Evaluation of disease resistance and genetic erosion in common bean using molecular markers

Common bean has been for centuries an important vegetable for human nutrition in Slovenia. Many autochtonous cultivars exist, some of them are genetically different from other world populations of common bean, therefore they represent a uniquoe set of germplasm. Gene bank at the Agricultural institute of Slovenia holds a collection of 995 autochtonous accessions of common bean, collected from different parts of Slovenia as well as a 38 years old collection of 40 bean samples. Slovene bean varieties and autochtonous cultivars are susceptible to economically important diseases and pests. Breeding of resistant cultivars is one of the most efficient methods to fight against plant pathogens. Molecular markers facilitate the breeding process and make it more efficient. In the presented research we are going to test the applicability of published molecular markers for resistance against anthracnose and bean common mosaic virus for screening Slovene accessions of beans. The results of the research will be used in breeding for diseasese resistance. Genetic erosion will also be evaluated using molecular markers when comparing genetic diversity between and within old and new bean collections.