
Breeding Home Page		Dry Bean Breeding Program
Description History Project Leader Project Staff Students and Interns Breeding for Disease Resistance Released Varieties and Germplasm 2007 Trials Dry Bean Performance Testing Dry Bean Production Guide Northarvest Bean Grower Association		White Mold White mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) continues to be a serious problem for dry bean growers and is ranked as the disease of most concern to producers as shown in the recent surveys. The potential for improved genetic resistance as a control measure has been demonstrated. Two major mechanisms of genetic resistance to white mold exist: 1) avoidance ‑ usually associated with improved plant architecture; and 2) physiological ‑ associated with biochemical functions at the cellular level. Generally, greenhouse and laboratory methods screen solely for physiological resistance, whereas field plantings screen for both physiological and avoidance mechanisms. Thus, greenhouse and laboratory resistance may not correlate well to field resistance. The breeding project has relied on evaluating material in the field at Carrington, where a 12-entry National White Mold Nursery also is grown. This national nursery is also grown at MI, NY, NE, WA, CO, and Ontario-CA. Additionally, we evaluate and take records of the presence of the disease in our yield trials and nurseries (natural pressure). White mold will continue to be a priority of the NDSU breeding project, not only using all possible sources of resistance such as the recently released USPT-WM-1 and USPT-WM-2, but also looking and screening for new ones, even from exotic germplasm and/or related species such as the interspecific crosses of Phaseolus vulgaris x Phaseouls coccineus produced by the Univ. of Idaho (VCW-54 and VCW-55). We also are continuing to develop and evaluate populations using lines from the USDA Plant Introduction Collection that contain some level of white mold resistance, in cooperation with Dr. Jack Rasmussen, Plant Pathology, NDSU. Anthracnose Anthracnose is casused by the fungus Glomerella lindemuthiana Shear (perfect state) More commonly seen on bean in its conidial state, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc & Magnus) Lams.-Scrib.The disease affects all aerial parts of the bean plant. Anthracnose in distributed worldwide and yield losses can reach 100% where conditions are favorable for the developement of the disease. In 1998-99, we began identifying material which possessed resistance to this disease for its use in the breeding program. Several races of this disease are found worldwide, but the two most prevalent in the U.S. are races 7 and 73. Race 7 primarily attacks kidney and cranberry beans, but usually does little damage to cultivars of pinto, navy, black, and other market classes. Race 73, on the other hand, does primary damage to pinto, navy, black, and others, but usually has no effect on kidney and cranberry. Now that the disease has been found in ND, we have given more breeding effort for resistance to this pathogen. A new race (race 105) has been reported in Canada in 2007, and fields were screened in our region in order to check if it is present here. So far, there are no indications of the presence of this race in the region; however, field scouting will continue on the next growing season. We are primarily interested in using the Co-42 gene for resistance, simply because is one the best resistance genes (it controls many races), and also because we can screen for the presence of this gene in the absence of the pathogen by using molecular markers. This will allow us to rapidly backcross this resistance gene into desirable genotypes in case the new race is here. Other sources of resistance also will be exploited, since our greatest chance of controlling this pathogen is to combine several resistance genes. We will screen all the advanced lines both at the greenhouse and with molecular markers, as well as check the pedigree information (parental lines) in order to know the pool of genes for resistance available in these lines. Disease scouting made last season by the NDSU plant pathology extensionist Dr. Sam Markell apparently has found new variants of Anthracnose different than the 105 reported in Canada. However this is still under confirmation. The right approach is to be prepared and check if our lines have some resistance to these new races or variants before they become an important problem. Common Bacterial Blight (CBB) Common Bacterial Blight is caused by the bacteria Xantomonas phaseoli (Smith) is a seed-borne pathogen that seriously affects seed production and quality. CBB directly affects optimum production of certified seed, causing that only ~40% (on average) of certified seed production fields can pass the inspection in our region. Control of the disease cannot be effectively achieved even using chemicals. Although some reports indicate that frequent applications of copper compounds can reduce damage, this has not been achieved in the northern Great Plains. Also, difficulties to achieve reasonable levels of genetic resistance have hampered breeding programs throughout the U.S. Some level of resistance is available in certain great northern lines, brought about by interspecific hybridization with Phaseolus acutifolius, a related species to dry bean. Scientists at CIAT have been successful in combining all levels of resistance to CBB in a range of bean types. We have utilized these lines, called VAX lines, to incorporate CBB resistance into pinto, navy, black, red, and kidney lines. This effort also allows transfer of root rot resistance into these market classes. Overall, these germplasm lines are the best sources available and have been widely used by breeding programs in the U.S. in a combined and coordinated effort to combat this disease. The main limitation with these lines is their lack of combining ability, in other words, these lines don’t transfer the resistance genes very easily into their progenies. Therefore, many crosses and large population sizes are needed. The NDSU breeding program also keeps track of other bacterial diseases such as halo blight and brown spot in case they become serious economical problems in the region. . Rust Rust (caused by Uromyces appendiculatus) has been, at some years, a severe disease problem, particularly for pinto bean producers. This fungal pathogen is composed of many races (at least 46 in the United States and over 200 worldwide), and has the capability to increase in variability, since it can complete its entire life cycle on the bean plant. Resistance usually is controlled in a single gene fashion, whereby one gene in the plant imparts resistance to one specific race of the pathogen. Often, this type of 'vertical resistance' is short-lived, because the selection pressure placed on the rust race forces a change in the rust population. As a result, a new rust race is developed, and the former resistant variety becomes susceptible. The NDSU breeding program has maintained a long-term collaborative effort with the USDA-ARS bean pathology program at Beltsville, MD, that focuses on rust. Through this collaborative effort, more than 35 germplasm lines have been released for their unique combinations of rust resistance genes. Each year, a collaborative nursery to determine potential adaptation of material into which exotic genes for resistance have been incorporated are evaluated (pinto, great northern, and red) for reaction and overall adaptation to our environment. In 2007, Dr. Marcial Pastor Corrales (bean pathologist at USDA-Beltsville) evaluated the rust reaction in a set of 32 advanced pinto lines from our breeding program. Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV) We continue to screen for BCMV resistance in order to assure production of quality seed. This virus is present in the region and it directly affects seed production, quality, and ultimately, supply. The continuous use of Maverick and Othello (susceptible to BCMV) over all these years has increased the virus pressure in some growing areas. Selection for two resistance genes allows us to assure that the virus will not be problematic in NDSU material. Most lines from the program have at least one resistant gene (I gene), and several others have a combination of two or more genes in order to guarantee resistance to the disease. The two new pintos recently released (Lariat and Stampede), as well as the new navy (Avalanche) are all resistant to BCMV. A set of 20 advanced lines were sent to USDA-Prosser (Dr. Phil Miklas) for evaluation to BCMV and BCMNV (necrotic strain). Most lines were resistant to BCMV and one of them (Stampede) showed segregation BCMNV. Progeny tests will be made in order to identify the resistant plants, eliminate the variation within this line, and guarantee the genetic homogeneity in the source of foundation and certified seed. The program will keep routinely incorporating BCMV resistance into all released varieties. Root Rot This disease is caused by several fungus, including Fusaruim salani (Mart.) Sacc.F. sp phaseoli (Burkholder), Pythium ssp, and Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn (telomorph). Fusarium is the most common, particulary in drought years. Rhizoctonia appears in warm moist soils especially in rotation with sugar beet and soybeans. Pythium develop in wet soils. This disease affects lines coming from the Andean gene pool (e.g. kidneys). In Minnesota for example, there may be as many as five genera that may be causing damage, so field screening is critical since one species can be more important in one region than in others. Efficient evaluation of material can occur in the greenhouse, but evaluation for reaction to only one pathogen at a time can be made. One drawback with some sources of resistance is that you might inadvertently transfer susceptibility to bacterial blights and late maturity. The breeding program has made great strides improving root rot resistance into kidney bean types. We have several light red kidneys with good levels of tolerance, and at least one line that approach the dark red kidney class also with very good levels of tolerance. This is a result of our efforts to introgress disease resistance from the VAX lines into kidney bean lines. The VAX lines are common bacterial blight resistant interspecific lines (crossed with tepary bean), developed at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Cali, Colombia. These lines continue to be the best sources of resistance to common bacterial blights, but also are good sources of resistance to virus, rust, and root rot. NDSU was the first to identify the root rot resistance in these CIAT lines. VAX 3, which possesses a red seed coat, also has high levels of resistance to bacterial blights and rust so hopefully, we can select for these traits as well. We have identified at least three lines resulting from hybridizations with VAX 3 that has excellent root rot resistance, but their late maturity does not allow them to be released. We are making crosses with early-maturity kidney lines in order to retain the root rot tolerance and simultaneously reduce the number of days to maturity. Dr. Goswami plans to increase the effort towards the solution of this production problem that especially affects kidneys. Every year a root rot nursery is planted in Perham, MN to evaluate genetic material that could be resistant to this complex disease. A set of five lines from Puerto Rico was evaluated last season at this nursery and at least two lines showed some potential to be used in future crosses.

Dry Bean Breeding Program

History

Project Leader

Project Staff

Students and Interns

Breeding for Disease Resistance

Released Varieties and Germplasm

2007 Trials

Dry Bean Performance Testing

Dry Bean Production Guide

Northarvest Bean Grower Association

White Mold

White mold (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) continues to be a serious problem for dry bean growers and is ranked as the disease of most concern to producers as shown in the recent surveys. The potential for improved genetic resistance as a control measure has been demonstrated. Two major mechanisms of genetic resistance to white mold exist: 1) avoidance ‑ usually associated with improved plant architecture; and 2) physiological ‑ associated with biochemical functions at the cellular level. Generally, greenhouse and laboratory methods screen solely for physiological resistance, whereas field plantings screen for both physiological and avoidance mechanisms. Thus, greenhouse and laboratory resistance may not correlate well to field resistance. The breeding project has relied on evaluating material in the field at Carrington, where a 12-entry National White Mold Nursery also is grown. This national nursery is also grown at MI, NY, NE, WA, CO, and Ontario-CA. Additionally, we evaluate and take records of the presence of the disease in our yield trials and nurseries (natural pressure). White mold will continue to be a priority of the NDSU breeding project, not only using all possible sources of resistance such as the recently released USPT-WM-1 and USPT-WM-2, but also looking and screening for new ones, even from exotic germplasm and/or related species such as the interspecific crosses of Phaseolus vulgaris x Phaseouls coccineus produced by the Univ. of Idaho (VCW-54 and VCW-55). We also are continuing to develop and evaluate populations using lines from the USDA Plant Introduction Collection that contain some level of white mold resistance, in cooperation with Dr. Jack Rasmussen, Plant Pathology, NDSU.

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is casused by the fungus Glomerella lindemuthiana Shear (perfect state) More commonly seen on bean in its conidial state, Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc & Magnus) Lams.-Scrib.The disease affects all aerial parts of the bean plant. Anthracnose in distributed worldwide and yield losses can reach 100% where conditions are favorable for the developement of the disease. In 1998-99, we began identifying material which possessed resistance to this disease for its use in the breeding program. Several races of this disease are found worldwide, but the two most prevalent in the U.S. are races 7 and 73. Race 7 primarily attacks kidney and cranberry beans, but usually does little damage to cultivars of pinto, navy, black, and other market classes. Race 73, on the other hand, does primary damage to pinto, navy, black, and others, but usually has no effect on kidney and cranberry. Now that the disease has been found in ND, we have given more breeding effort for resistance to this pathogen. A new race (race 105) has been reported in Canada in 2007, and fields were screened in our region in order to check if it is present here. So far, there are no indications of the presence of this race in the region; however, field scouting will continue on the next growing season. We are primarily interested in using the Co-42 gene for resistance, simply because is one the best resistance genes (it controls many races), and also because we can screen for the presence of this gene in the absence of the pathogen by using molecular markers. This will allow us to rapidly backcross this resistance gene into desirable genotypes in case the new race is here. Other sources of resistance also will be exploited, since our greatest chance of controlling this pathogen is to combine several resistance genes. We will screen all the advanced lines both at the greenhouse and with molecular markers, as well as check the pedigree information (parental lines) in order to know the pool of genes for resistance available in these lines. Disease scouting made last season by the NDSU plant pathology extensionist Dr. Sam Markell apparently has found new variants of Anthracnose different than the 105 reported in Canada. However this is still under confirmation. The right approach is to be prepared and check if our lines have some resistance to these new races or variants before they become an important problem.

Common Bacterial Blight (CBB)

Common Bacterial Blight is caused by the bacteria Xantomonas phaseoli (Smith) is a seed-borne pathogen that seriously affects seed production and quality. CBB directly affects optimum production of certified seed, causing that only ~40% (on average) of certified seed production fields can pass the inspection in our region. Control of the disease cannot be effectively achieved even using chemicals. Although some reports indicate that frequent applications of copper compounds can reduce damage, this has not been achieved in the northern Great Plains. Also, difficulties to achieve reasonable levels of genetic resistance have hampered breeding programs throughout the U.S. Some level of resistance is available in certain great northern lines, brought about by interspecific hybridization with Phaseolus acutifolius, a related species to dry bean. Scientists at CIAT have been successful in combining all levels of resistance to CBB in a range of bean types. We have utilized these lines, called VAX lines, to incorporate CBB resistance into pinto, navy, black, red, and kidney lines. This effort also allows transfer of root rot resistance into these market classes. Overall, these germplasm lines are the best sources available and have been widely used by breeding programs in the U.S. in a combined and coordinated effort to combat this disease. The main limitation with these lines is their lack of combining ability, in other words, these lines don’t transfer the resistance genes very easily into their progenies. Therefore, many crosses and large population sizes are needed. The NDSU breeding program also keeps track of other bacterial diseases such as halo blight and brown spot in case they become serious economical problems in the region.

Rust

Rust (caused by Uromyces appendiculatus) has been, at some years, a severe disease problem, particularly for pinto bean producers. This fungal pathogen is composed of many races (at least 46 in the United States and over 200 worldwide), and has the capability to increase in variability, since it can complete its entire life cycle on the bean plant. Resistance usually is controlled in a single gene fashion, whereby one gene in the plant imparts resistance to one specific race of the pathogen. Often, this type of 'vertical resistance' is short-lived, because the selection pressure placed on the rust race forces a change in the rust population. As a result, a new rust race is developed, and the former resistant variety becomes susceptible. The NDSU breeding program has maintained a long-term collaborative effort with the USDA-ARS bean pathology program at Beltsville, MD, that focuses on rust. Through this collaborative effort, more than 35 germplasm lines have been released for their unique combinations of rust resistance genes. Each year, a collaborative nursery to determine potential adaptation of material into which exotic genes for resistance have been incorporated are evaluated (pinto, great northern, and red) for reaction and overall adaptation to our environment. In 2007, Dr. Marcial Pastor Corrales (bean pathologist at USDA-Beltsville) evaluated the rust reaction in a set of 32 advanced pinto lines from our breeding program.

Bean Common Mosaic Virus (BCMV)

We continue to screen for BCMV resistance in order to assure production of quality seed. This virus is present in the region and it directly affects seed production, quality, and ultimately, supply. The continuous use of Maverick and Othello (susceptible to BCMV) over all these years has increased the virus pressure in some growing areas. Selection for two resistance genes allows us to assure that the virus will not be problematic in NDSU material. Most lines from the program have at least one resistant gene (I gene), and several others have a combination of two or more genes in order to guarantee resistance to the disease. The two new pintos recently released (Lariat and Stampede), as well as the new navy (Avalanche) are all resistant to BCMV. A set of 20 advanced lines were sent to USDA-Prosser (Dr. Phil Miklas) for evaluation to BCMV and BCMNV (necrotic strain). Most lines were resistant to BCMV and one of them (Stampede) showed segregation BCMNV. Progeny tests will be made in order to identify the resistant plants, eliminate the variation within this line, and guarantee the genetic homogeneity in the source of foundation and certified seed. The program will keep routinely incorporating BCMV resistance into all released varieties.

Root Rot

This disease is caused by several fungus, including Fusaruim salani (Mart.) Sacc.F. sp phaseoli (Burkholder), Pythium ssp, and Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn (telomorph). Fusarium is the most common, particulary in drought years. Rhizoctonia appears in warm moist soils especially in rotation with sugar beet and soybeans. Pythium develop in wet soils. This disease affects lines coming from the Andean gene pool (e.g. kidneys). In Minnesota for example, there may be as many as five genera that may be causing damage, so field screening is critical since one species can be more important in one region than in others. Efficient evaluation of material can occur in the greenhouse, but evaluation for reaction to only one pathogen at a time can be made. One drawback with some sources of resistance is that you might inadvertently transfer susceptibility to bacterial blights and late maturity. The breeding program has made great strides improving root rot resistance into kidney bean types. We have several light red kidneys with good levels of tolerance, and at least one line that approach the dark red kidney class also with very good levels of tolerance. This is a result of our efforts to introgress disease resistance from the VAX lines into kidney bean lines. The VAX lines are common bacterial blight resistant interspecific lines (crossed with tepary bean), developed at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Cali, Colombia. These lines continue to be the best sources of resistance to common bacterial blights, but also are good sources of resistance to virus, rust, and root rot. NDSU was the first to identify the root rot resistance in these CIAT lines. VAX 3, which possesses a red seed coat, also has high levels of resistance to bacterial blights and rust so hopefully, we can select for these traits as well. We have identified at least three lines resulting from hybridizations with VAX 3 that has excellent root rot resistance, but their late maturity does not allow them to be released. We are making crosses with early-maturity kidney lines in order to retain the root rot tolerance and simultaneously reduce the number of days to maturity. Dr. Goswami plans to increase the effort towards the solution of this production problem that especially affects kidneys. Every year a root rot nursery is planted in Perham, MN to evaluate genetic material that could be resistant to this complex disease. A set of five lines from Puerto Rico was evaluated last season at this nursery and at least two lines showed some potential to be used in future crosses.