Assessing anthracnose resistance in common bean accessions: identification of resistance genes using SCAR markers against Colletotrichum lindemuthianum

Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum is an overwhelming disease causing substantial yield losses in common bean. Small and marginal farmers of hilly areas depend on couple of crops including bean for income generation. To tackle anthracnose, many chemicals are already recommended but their use could be costly affair for small & marginal farmers, additionally their use has health and environmental hazards. Considering this, the efforts were made to screen 81 indigenous and 86 exotic origins for their reaction to anthracnose under controlled conditions. Only 53 bean accessions showed resistant reaction and rest 114 lines were susceptible. On the basis of disease reaction, 30 highly resistant accessions were selected and analysed using R-gene linked SCAR and RAPD markers to foretell the presence of Co-4 , Co-4 2 , Co-6 , Co-10 and Co-Ind R-gene(s). Multiple genes were found to be present in some common bean accessions like IC260336, IC265940, IC258273, IC202271, IC262749, IC274530, IC262769, IC43562, IC260312, IC214739, IC265938, IC47839, IC278499, EC400397, EC500423, EC500507, EC325078, EC500250, EC4003444, EC500328, EC398586 and EC4003433. The generated information will be beneficial in future for anthracnose resistance breeding and to comeup with the resistance sources effective against bean anthracnose.