Lima bean, the second most cultivated species of the genus Phaseolus, in spite of demonstrating great adaptation to the edaphoclimatic conditions in the northeast region of Brazil, shows low yield due to the occurrence of diseases such as anthracnose, which is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum truncatum. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the reaction of 30 Lima bean subsamples to anthracnose. Detached leaves inoculated in C. truncatum were used. The disease severity was estimated based on a grade scale and the subsamples were grouped into five classes according to resistance. Experimental design was completely randomized (CRD) with four replicates. The detached leaves from Lima bean subsamples showed a low resistance level to anthracnose. The subsamples UFPI 251 and UFPI 673 behaved as highly resistant at five and seven days after inoculation, showing thus promising to be used in breeding programs for this crop.
Phaseolus lunatus; Colletotrichum; phytopathogen; genetic resistance
