An important trait for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars with Carioca type grain is resistance to Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, which causes anthracnose and a pale corona. The present study was conducted to understand the genetic control of common bean reaction to the fungus and of the corona color, to provide guides to future breeding studies. Genotypes P-45, with brown corona, and EMGOPA 201-Ouro, with yellow corona, are resistant to C. lindemuthianum. Cultivar Carioca is susceptible to anthracnose, but it has desirable grain and corona color. Anthracnose resistance and corona color were studied in the F1 and F2 generations of three populations resulting from crosses of P-45, EMGOPA 201-Ouro, and Carioca. The Carioca x P-45 cross indicated that the Mex.2 allele, which conditions resistance to the pathogen, is linked with a recombination frequency of 0.0604 ± 0.0232 to one of the alleles which determines the dark brown corona color. The EMGOPA 201-Ouro x Carioca cross revealed that the resistance allele of EMGOPA 201-Ouro was independent from the alleles which determine the yellow corona. These resistance alleles were also determined to be independent according to EMGOPA 201-Ouro x P-45 cross results.
