Identification of resistance sources is a basic step in breeding programs aiming at the development of disease resistant cultivars. In this work, eight common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) lines resistant to rust developed by the US Department of Agriculture were inoculated under controlled conditions with four races of Uromyces appendiculatus collected from the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Cultivars Ouro Negro and US Pinto 111 were used as resistant and suscetible standards, respectively. Infection frequency (IF) and average pustule diameter (APD) were determined. Lines BelMiDak-RMR-12 and BelMiDak-RR-3 were the most resistant. All four races showed few small pustules (< 300 mum) only on the abaxial leaf surface. Lines BelDakMi-RMR-10 and BelNeb RR-2 presented low IF and were considered resistant to four and three races, respectively. Line BelDak-RR-2 was resistant to all four races but showed a relatively high IF. Lines BelMiNeb-RMR-3 and BelDakMi RR-7 were also resistant to all races tested, however they showed high average IF and some pustules were larger than 300 mum. Line BelDakMi-RMR-11 was resistant to races 45, 46 and 49 and moderately resistant to race 52. 'Ouro Negro' was resistant to all four races, with IF and APD values similar to those of the most resistant North American lines.
