Pathogenic variability in Colletotrichum lindemuthianum and evaluation of resistance in Phaseolus vulgaris in the north-western Himalayan region of India

Eightyfive isolates of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (bran anthracnose) collected from different kidney bean growing areas of a hilly state (Himachal Pradesh) of India, were characterized on the basis of their reaction types on International and CIAT differentials. On international differentials, 12 races viz., Alpha-Brazil, Beta, Gamma and Ind I to Ind IX were characterized. The races designated as Ind I to Ind IX were different from those identified in Europe and USA, thus forming a new race group from the Indian subcontinent. On the CIAT differential set the 85 isolates have been grouped into 19 races. Of these, only races 65 and 73 resembled the North American Paces. Exotic accessions AB 136 and G 2333 were resistant to all the Indian races. However: race specific resistance has been found in a number of indigenous and exotic genotypes of Phaseolus vulgaris.