Common bean landraces as potential sources of resistance to anthracnose

ABSTRACT Anthracnose is an important disease caused by the Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc. & Magnus) fungus in bean crops. It occurs throughout Brazil and may cause losses of up to 100 % in grain production. About 20 genes that confer resistance to specific races of the pathogen have already been described in the literature. This study aimed to evaluate bean varieties from the Brazilian states of Santa Catarina and Paraná, regarding the resistance to anthracnose, in two cropping seasons. In addition, two commercial cultivars were used as controls: IPR Tangará, as susceptible; and BRS Campeiro, as moderately resistant. The majority of the local varieties was considered resistant or moderately resistant, being more pronounced the Amendoim cultivar, with large grains and red tegument, evincing resistance in both evaluations. Regarding this, the possibility of using them as resistance sources to anthracnose may be considered, since they also show adaptability to the environmental conditions.