Determination of the diversity of Collectrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc & Magn) B&C in Ethiopia

Abstract

Anthracnose of beans is one of the most widespread and destructive diseases of the crop in Ethiopia. A study was conducted to determine the races of the pathogen by collecting diseased samples of the crop from the major growing areas of the country. Representative isolates of the fungus were inoculated onto 15-days old seedlings of differential cultivars by spraying with conidial
suspensions of 1.2xl06 spores/ml. After incubation for seven days in the humid chamber under greenhouse condition, disease severity was rated using a CIAT scale of 1-9 and binomial system of race designation. The result showed that races 1, 128,269, 499, 511,525,712,718,898,952,961,1009,1011, and 906 are present of which races 128 and 511 are common in all locationsin Ethiopia.  Differential resistance to the races of the fungus was identified in some bean cultivars. Only one local bean cultivar, Roba-1 showed resistance to all races under glasshouse conditions. These results suggest that bean breeding program in Ethiopia should give attention to the race(s) of the pathogen in that location in developing anthracnose resistant cultivars.