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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Mayaguez, Puerto Rico » Tropical Crops and Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #298711
Title: Development of tools for Macrophomina phaseolina evaluation and for genetic improvement of resistance in common bean

Author
item Porch, Timothy - Tim
item BEAVER, J. - University Of Puerto Rico
item COLOM, S - University Of Puerto Rico
item ESTEVEZ DE JENSEN, C - University Of Puerto Rico

Submitted to: Bean Improvement Cooperative Proceedings
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2014
Publication Date: 4/1/2014
Citation: Porch Clay, T.G., Beaver, J.S., Colom, S., Estevez De Jensen, C. 2014. Development of tools for Macrophomina phaseolina evaluation and for genetic improvement of resistance in common bean. Bean Improvement Cooperative Proceedings. p. 189-190.

Interpretive Summary: Ashy stem blight causes significant yield reduction in the tropics and subtropics, often in association with drought stress. In this study, a collection of the ashy stem blight pathogen was assembled in Puerto Rico for the study of pathogen diversity using sequence analysis. The response of the Andean Diversity Panel (ADP) to controlled inoculation was also evaluated and a broad range of reaction to was found in the field. Although morphological diversity was evident in the pathogen, a high level of sequence similarity was found. Through a better understanding of the pathogen, development of ashy stem blight resistance can be accelerated in common bean.

Technical Abstract: Ashy stem blight, caused by Macrophomina phaseolina, causes significant yield reduction in the tropics and subtropics, often in association with drought stress. In this study, a collection of Macrophomina phaseolina isolates was assembled in Puerto Rico for the study of pathogen diversity using sequence analysis of the ITS region. The response of the Andean Diversity Panel (ADP) to controlled inoculation was also evaluated. A broad range of reaction to ashy stem blight in the ADP was found in the field. Although morphological diversity was evident in M. phaseolina, a high level of sequence similarity was found in the ITS region. Virulence characterization of the pathogenic M. phaseolina isolates is currently underway.