Mapping of QTL for resistance to white mold disease in common bean

White mold (WM), incited by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, is a s erious disease of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). However, plant breed ers have had very limited success in developing resistant (R) cultivars. Mo lecular markers linked to genes for R to WM may improve selection for R. Th e objective was to identify random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers linked to quantitative trait loci (QTL) for partial physiological resistan ce (PPR), partial field resistance (PFR), porosity over the furrow (POF), a nd plant height (PH) in a linkage map by means of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the cross 'PC-50' (R) X XAN-159 (susceptible). The parents and RILs were inoculated in two separate greenhouse experiments for each isolat e and were also infected naturally in the field. Significant correlations ( 0.39, 0.47) were found for the WM reactions in the greenhouse and field. Ni ne candidate QTL were found affecting PPR isolate 152 (comparison-wise P < 0.05) with strong evidence (genome-wise P < 0.01) for three QTL on linkage groups (LGs) 4, 7, and 8, based on composite interval mapping analysis. Can didate QTL affecting PPR to isolate 279 were found on LGs 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8 with very strong evidence (genome-wise P < 0.001) for a QTL linked to the C locus for seedcoat pattern. Seven candidate QTL for PFR were observed on LGs 4, 7, 8, and 11. Six of the seven candidate QTL for PFR were found in t he same locations as QTL for PPR. However, two of the seven genomic regions were associated with PFR and POF that may contribute to disease avoidance.