ABSTRACT
The lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) has become an important alternative source of food and earnings to low-income populations in the Northeast Region of Brazil. However, several factors have contributed to the low yield of this crop, such as occurrence of diseases. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the reaction of twelve lima bean accessions, of determined growth habit, to the causal agent of anthracnose, Colletotrichum truncatum, under conditions of detached leaves inoculated with the fungus and in the field without inoculation. The severity of the disease was estimated by means of a score scale and the accessions were grouped into five classes according to resistance. The accessions had variable resistance to anthracnose according to the growth conditions. Detached leaves were more susceptible to the fungus than those in the field. For most accessions in the field, there was a reduction in the percentage of diseased leaf area, compared to the responses shown by detached leaves. The accessions UFPI 641, UFPI 644 and UFPI 645 behaved as moderately resistant for detached leaves at seven days after inoculation. These genotypes are, therefore, promising for breeding programs of lima beans.
Additional key-words:
Phaseolus lunatus; anthracnose; phytopathogen; inoculation