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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #74765
Title: THE USE OF HOST RESISTANCE IN DISEASE MANAGEMENT OF RUST IN COMMON BEAN

Author
item MMBAGA, M. - TN AGRIC. EXPT. STA.
item STEADMAN, J. - UNIV. OF NE
item STAVELY, J. - 1275-25-00

Submitted to: Proceeding of the National Integrated Pest Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/7/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Epidemics caused by the bean rust fungus cause serious worldwide losses in snap and dry bean production, losses to farmers, market instability, and consumer price increases. This chapter reviews bean rust and methods for its control with emphasis upon a thorough review of control through host resistance. Progress in development of rust resistant beans for the United States is reviewed thoroughly. Considerable attention is given to potential development of rust resistant beans for the subsistence agricultural systems of Latin America and Africa. Control of bean rust by host resistance will enhance the worldwide supply of cheap, nutritious, food, improve production efficiency, decrease use of synthetic fungicides on this important human food crop, and reduce fluctuations in worldwide supply and price, benefitting consumers.

Technical Abstract: Bean rust, caused by Uromyces appendiculatus is a major disease in edible bean production worldwide. Many advancements in disease management have been made to reduce rust losses. Host resistance is an important component of rust management. However, durability of resistance has often been short due to the use of single genes for resistance interacting with the high virulence diversity of the bean rust fungus. The challenge to increase resistance durability has led to strategies such as gene pyramiding of race-specific resistance, use of partial resistance, and investigation of leaf morphological features that may slow rust epidemics. Germplasm with multiple sources of rust resistance has been developed for specific bean classes and released for public and commercial use in intensive production systems that occur in the United States. However, progress to develop rust resistant germplasm for the subsistence agriculture of Latin America and Africa, where intercropping and mixed cultivars dominate, has been slow. Incorporation of high yielding disease-resistant components as partial replacements in mixtures has potential to reduce rust severity and increase yield. This strategy would not erode the genetic diversity that enhances resistance durability and stabilizes production in subsistent agriculture.