Project Number: 1275-22000-261-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: May 14, 2008
End Date: May 13, 2013

Objective:
The major and long-term objectives of this project are 1) to identify and characterize disease resistance genes in common bean for the management of the soybean rust pathogen (Phakopsora pachyrhizi), (2) to identify and characterize disease resistance genes in common bean for the management of common bean rust (Uromyces appendiculatus), and 3) to use newly discovered and other disease resistance genes to develop common bean germplasm lines with multiple resistances to common bean and soybean rusts and other highly variable pathogens.

Approach:
To identify and characterize disease resistance genes for soybean rust (SBR) control in common bean, a sub sample of the common bean core collection will be evaluated. This core collection will have about 250 bean accessions from the Andean (five countries) and Mesoamerican (six countries) gene pools. Soybean accessions will be included as checks. Several isolates of the SBR pathogen from different countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, and from the United States, will be used to inoculate the common bean accessions. SBR resistant and susceptible accessions will be crossed to characterize the inheritance of SBR resistance and to search for molecular markers linked to the SBR resistance genes. Appropriate populations (F2, RILs, etc.) for these types of studies will be developed and inoculated with selected isolates of the SBR. Leaf tissue from each F2 plant or other appropriate progeny plant will be collected for DNA extraction and the identification of molecular markers linked to SBR resistance genes. To determine yield reduction on common bean caused by SBR, dry bean plots will be established under field conditions in collaboration with scientists from the United States and Brazil. Two locally adapted dry bean cultivars will be used. Locally adapted soybean cultivars will also be included for comparison. Similar methodologies and approach will be used for the identification and characterization of resistance genes in common bean for the control of common bean rust. All the newly discovered genes for resistance to both rusts will be used in the development of new bean cultivars with commercial bean seed type and broad resistance to rusts and other important common bean pathogens.