Introgression of Xa4, Xa7 and Xa21 for resistance to bacterial blight in thermosensitive genetic male sterile rice (Oryza sativa L.) for the development of two-line hybrids

Bacterial blight (BB) of rice caused by X. oryzae pv. oryzae is a major production constraint in commercial hybrid rice production in the Philippines because most of the parental lines used in hybrid production do not carry resistance genes against the pathogen. In this study, three bacterial blight resistance genes, Xa4, Xa7 and Xa21, were introgressed to a temperature-sensitive genetic male sterile (TGMS1) line. A three-way cross of AR32-19-3-3/TGMS1//IRBB4/7 (PR36944) was made to produce 1,364 F₂ plants carrying various combinations of Xa4, Xa7 and Xa21. Individual plants were characterized for reaction to bacterial blight PXO61 (race 1), PXO86 (race 2), PXO99 (race 6) and pollen sterility. Of 144 F₂ plants demonstrating resistance against PXO61, PXO86 and PXO99, 22 exhibited highly resistant phenotypes with mean lesion lengths ranging from 0.37–2.97 cm. Analysis of disease reaction identified 20 potential TGMS F₂ plants containing Xa4, Xa7 and Xa21 while 78 plants with Xa4 + Xa7. Phenotypic and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses confirmed PR36944-450, PR36944-473 and PR36944-700 as homozygous for Xa7 and Xa21 and highly resistant to all three Xoo races. Fertility of PR36944-450 and PR36944-700 was restored at permissive temperature in a growth chamber. BB-resistant TGMS lines should facilitate breeding two-line hybrids in the tropics.     

Orientation and integration of the classical and molecular genetic maps of chromosome 11 in rice

Summary The classical genetic map and molecular map of rice chromosome 11 were oriented to facilitate the use of these maps for genetic studies and rice improvement. Three morphological markers (d-27, z-2, and la) were crossed to a rice breeding line, IRBB21, which has the Xa-21 gene for bacterial blight resistance. Three F₂ populations were analyzed with RFLP markers known to be located on chromosome 11. Segregation analysis of molecular markers and morphological markers was used to construct an RFLP map for each population. The recombination frequency between markers varied from population to population although the marker order on the maps was the same for all three populations. Based on a common set of markers mapped in the three populations, an integrated map was generated consisting of both RFLP and morphological markers. The genetic distance between markers on this map was determined by taking a weighted average of the data from the three populations. The oriented map serves as a bridge to understand the relationship between the classical and molecular linkage maps. Based on this information, the location of several genes on the classical map can be approximated with respect to RFLP markers without having to map them directly.     

Recessive genes controlling resistance to Helminthosporium leaf blight in synthetic hexaploid wheat

A study was conducted under controlled environment conditions in a phytotron to determine the nature of the inheritance of resistance Helminthosporium leaf blight (HLB) in a synthetic hexaploid wheat line, ‘Chirya‐3’, against the isolate KL‐8 of Bipolaris sorokiniana from the major wheat growing region of India. Crosses were made between two susceptible lines ‘WH 147’ and ‘Chinese Spring’. Analyses of F₁ and F₂ populations of these two crosses (‘WH 147’בChirya‐3’ and ‘Chinese Spring’בChirya‐3’) showed that resistance against the isolate in ‘Chirya‐3’ was governed by two recessive genes functioning in a complementary interaction giving an F₂ segregation pattern of 1 : 15 (resistant : susceptible). The segregation pattern of the resistant F₂ progenies in F₃ families from both crosses confirmed that two homozygous recessive genes were responsible for resistance to the isolate of Bipolaris sorokiniana in the synthetic line ‘Chirya‐3’. It is proposed that the genes be designated as hlbr1 and hlbr2.     

携有不同主效白叶枯病抗性单基因的3个粳稻近等基因系的选育

自１９８６至１９９３年，我们选育了第一批携有抗水稻白叶枯病主效基因，Ｘａ－３、Ｘａ－４和Ｘａ－１２的３个粳稻近等基因系：ＣＢＢ３、ＣＢＢ４和ＣＢＢ１２（暂名）。以１个感病并具有改良株型的粳稻品种沈农１０３３为轮回亲本，通过回交、自交直至ＢＣ５Ｆ５代。各世代经抗性测定和株型选择，直至各系的抗性稳定和农艺性状趋于一致。进行了３个近等基因系与其供体基因的抗性反应型比较、农艺性状考查及抗性遗传分析。通过育     

Marker assisted introgression of bacterial blight resistance in Samba Mahsuri,an elite indica rice variety

Samba Mahsuri (BPT5204) is a medium slender grain indica rice variety that is very popular with farmers and consumers across India because of its high yield and excellent cooking quality. However, the variety is susceptible to several diseases and pests, including bacterial blight (BB). We have used PCR based molecular markers in a backcross-breeding program to introgress three major BB resistance genes (Xa21, xa13 and xa5) into Samba Mahsuri from a donor line (SS1113) in which all the three genes are present in a homozygous condition. At each backcross generation, markers closely linked to the three genes were used to select plants possessing these resistance genes (foreground selection) and microsatellite markers polymorphic between donor and recurrent parent were used to select plants that have maximum contribution from the recurrent parent genome (background selection). A selected BC₄F₁ plant was selfed to generate homozygous BC₄F₂ plants with different combinations of BB resistance genes. The three-gene pyramid and two-gene pyramid lines exhibited high levels of resistance against the BB pathogen. Under conditions of BB infection, the three-gene pyramid lines exhibited a significant yield advantage over Samba Mahsuri. Most importantly, these lines retain the excellent grain and cooking qualities of Samba Mahsuri without compromising the yield as determined in multi-location trials. This work demonstrates the successful application of marker-assisted selection for targeted introgression of multiple resistance genes into a premium quality rice variety. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. R. M. Sundaram and M. R. Vishnupriya have contributed equally to this work.     

Introgressing resistance to bacterial and viral diseases from the middle American to Andean common bean

The genetic base of cultivars within market classes of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is narrow. Moreover, small- and medium-seeded Middle American cultivars often possess higher yield and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses than their large-seeded Andean counterparts. Thus, for broadening the genetic base and breeding for higher yielding multiple stress resistant Andean cultivars use of inter-gene pool populations is essential. Our objective was to determine the feasibility of introgressing resistance to Been common mosaic virus (BCMV, a potyvirus), and the common [caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli (Xcp) and X. campestris pv. phaseoli var. fuscans (Xcpf)] and halo [caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (Psp)] bacterial blights from the Middle American to Andean bean, using gamete selection. Also, we investigated the relative importance of the use of a landrace cultivar versus elite breeding line as the last parent making maximum genetic contribution in multiple-parent inter-gene pool crosses for breeding for resistance to diseases. Two multiple-parent crosses, namely ZARA I = Wilkinson 2 /// ‘ICA Tundama’ / ‘Edmund’ // VAX 3 / PVA 773 and ZARA II = ‘Moradillo’ /// ICA Tundama / Edmund // VAX 3 / PVA 773 were made. From the F₁ to F₅ single plant selection was practiced for resistance to the common and halo bacterial blights in both populations at Valladolid, Spain. The parents and F₅-derived F₆ breeding lines were evaluated separately for BCMV, and common and halo bacterial blights in the greenhouse at Filer and Kimberly, Idaho in 2001. They were also evaluated for the two bacterial blights, growth habit, seed color and 100-seed weight at Valladolid in 2002. All 20 F₁ plants of ZARA I were resistant or intermediate to common and halo bacterial blights in the greenhouse, but their F₂ and subsequent families segregated for both bacterial blights. Segregation for resistant, intermediate, and susceptible plants for common bacterial blight occurred in the F₁ of ZARA II. Simple correlation coefficient for common bacterial blight between the F₁ and F₁-derived F₂ families was positive (r = 0.54 P < 0.05) for ZARA II. From the F₂ to F₅ the number of families resistant to both bacterial blights decreased in both populations. Only four of 20 F₁ plants in ZARA I resulted in seven F₆ breeding lines, and only one of 32 F₁ plants in ZARA II resulted in one F₆ breeding line resistant to the three diseases. None of the selected breeding lines had seed size as large as the largest Andean parent. The use of elite breeding line or cultivar as the last parent making maximum genetic contribution to the multiple-parent inter-gene pool crosses, relatively large population size in the F₁, and simultaneous selection for plant type, seed traits as well as resistance to diseases would be crucial for introgression and pyramiding of favorable alleles and quantitative trait loci (QTL) of interest between the Andean and Middle American beans.     

Multiplex PCR genotyping for five bacterial blight resistance genes applied to marker‐assisted selection in rice (Oryza sativa)

Bacterial blight (BB) is the most economically damaging disease of rice in Asia and other parts of the world. In this study, a multiplex PCR genotyping method was developed to simultaneously identify genotypes of five BB resistance genes, Xa4, xa5, Xa7, xa13 and Xa21. The resistance R alleles were amplified using five functional markers (FMs) to generate amplicons of 217, 103, 179, 381 and 595 bp in IRBB66. Amplicons of 198, 107, 87, 391 and 467 bp corresponded to susceptible alleles in Taiwanese japonica rice cultivars. In backcross breeding programmes, the multiplex PCR assay was integrated into selection from a population using BB resistance donor IRBB66 crossed to rice cultivar ‘Tainung82’. Two plants with homozygosity for Xa4, xa5, Xa7, xa13 and Xa21 were selected from 1100 BC₂F₂ plants. In addition, the five BB resistance genes were also accurately identified in F₂ populations. This multiplex PCR method provides a rapid and efficient method for detecting various BB resistance genes, which will assist in pyramiding genes to improve durability of BB resistance in Taiwanese elite rice cultivars.     

Stability of the association of molecular markers with common bacterial blight resistance in common bean (Phascolus vulgaris L.)

Common bacterial blight (CBB) caused hy Xanthomonas campestrts pv. phaseoli is an important disease of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) throughout the world. Two random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers (R7313 and R4865) linked to genes for CBB resistance, that were transferred to P- vulgaris by an interspecific cross with Phaseohus acutifoluis. Were identified in a previous study. The current study was conducted to examine the use of these markers for selecting CBB resistant material from 85 F_5,6, lines derived from crosses between two of the resistant lines used previously in the linkage study and susceptible breeding lines. The results showed that these two markers were located on the same linkage group and explained 22% (P = 0.0002) of the variation in response to CBB in the current population. Seventy per cent of the lines that had both markers were classified as resistant in a disease test of the F_5,6, lines, whereas 73% of the lines that had neither of the RAPD markers were susceptible. The results indicated that the marker-disease resistance associations remained stable in a plant breeding programme and that they can be used lor marker-assisted selection of CBB-resistant beans.     

Identification of segregation-distortion-neutral alleles to improve pollen fertility of indica-japonica hybrids in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The genetics of resistance to Ascochyta blight (Ascochyta fabae f. sp. fabae) was studied in two populations of faba bean (Vicia faba). Plants of a resistant population, ILB 752, and a susceptible one, NEB 463, were screened for their reaction to the pathogen and the results were quantified on a scale of 0–5. Crosses were made between plants both within and between accessions and the F₁ and F₂ generations assessed in a field trial 21 and 45 days after inoculation. Disease scores were greater at 45 days than at 21 days and they were not significantly affected by the presence of susceptible spreader rows in part of the trial. ILB 752 carried a major dominant gene conferring resistance while NEB 463 carried the recessive allele for susceptibility. Furthermore, a minority of plants of NEB 463 appeared to carry at least one pair of complementary recessive genes, also conferring resistance. Most of the plants of ILB 752 were homozygous for the dominant resistance gene and a few were heterozygous. Reciprocal crosses behaved identically, indicating the absence of maternal effects in the expression of Ascochyta blight resistance in faba beans. The results show that it is important to confirm the level of heterozygosity for the resistance genes in this partially outbreeding species before crossing is commenced. The major dominant gene for resistance, identified in ILB 752, has clear potential for use in breeding for Ascochyta blight resistance. The minor genes identified in NEB 463 also show the potential for accumulating resistance through mass selection. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

水稻抗白叶枯病基因的聚合育种

白叶枯病是严重危害水稻生产的重要病害之一,利用聚合多个抗性基因的水稻品种是控制该病害的有效途径。本研究以携带Xa4、xa5、xa13、Xa214个抗白叶枯病基因的IRBB60与8个水稻新品系,组配8个杂交组合.应用分子标记辅助选择技术从F2和F3群体中共获得216个携带4个抗白叶枯病基因的纯合体。用华南地区的5个白叶枯病病原菌小种进行田间接种的试验表明,4个抗性基因聚合系的抗性水平高于只带1个抗性基因的近等基因系。这些聚合系可用作华南地区高抗白叶枯病水稻品种育种的亲本材料。     

Relationship between molecular marker heterozygosity and hybrid performance in intra- and inter-subspecific crosses of rice

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between molecular marker diversity and heterosis in both intra-and inter-sub-specific hybrids of rice to evaluate the feasibility of predicting hybrid performance using molecular markers. Eleven elite lines were intermated resulting in a diallel set including 10 indica × indica, 15 japonica × japonica and 30 indica × japonica crosses. The F₁ hybrids and parents were evaluated for agronomic performance in a replicated field trial. The parental lines were tested for DNA polymorphisms with 113 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) probes covering the 12 rice chromosomes. Inter-subspecific crosses showed better performance and higher heterosis than intrasubspecific hybrids. Correlations of marker heterozygosity with hybrid performance and heterosis differed considerably between the two subspecies; they were higher in crosses within japonica subspecies than within indica subspecies. Very little correlation was detected in intersubspecific crosses. It was concluded that relationships between marker heterozygosity and hybrid performance were complex owing to germplasm diversity and the complexity of the genetic basis of heterosis. The implications of the results in predicting hybrid performance using molecular markers are discussed.     

籼稻DV85衍生系抗白叶枯病基因的遗传分析

应用粳型广亲和系Ｍ５０３与籼型白叶枯病原始抗源ＤＶ８５杂交，杂种Ｆ２代选择偏粳型的抗性植株进行花培，仅用二年半时间充成的粳稻衍生素系ＺＤ９２１４７和籼稻衍生系ＺＤ９２１５２与感病品种沈农１０３３、成株期抗白叶枯病的ＣＢＢ２、ＣＢＢ４杂交，其杂种后代用致病力较强的白叶枯病菌株９３－１在苗期接种，经遗传分析认为它们均带有一对隐性的Ｘａ－５全生育期白叶枯病抗性基因，从而进一步证实作者提出的籼粳稻间转育白     

Integrating marker assisted background analysis with foreground selection for identification of superior bacterial blight resistant recombinants in Basmati rice

Basmati rice is highly susceptible to bacterial blight (BB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Transfer of BB resistance genes from non‐Basmati sources to Basmati through cross‐hybridization requires strict monitoring for recovery of the desirable Basmati quality traits in the recombinants, which show complex inheritance pattern. We integrated background analysis using mapped microsatellite markers with foreground selection to identify superior lines that combine useful genes from a non‐Basmati BB resistance donor line IRBB55 with grain and cooking quality characteristics of the popular Basmati rice variety ‘Pusa Basmati 1’ (PB 1) employing backcross pedigree strategy. Foreground selection using linked markers ensured presence of two genes, xa13 and Xa21 for BB resistance from IRBB55, and the recurrent parent PB 1 allele for the waxy locus giving intermediate amylose content and maintainer allele at fertility restorer locus in the BC₁F₅ recombinants. Background analysis enabled selection of recombinants with recurrent parent genome to the extent of 86.3% along with the quality traits. The extent of introgression of non‐Basmati donor chromosome segments in the superior selections was estimated to be < 7.8 Mb and < 6.7 Mb in the xa13 and Xa21 linked genomic regions, respectively. Association mapping identified three quantitative trait loci, one each for 1000‐grain weight, fertile grains/panicle and cooked kernel length. The backcross‐pedigree breeding strategy facilitated recovery of additional desirable characteristics from the donor in some of the selections. The elite selection Pusa 1460‐01‐32‐6‐7‐67 with maximum genomic background and quality characteristics of the recurrent Basmati parent gave resistance reaction against BB, similar to that of the non‐Basmati resistant check variety and recorded an yield advantage of 11.9% over the best check in the multiplication agronomic trial in the Basmati growing region of India. This line, which has been released as a new variety in the name of ‘Improved Pusa Basmati 1’ for commercial cultivation in India, is an example of successful application of marker assisted selection to variety development.     

Heritability and correlations among traits in four-way soybean crosses

Recurrent selection programs can use several crossing arrangements to synthesize basic populations for breeding purposes. This study evaluated heritability and correlations among traits in forty-five populations of F_2[4] and F_2:3[4] generations obtained throughout four-way crosses [4] between two dialells among ten semi-late and ten late maturity soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) genotypes. The generation advance was made by the TSHD (Thinned Single Hill Descent) method and all individual plants were evaluated for the following traits: number of days to flowering (NDF) and maturity (NDM), plant height at flowering (PHF) and maturity (PHM), agronomic value (AV) and seed yield (YLD). Four-way crosses associated with TSHD method provided high genetic variability in the populations with little or no reduction from F_2[4] to F_2:3[4]. The ‘narrow sense’ heritability estimated using correlations between F_2[4] and F_2:3[4] plants was lower than but closely related to broad-sense estimates. The populations 21(IAC-4 × IAC-9) × (GO79-1039 × Paranagoiana) and 23 (IAC-4 × Santa Rosa) × (GO79-1039 × Tropical) were the most productive with high variability in F_2[4] and/or F_2:3[4] generations. Genotypic correlations measured were generally high, positive and consistent for the two generations except for those related to AV and YLD. These results indicate that the use of four-way crosses can be an efficient method to increase the genetic base of populations for recurrent selection or cultivar development. Significant AV × YLD correlations indicated visual selection can be used as additional selection criteria for improving populations. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Genetic Diversity for RFLPs in European Maize Inbreds

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) have been proposed for predicting the yield potential of different types of cross. Their has been evaluated in 15 flint and 12 dent inbreds from the European maize (Zea mays L.) germplasm as well as in 68 F₁ crosses (21 flint × flint, 14 dent × dent, and 33 flint × dent) produced between them. The materials were evaluated for F₁ performance and midparent heterosis of grain yield, dry matter content (DMC) and plant height in two environments in Germany. Genetic distances (GDs) between parental lines, calculated from RFLP data of 194 clone-enzyme combinations, showed greater means for flint × dent (0.67) than dent × dent (0.62) and flint × flint (0.55) crosses. Cluster analysis based on GDs resulted in a clear separation of flint and dent lines and agreed well with pedigree information. For the complete set of 64 crosses analyzed (excluding 4 crosses between closely related lines) correlations of GD with F₁ performance and heterosis were significant for all traits except F₁ performance of DMC. When separate calculations were performed for individual subjets of crosses, correlations of GD with Fl performance and heterosis were significantly positive (0.48 ≤ r ≤ 0.80) for all traits in the flint × flint crosses, but not significant for the subsets of flint × dent and dent × dent crosses. Our results confirm those of previous investigations in that the predictive value of RFLP data is restricted to crosses between lines from the same heterotic group, and cannot be applied to crosses between lines from genetically divergent heterotic groups.     

Breeding of transgenic rice restorer line for multiple resistance against bacterial blight, striped stem borer and herbicide

In this paper, we described the breeding of transgenic rice restorer line for multiple resistance against bacterial blight, striped stem borer (SSB) and herbicide by conventional crossing of two transgenic parental lines transformed independently with different genes. Two stable transgenic rice lines used as donor parents were developed, one was Zhongguo91 which contained cry1Ab gene (for insect resistance) and bar gene (for tolerance of herbicide), and the other was Yujing6 which contained Xa21 gene (resistance to bacterial blight). The elite restorer line Hui773 was used as recipient and crossed with the two stable transgenic rice lines. Then five successive backcrosses were made using Hui773 as recurrent parent. Two rice elite restorers, T773-1 expressing cry1Ab and bar genes and T773-2 expressing Xa21 gene, were obtained, which were confirmed by PCR analysis and testing selectable marker genes in the hybrid progenies. The cross was made between T773-1 and T773-2 to select stable restorer line carrying Xa21, cry1Ab and bar genes. Finally, we obtained transgenic restorer line T773 with good agronomic traits and obvious multiple resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, striped stem borer (Chilo suppressalis) and herbicide. The hybrid F₁ generation produced from the cross between transgenic restorer line T773 and a corresponding male sterile line Zaohua2A maintained obvious resistance to rice bacterial blight, rice leaffolder and striped stem borer, and showed significant heterosis. Our results indicate that it is feasible to develop transgenic hybrid rice cultivar through breeding transgenic restorer lines.     

Genetics of resistance to early blight (Alternaria solani Sorauer) in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.)

The genetic nature of early blight resistance in tomato was studied in three crosses at seedling and adult plant stages. A six generation mean analysis of the cross Arka Saurabh (susceptible) × IHR1939 (resistance) and its reciprocal cross revealed that the resistance to early blight was conferred by recessive polygenes at both seedling and adult plant stages. This polygenic early blight resistance revealed the importance of additive and additive × additive gene effects at seedling stage and higher magnitude of dominance and dominance× dominance gene effects at adult plant stage. Evaluation of parents, F₁, F₂ and backcross generations of IHR1816 (resistance) × IHR1939 (resistance) revealed that the early blight resistance genes in IHR1816 (Lycopersicon esculentum NCEBR-1) and IHR1939 (Lycopersicon pimpinellifolium L4394) are independent. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Diallel analysis of resistance to head blight caused by Fusarium culmorum in winter wheat

Summary Ten homozygous winter wheat genotypes representing different levels of resistance to Fusarium head blight were crossed in all possible combinations excluding reciprocals. Parents, F₁ and F₂ were inoculated with one pathogenic strain of Fusarium culmorum. Data for head blight, observed 21 days after first inoculation (OBS-2), and for the area under the disease progress curve, based on observations 14, 21 and 28 days after first inoculation (AUDPC), were analyzed. The contrast between parents and F₁ crosses indicated dommance effects of the resistance genes. Diallel analysis according to Griffing's Method 4, Model 1 showed significant general combining ability (GCA) effects for both F₁ and F₂; specific combining ability effects were not significant. With the exception of one genotype for which general performance for Fusarium resistance was not in agreement with its GCA, the resistance to F. culmorum was uniformly transmitted to all offspring, and the parents can be described in terms of GCA. It is suggested that in the progenies with one of the awned lines as parent, one resistance gene was linked with the gene coding for presence of awns, located on chromosome 4B. A single observation date, taken at the right time, was as effective in assessing resistance as the AUDPC.     

Selection for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phytophthora</Emphasis> field resistance in the F<Subscript>2</Subscript> generation of organic outdoor tomatoes

Tomatoes are the most important vegetable, globally as well as in Germany. Outdoor tomato production is seriously impaired due to increasing infections with evolving late blight (Phytophthora infestans) populations. Within organic agriculture, research is being conducted to develop regionally adapted and open pollinated cultivars of outdoor tomatoes with late blight field resistance. In the present experiment, three crosses, including wild, cocktail, and beefsteak tomatoes, were selected for field resistance against late blight in F₂ at one location per cross. The comparison of positive and negative selection in F₃ revealed the selection of single F₂ plants to be efficient in all three crosses. F₂ selection has proved to be a robust and efficient tool for breeding programs. The correlated response to selection in other traits, including yield, fruit weight, days to maturity, harvest period, and plant height, depended on the cross. It was evident that selection for desired traits combined with field resistance against late blight is promising, even in wide crosses. The most undesired attribute of wild tomatoes is the formation of shoots on leaves and in inflorescences. No correlation was observed between field resistance and shoot formation, allowing the selection of genotypes with improved field resistance and yield, but without morphological disadvantages.     

Resistance to common bacterial blight in Phaseolus vulgaris L. recombinant inbred lines under natural infection of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli

Among the main causes of poor yield in common beans are fungal, viral and bacterial diseases. Common bacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli (Xap), is one of the major bacterial diseases leading to significant losses in Brazil. Chemical control is ineffective, therefore, the use of resistant varieties becomes an interesting alternative. The objective of the present work was to evaluate disease resistance under natural infection of the pathogen in 109 recombinant inbred lines (F₇) of P. vulgaris originated from the cross HAB-52 (susceptible — snapbean) × BAC-6 (resistant — common bean) in two different environments, as well as to calculate genetic parameters to assist in the selection of promising materials to be used in the CBB resistance breeding program. The data of the genetic parameters were compared to those calculated for the F₃ generation originated from the same cross. The heritability results for DI (disease index) and VI (variation index) in F₃ were 26.85% and 0.26, respectively, whereas in F₇ they were 91.77% and 1.36, respectively. These results demonstrate a potential to be explored for this advanced population, that in the future, along with other pathogen variability studies and tests in other environments, may provide more information regarding a more precise evaluation of promising genotypes to be used in common bean breeding programs aiming to obtain CBB resistant varieties. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.