominican Republic (DR) and pesticides were used to reduce transmission of the virus by white flies (Bremisia tabaci) biotype A. A change in the bean-production system to limit reproduction of the vector through a host-free period and concentrate the bean growing season to a four month period reduced BGYM significantly. Improved resistant cultivars and disease management resulted in high yields and self-sufficiency of beans in the DR. Evidence for co-evolution of the pathogens causing ALS, CBB, and rust in the two major bean gene pools (Andean and Middle American) was found. Variation in the WB pathogen on bean indicated independent genetic populations and the presence of different anastosmosis subgroups. WB disease management practices should be designed for the sub-group of the pathogen. Seed transmission was found to be a significant source of R. solani inoculum. Specific (Ur-9 gene) and adult-plant resistance (Ur-12 gene) to rust was identified for PC-50 (Andean origin) in the DR, and the genes were mapped. A mobile rust nursery was developed to monitor races of rust in a region and assist in resistance-gene deployment in bean germplasm and varieties. DNA based diagnostic methods were developed to differentiate X. campestris pv. phaseoli from X. campestris pv. phaseoli var fuscans (prevalent in East Africa) and P. griseola isolates. DNA hybridization methods also were developed to identify BGYM and bean golden mosaic viruses. Research in USA and East Africa has helped define bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) and bean common mosaic necrotic virus (BCMNV) as separate viruses and has demonstrated that BCMNV appears to be indigenous to Africa. Serological tools were developed that assist in the detection and identification of potyviruses, BCMV and BCMNV. These tools are now used worldwide.

Our objective was to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for seed weight, length, and height segregating in a recombinant inbred line population derived from the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cross `PC-50' × XAN-159. The parents and progeny were grown in two separate greenhouse experiments in Nebraska, and in field plots in the Dominican Republic and Wisconsin. Data analysis was done for individual environments separately and on the mean over all environments. A simple linear regression analysis of all data indicated that most QTL appeared to be detected in the mean environment. Based on these results, composite interval mapping (CIM) analysis was applied to the means over environments. For seed weight, strong evidence was indicated for five QTL on common bean linkage groups (LGs) 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8. Multiple regression analysis (MRA) indicated that these QTL explained 44% of the phenotypic variation for the trait. Weaker evidence was found for three additional candidate QTL on bean LGs 4, 5, and 8. All eight markers associated with these QTL were significant in a MRA where the full model explained 63% of the variation among seed weight means. For seed length, CIM results indicated strong evidence for three QTL on LG 8 and one on LG 2. Three additional putative QTL were detected on LGs 3, 4, and 11. The markers associated with the three seed length QTL on LG 8, and the QTL on LGs 2 and 11 were significant in a MRA with the full model explaining 48% of the variation among seed length means. For seed height, three QTL on LGs 4, 6, and 11 explained 36% of the phenotypic variation for trait means. Four of the seven QTL for seed length and two of three QTL for seed height also appeared to correspond to QTL for seed weight. Four QTL for common bacterial blight resistance [Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Smith Dye)] and for smaller seed size were associated on LGs 6, 7, and 8. The implications of these findings for breeders is discussed.

Common bacterial blight (CBB), incited by the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Smith) Dye (Xcp) is a major problem in bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) producing areas worldwide. Using 128 recombinant inbred (RI) lines derived from the common bean cross BAC 6 × HT 7719, RAPD marker locus-QTL associations were previously described for resistance to two Xcp strains, EK-11 and Epif-IV. The objective of this research was to test these candidate marker locus-QTL associations in three previously untested genetic populations. In addition, RAPD marker locus-QTL associations were also investigated for resistance to a third Xcp strain, DR-7, in the first trifoliolate leaves in the original BAC 6 X HT 7719 population. The three genomic regions most significantly associated with CBB resistance in the original BAC 6 × HT 7719 population were significantly associated with CBB resistance in at least two of the three additional populations. The unmapped marker, BC409.1250, was significantly associated with CBB resistance in all four populations and all three Xcp strains, suggesting that this marker might be tightly linked to genes for CBB resistance. The RAPD marker BC409.1250 was converted into a marker that is a robust and reliable PCR-based marker. Since similar genomic regions were fond for resistance to three different Xcp strains, these QTL may be useful for breeding cultivars with a broad range of resistance.

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) molecular markers were used to construct a partial genetic linkage map in a recombinant inbred population derived from the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cross PC-50 × XAN-159 for studying the genetics of bacterial disease resistance in common bean. The linkage map spanned 426 cM and included 168 RAPD markers and 2 classical markers with 11 unassigned markers. The seventy recombinant inbred lines were evaluated for resistance to two strains of common bacterial blight [Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Smith) Dye] (Xcp). Common bacterial blight (CBB) resistance was evaluated for Xcp strain EK-11 in later-developed trifoliolate leaves and for Xcp strains, DR-7 and EK-11, in first trifoliolate leaves, seeds, and pods. One to four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) accounted for 18% to 53% of the phenotypic variation for traits. Most significant effects for CBB resistance were associated with one chromosomal region on linkage group 5 and with two regions on linkage group 1, of the partial linkage map. The chromosomal region (a 13-cM interval) in linkage group 5 was significantly associated with resistance to Xcp strains DR-7 and EK-11 in leaves, pods, and seeds. The regions in linkage group 1 were also significantly associated with resistance to both Xcp strains in more than one plant organ. In addition, a seedcoat pattern gene (C) and a flower color gene (vlae) were mapped in linkage groups 1 and 5, respectively, of the partial linkage map. The V locus was found to be linked to a QTL with a major effect on CBB resistance.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to construct a partial linkage map in a recombinant inbred population derived from the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cross BAC 6 x HT 7719 for studying the genetics of disease resistance in common bean. The linkage map spanned 545 cM and included 75 of 84 markers used in this study. The population of 128 recombinant inbred lines was evaluated for resistance to common bacterial blight, foliar resistance to web blight (WB; Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk), and resistance to rust ( Uromyces appendiculatus var. appendiculatus (Pers.:Pers) Unger). Common bacterial blight (CBB; Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Smith) Dye) resistance was evaluated for CBB strain Epif-IV in later-developed trifoliolate leaves and for CBB strain EK-11 in seeds, first trifoliolate leaves, later-developed trifoliolate leaves, and pods. In addition, lines were rated for plant uprightness and branch density. Two to six markers accounted for 14% to 34% of the phenotypic variation for each trait. Significant marker locus- trait associations were found for 14 mapped loci and 7 of the 9 unmapped markers. The distribution of detected QTL appeared to be nonrandom with most significant markers associated with more than one trait or closely linked to markers significantly associated with variation for a different trait. One marker, BC409 1250 , was significantly associated with WB resistance, resistance for CBB strain Epif-IV in later-developed trifoliolate leaves, and resistance for CBB strain EK-11 in first trifoliolate leaves, later-developed trifoliolate leaves, and pods. A rust resistance gene was mapped in an interval 14.6 cM from RAPD marker H19 1050 and 12.5 cM from marker AJ16 250 . Common bacterial blight (CBB; Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli), web blight (WB; Thanatephorus cucumeris), and rust (Uromyces appendiculatus var. appendiculatus) are important diseases of common bean (Harter and Zaumeyer, 1944). These diseases cause economic losses due to a reduction in seed yield and seed quality in dry bean producing regions worldwide (Galvez et al., 1989; Saettler, 1989; Stavely and Pastor-Corrales, 1989). The most reliable and effective control strategy for these diseases is the

Se estudió la herencia del número de días a la primera flor y la reacción a la bacteriosis común usando padres y generaciones F2 derivadas de los cruces 'Constanza' x GN 'Tara' e 'Iguacu' x PI207262. Un gen mayor determinó el número de días a floración en ambos cruces, en Scottsbluff, NE, en 1983 y en Lincoln, NE, en 1984. La floración tardía fue dominante en el primer cruce, mientras la floración temprana fue dominante en el segundo cruce. La misma población F2 del segundo cruce sembrada en Lincoln, en 1983, exhibió una distribución continua para el mismo carácter. Se estimó una heredabilidad en el "sentido estrecho" de 22% para el tiempo a floración. Los padres y sus progenies se inocularon, con tres aislamientos de Xanthomonas campestris pv phaseoli. En ambos cruces la reacción al patógeno se heredó cuantitativamente. Se observaron dominancias altas y moderadas para susceptibilidad en las dos poblaciones. Se estimaron valores de heredabilidad en el "sentido estrecho" de 11 y 10% en el cruce Iguacu x PI207262 para dos de los aislamientos bacterianos. Se observó una asociación significativa positiva entre la reacción al patógeno y el número de días a floración en el cruce Constanza x GN Tara.

The heritability of leaf, pod, and seed reactions; stem color and abaxial leaf pubescence; and the association of these traits were studied in advanced dry bean recombinant inbred lines derived from the Phaseolus vulgaris crosses 'PC-SO' × XAN-159, 'PC-50' × BAC-6, and 'Venezuela 44' × BAC-6. The reaction to Xcp was quantitatively inherited in all three plant organs. Qualitative inheritance was found for stem color and leaf pubescence. Low to intermediate heritability values were obtained for the leaf and seed reactions to Xcp. Heritability estimates were consistently low for the pod reaction to Xcp. Low nonsignificant Pearson correlations were detected between leaf and pod reactions, leaf and seed reactions, and pod and seed reactions, except for the latter two correlations, which were low and significant in lines from the cross 'PC-50' × XAN-154. Genetic correlations between leaf and pod reactions and leaf and seed reactions were low and significant in lines from all crosses, except for Venezuela 44 × BAC-6 in the latter case. Genetic correlations between pod and seed reactions were low and nonsignificant, except in the cross 'PC-50' × XAN-159, for which a low significant correlation was observed. No significant association was found between Xcp leaf reaction and stem color or leaf pubescence. A breeding strategy for improving resistance to Xcp in P. vulgaris is discussed. Common blight (CB), caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Smith) Dye (Xcp), is an important disease of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) worldwide (Saettler, 1989; Zaumeyer and Thomas, 1957). The pathogen is transmitted by seeds (Weller and Saettler, 1980; Zaumeyer, 1930). High temperature (25 to 30C), high relative humidity, frequent rains, and susceptibility are major

Thirty four lines derived from a Pompadour landrace and three other lines from the Dominican Republic were co-inoculated with three cultures of Uromyces appendiculatus and three cultures of Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli on separate leaves. The majority of the lines had dense trichomes (1–2 mm long) on the abaxial surfaces of upper leaves and developed small uredinia of moderate resistant rust reaction on the pubescent trifoliolate leaves and larger uredinia of moderate susceptible reaction on the primary glabrous leaves. Lines that lacked dense abaxial pubescence developed susceptible or moderate susceptible reactions on both primary and trifoliolate leaf stages. Differential reactions between strains of X. c phaseoli were observed on both leaf and pod infections and reactions on the leaf and on the pods were often different. Pompadour lines K, AE, R, and M had overall moderate resistance to three strains of X. c phaseoli and resistant or moderate resistance to three cultures of U. appendiculatus. These lines also have indeterminate growth habit associated with favorable and more stable seed yields and can now serve as valuable new germplasm sources for multiple disease resistance.

Although common blight disease is serious in many dry bean production areas, there is only limited information on the influence of photoperiod on the disease. Experiments were conducted in growth chambers and in the field (Nebraska, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico) to investigate the influence of photoperiod × temperature and photoperiod, respectively, on the reaction of cultivars/lines to the causal bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli. A split-plot design was used in all experiments except in the DR experiment where cultivars/lines were replicated within each photoperiod treatment. The disease reactions were more severe on cultivars/lines under short photoperiod and under higher temperature than under longer photoperiod and lower temperature in the growth chamber. Disease reactions were also more severe under the short photoperiod in the field experiments. No interactions were detected among these factors. These results have important implications for plant breeders in the evaluation of common blight disease reactions in different latitudes.

A simple protocol for leaf rooting in beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was developed and used to investigate the reaction of Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Xcp), causal pathogen of common bacterial blight disease, in detached versus attached bean leaves. Trifoliate leaves of different sizes (one-third, two-thirds, and fully expanded), either with or without the pulvinus attached to the petioles, were excised from 20 day-old plants of six bean cultivars/lines. Leaf cuttings were cultured in potting medium and then incubated for 5 to 10 days under transparent polyethylene plastic cover in the greenhouse. Roots were readily initiated along the petioles of the leaf cuttings, whether the pulvinus was present or absent. All leaves which were two-thirds expanded and fully expanded developed roots 5 to 7 days after culture. Eighty to 90 percent of the leaves which were one-third expanded formed roots 8 to 10 days after incubation. Laminae of the rooted leaf cuttings were viable and green during the 2 to 3 months period in culture after removing the plastic cover. The common bacterial blight reactions were similar for inoculated attached leaves, detached rooted leaves (inoculated either after or prior to rooting), and moistened detached leaves incubated without rooting. The latter were only usable for evaluation of the Xcp reaction in growth chamber experiments but not under greenhouse conditions. The rooted leaves would be useful for screening bean lines for multiple disease resistance, especially if the pathogens require different environments for disease expression.

We studied leaf and pod reactions of 18 Phaseolus vulgaris germplasm lines (three temperate and 15 tropical) to four Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (XCP) (Smith) Dye strains and seven Uromyces appendiculatus (UA) (Pers.) Unger races. Line × XCP interaction was significant for leaf and pod reactions. The common bean lines XAN-159, BAC-6, and XAN-112 had the best combined leaf and pod resistance to XCP. Line × UA race interactions were significant (P = 0.05). Lines IAPAR-14 and BAC-6 had the best combined resistance to XCP and UA.

Seed size is an important trait in common bean. The objective was to identify RAPD markers associated with QTL for seed weight, seed length, and seed height in a molecular marker-based linkage map in a recombinant inbred (RI) population from the common bean cross of the larger seeded (100 seed/39 to 47 g) PC-50 (ovate seed shape) × smaller seeded (100 seed/26 to 35 g) XAN-159 (flat rhomboidal seed shape). The parents and RI lines were grown in two separate greenhouse and two field (Wisconsin, Dominican Republic) experiments using a RCBD. Continuous distributions for seed weight, seed length, and seed height were observed for RI lines indicating quantitative inheritance. One to three QTLs affecting seed weight explained 17% to 41% of the phenotypic variation. Two to three QTLs for seed length explained 23% to 45% of the phenotypic variation. One to four QTL associated with seed height explained 17% to 39% of the phenotypic variation. A RAPD marker M5.850 in linkage group 3 was consistently associated with seed weight, seed length, and seed height in all experiments and explained 7% to 13% of the phenotypic variation for these traits. A seedcoat pattern morphological marker (C) in linkage group 1 was associated with seed weight and seed height in two greenhouse experiments.

Common blight, web blight, and rust, incited by the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Smith) Dye (Xcp) and the fungal pathogens Thanatephorus cucumeris (Frank) Donk (Tc) and Uromyces appendiculatus (Pers.:Pers) Unger, respectively, are important diseases of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The objectives of were to construct a linkage map, and to locate CBB, rust, and WB resistances and plant architecture traits using RAPDs. Ten linkage groups were identified. Eighty-nine RAPD markers and rust resistance were mapped in 128 RI lines of the cross BAC-6 and HT-7719. Regression analysis and interval mapping using MAPMAKER/QTL were used to identify genomic regions involved in the genetic control of the traits. One, two, two, and three putative QTLs were identified for leaf, seed, and pod reactions to Xcp, and foliar reaction to Tc. These regions accounted for 11%, 9%, 32%, and 30% of the phenotypic variation in the resistances. Two, two, and three regions were identified for plant uprightness, branch density, and pod distribution. These regions accounted for 27%, 13%, and 16% of the phenotypic variation. Unassigned marker G17d influenced some of the phenotypic variation in all three traits. A rust resistance gene controlling pustule size on primary leaves was located in linkage group 1.

Common bacterial blight(CBB) and rust diseases, incited by the bacterial pathogen Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Smith) Dye (Xcp) and Uromyces appendiculatus, respectively, are important diseases of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). The objectives were to construct a molecular linkage map, to locate CBB resistances, rust resistances and leaf pubescence using RAPDs. Sixteen linkage groups with 22 unassigned markers were identified. 178 RAPD markers and 8 morphological markers were mapped in a Population of 70 RI lines. Regression analysis and interval mapping using MAPMAKER/QTL were used to identify genomic regions involved in the genetic control of the traits. One, two, and three putative QTLs were identified for seed, pod and leaf reactions. These regions accounted for 18%, 25%, and 35% of the phenotypic variation in CBB resistance. A chromosome region on linkage group 1 carried factors influencing all three traits. Rust resistance genes controlling the reactions on the primary and on the 4th trifoliolate leaves (adult plant resistance) were located in linkage group 16. The genes for abaxial leaf pubescence was located on linkage group 9.

An association between abaxial leaf pubescence (ALP) and adult plant resistance (APR) on trifoliolate leaves was reported previously. Recombinant inbred (RI) lines from crosses PC-50 (P1) with XAN-159 (P2) and BAC-6 (P3), and P3 with HT7719 (P4) were used to study the inheritance of specific resistance (SR), APR and ALP. P1 is resistant to A88TI-4b and has abaxial hairs on the trifoliolate leaves while P2, P3, and P4 are all susceptible (S) and have glabrous (G) leaves. P3 is resistant to D85C1-1. SR to A88TI-4b on primary leaves (PL) was determined by a single dominant gene with an additional dominant gene for APR on the 4th trifoliolate leaves in P1 × P2. ALP was governed by a single dominant gene with no association with APR. SR to A88TI-4b on PL in P1 × P3 was controlled by a single dominant gene. SR to DC85C1-1 on the PL was determined by a single dominant gene in P3 × P4.

Heritabilities (H) of seed transmission and leaf and pod reactions to common bacterial blight (CBB) Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Xcp) and to web blight (WB) Thanatephorus cucumeris (Tc) were studied. The reaction to CBB was quantitatively inherited. H values of .36, .46, and .34 for leaf reaction, .14, .12, and .27 for pod reaction, .53, .26, and .36 for seed transmission were estimated based on variation of F6 lines derived from bean crosses 'PC-50' × XAN-159, 'PC-50'× BAC-6, and 'Venezuela 44' × BAC-6 (greenhouse, NE). No significant correlations were detected between leaf and pod reactions or between pod reaction and seed transmission. Quantitative inheritance patterns were observed for leaf reactions to Xcp, Tc, and architecture (AR) in F6lines from the cross BAC-6 × HT 7719 (field, Dominican Republic). H values of .23 (CBB), .14 (WB), and .30 (AR) were obtained. No significant correlations were detected between CBB with WB or AR. A low correlation (+.22) was found between WB and AR.

In two experiments, initiated in 1986 and 1987 in the Dominican Republic, Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli, the causal organism of the common blight disease of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), survived in surface debris composed of diseased leaves. In contrast, leaves in plastic mesh bags located at a depth of 15 cm were apparently decomposed and devoid of the pathogen in less than 30 days. After extraction of bacteria from debris using 12.5 mM potassium PO 4 buffer (pH 7.1) with 1 mM MgSO 4 , dilutions were made and plated onto MXP medium

Disease of beans, particularly common bacterial blight (CBB) (DR, NE), rust (DR, NE), web blight (WB) (DR) and bean golden mosaic virus (BGMV) (DR) are major constraints to bean yields and seed quality. The objectives were to identify resistant (R) germplasm, to conduct genetic studies, to develop R cultivars (DR, NE), to improve research facilities and capabilities (DR), to train personnel and educate graduate students (DR, NE). The expected impact is (1) the improvement of breeding programs, yields and income to farmers and (2) returning specialists will permit improved research in the DR. The most significant advances in research were as follows: (i) BAC-6 dry bean breeding line was found to be R to CBB seed infection, (ii) The reaction to CBB was inherited quantitatively with low NSH estimates, (iii) Rust race nonspecific R was correlated with abaxial leaf pubescence; the latter trait was inherited qualitatively, (iv) R to BGMV and WB were identified and (v) Improved cultivars and breeding lines were developed (DR, NE).