The main goal of the present work was to characterize the rust resistance (RR) gene present in the Mesoamerican common bean cultivar Ouro Negro, temporarily named Ur-OuroNegro or Ur-ON, which is the main RR source used in Brazil. The RR spectrum presented by cv. Ouro Negro was compared with those of other bean lines harbouring known RR genes when inoculated with nine selected races of Uromyces appendiculatus, the causal agent of bean rust. In addition, all bean lines were screened with molecular markers linked to Ur-ON in order to identify additional evidence for the presence of alleles for this locus in the screened RR sources. The allelic relationships of Ur-ON were tested with previously characterized RR genes from lines resistant to at least one race of the pathogen. Allelism tests were also carried out between cv. Ouro Negro and cvs CNC and CSW 643, important RR sources in Brazil harbouring unnamed RR genes. The results showed that the major dominant gene conditioning RR in cv. Ouro Negro is positioned at a locus distinct from those with which it was compared. It is proposed that this gene -or complex gene locus -is unique and be designated Ur-14.

No abstract

Common bean is an economically, nutritionally, and socially important crop. It is grown in distinct regions and different seasons around the world by subsistence level farmers with low-technology input as well as by farmers that use high input technologies. One important factor that can limit the bean growing and drastically affect grain yields is the high number of destructive pathogens that attack and cause serious damage to the crop. Among them is bean rust, incited by the fungus Uromyces appendiculatus. This disease is distributed throughout the world, but it effectively causes major production problems in humid tropical and subtropical regions. In Brazil, rust causes major losses in south, southeast, and central regions of the country. Bean rust control by resistant cultivars is an easy and economical strategy to be used in association to other rust management practices. Pyramiding of different race-specific resistance genes in association with other genes conferring adult plant resistance, slow rusting, and reduced pustule size can prolong the lifespan of a common bean cultivar by creating a more durable resistance complex against the rust pathogen. This review manuscript presents an overview on bean rust and reports some breeding efforts aiming to develop rust resistant cultivars in Brazil.

No abstract

No abstract