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) col lected 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 characteriz ed. The races designated as Ind I to Ind IX were different from those ident ified in Europe and USA, thus forming a new race group from the Indian subc ontinent. On the CIAT differential set the 85 isolates have been grouped in to 19 races. Of these, only races 65 and 73 resembled the North American Pa ces. Exotic accessions AB 136 and G 2333 were resistant to all the Indian r aces. However: race specific resistance has been found in a number of indig enous and exotic genotypes of Phaseolus vulgaris.