The cultivar Cornell 49-242 of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) harbors the Co-2 gene (Are) one of the oldest sources of resistance to anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. Aiming to use this gene in the breeding program being conducted at the BIOAGRO/UFV, by pyramiding resistance genes in "carioca-type" cultivars, this work had the following objectives: (1) to determine the inheritance pattern of resistance of cultivar Cornell 49-242 in crosses with cultivars Rudá (susceptible to C. lindemuthianum races 81 and 65) and Ouro Negro (susceptible to race 65) and (2) to evaluate the RAPD marker OPQ04(1440C) linked to the Co-2 gene in F2 populations derived from the cross Rudá vs. Cornell 49-242. The results indicated the involvement of three independent dominant genes, two of which behave as complementary factors that control resistance to pathotype 81, and one dominant and one recessive genes which control resistance to pathotype 65. The marker OPQ04(1440C) previously identified as linked to Co-2 gene can be used to select F2:3 lines in these populations for the presence or absence of the Co-2 gene.
