Les agents phytopathogènes telluriques constituent un problème majeur touchant les productions serricoles de concombre (Cucumis sativus L.) et de tomate (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Les traitements biologiques efficaces sont limités pour lutter contre ces agents pathogènes. Cette étude avait pour objectifs d’évaluer (1) l’effet antagoniste in vitro de Bacillus pumilus Meyer et Gottheil souche PTB180 et Bacillus subtilis (Ehrenberg) Cohn souche PTB185 envers Rhizoctonia solani J.G. Kühn, Pythium ultimum Trow, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, Phytophthora capsici Leonian, Fusarium oxysporum Schltdl. et F. oxysporum f.sp. radicis-lycopersici Jarvis & Shoemaker, (2) l’effet répresseur d’une application préventive des bactéries sur la pourriture du collet et la fonte des semis causées par R. solani, sur concombre ou tomate en serre et (3) l’effet des bactéries sur la croissance et la productivité des plants de tomate cultivés en serre. Lors des essais in vitro, PTB180 et PTB185, utilisés seuls et en mélange (1:1), ont fortement inhibé la croissance mycélienne des six agents phytopathogènes. Sur plantules de concombre et de tomate, le mélange (1:1) des deux souches a permis une réduction significative (p<0,05) de la sévérité des symptômes de la pourriture du collet. PTB185 et le mélange (1:1) des deux souches ont augmenté significativement la hauteur et la masse sèche des plants infectés par R. solani. Les essais sur graines de tomate montrent que PTB180 a augmenté significativement le taux de levée des graines et que PTB185 a réduit significativement la mortalité post-levée tout en favorisant la croissance des plantules. Les tests réalisés sur plants de tomate sains n’ont pas montré d’effet significatif de PTB180 et PTB185 sur la croissance et la productivité des plants. Les bactéries à l’étude pourraient éventuellement représenter une alternative aux fongicides de synthèse pour lutter contre les agents phytopathogènes.

Root rot diseases of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are a problem wherever they are grown, and are a major constraint to dry edible and snap bean production. Root rot is a primary yield limitation of snap bean production in the US, especially within the top three snap bean producing states of Wisconsin, Oregon and New York. Bean root rot pathogens will be present by the end of the first season even when starting with clean ground. The decline in yield can be relatively slow, so growers might not notice or appreciate the hidden yield cost associated with root rot disease. Traditional methods for disease control such as fungicides, crop rotations, cover crops, seedbed preparations have been proven ineffective (either physically ineffective or economically unviable) against root rot. Therefore, genetic resistance is needed. In order to address the need for genetic resistance to root rot in snap beans, the highly root rot resistant line RR6950, a small seeded black indeterminate type IIIA accession of unknown origin, was crossed with OSU5446, a highly root rot susceptible determinate type I blue lake four-sieve breeding line to produce the RR138 recombinant inbred mapping population. In this study we evaluated the RR138 RI population in the F₆ generation for resistance to Fusarium solani root rot in Oregon and Aphanomyces euteiches root rot in Wisconsin. We also evaluated this population for morphological traits and root structural traits including pod height, pod width, pod length, pod wall thickness, strings, seed color, flower color, tap and basal root diameter, and root angle measurements. The RR138 population was also genotyped on the 10K BeanCAP Illumina Beadchip. The Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) data was used to assemble a high-density linkage map and Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) for phenotypic data were evaluated. The linkage map produced from this study contained 1,689 SNPs across 1,196cM. The map was populated with 1 SNP for every 1.4cM, spanning across 11 linkage groups. Three QTL associated with A. euteiches root rot resistance were consistently expressed in 2011 and 2012 trials. A. euteiches QTL were found on Pv02, Pv04, and Pv06 and accounted for 7-17% of total genetic variation. Two QTL associated with F. solani were found in 2011 trial on Pv03 and Pv07, account for 9 and 22% of total genetic variation, respectively. We also found several QTL for morphological traits and root structural traits including QTL for pod fiber and pod height on Pv04, pod length on Pv01, strings on Pv01, taproot diameter on Pv05, and shallow basal root angle on Pv05, accounting for 21, 26, 12, 20, 11, and 19% of total genetic variation, respectively. QTL discovered from Oregon data for F. solani resistance did not cluster with QTL for A. euteiches root rot resistance. "SNP0928_7", was highly associated with F. solani resistance on Pv07 and "SNP0508_2", was highly associated with A. euteiches on Pv02. QTL and markers associated with QTL from this study will be of value to snap bean breeders developing root rot resistant lines with processing traits, and provide more information about targeting the mechanism of resistance. / Graduation date: 2013

A demanda por óleos vegetais tem sido crescente, principalmente para utilização como fonte de energia renovável na forma de biodiesel. Somando-se a isso, a podridão vermelha das raízes da soja (PVR), ou síndrome da morte súbita, causada pelo fungo Fusarium solani f.sp. glycines, tornou-se uma doença preocupante para os sojicultores, técnicos e pesquisadores, sendo uma estratégia recomendada a adoção de um sistema de controle integrado em que a utilização de cultivares tolerantes é um componente indispensável. Assim, este trabalho teve por objetivo verificar a possibilidade de se reunir em uma mesma planta de soja genes para alta produtividade de óleo e para tolerância a PVR. O sistema genético compreendeu um dialelo parcial 7x7, envolvendo sete genitores com alta produtividade de óleo e sete genitores tolerantes a PVR. A maioria dos genitores compreendeu linhagens experimentais desenvolvidas no Setor de Genética Aplicada às Espécies Autógamas (ESALQ/USP). Os experimentos envolveram as plantas F2, na safra 2008/2009 e progênies F2:3, na safra 2009/2010, para avaliação de caracteres agronômicos, do teor de óleo e produtividade de óleo em campo experimental; já a avaliação da reação a PVR foi realizada em progênies F2:4, em casa de vegetação com inoculação artificial do patógeno, por meio de uma escala de notas para a severidade dos sintomas radiculares. Além disso, por meio de marcadores microssatélites fez-se um estudo de genética de associação entre os marcadores e os caracteres reação a PVR e teor de óleo em três populações. Os resultados evidenciaram a existência de variabilidade nos genitores e nas progênies para todos os caracteres avaliados. O genitor com a maior capacidade geral de combinação e média de teor de óleo foi a cultivar A 7002; por outro lado, os menores valores foram verificados em PI 520733 e IAC 100. Os cruzamentos mais produtivos em óleo foram aqueles que envolveram o genitor A 7002, exceto quando este foi cruzado com IAC 100. Dez cruzamentos (USP 70004 com USP 14-10-38, USP 14-01-20, USP 14-13-16 e M-Soy 8001; USP 14-10-38 com USP 70057 e USP 70080; M-Soy 8001 com USP 70006, USP 70080 e USP 70123; e USP 14-01-20 x USP 70006) destacaram-se por originar a maioria de suas progênies com as melhores características em todos os caracteres, ou seja, apresentaram ciclo precoce ou semi-precoce, altura média, plantas eretas e com valor agronômico bom ou médio, alta produtividade de grãos e de óleo, alto teor de óleo e tolerância a PVR. Nenhum cruzamento originou a maioria de suas progênies com as piores características em todos os caracteres. Teor de óleo apresentou baixa correlação genética com altura da planta na maturidade, acamamento, valor agronômico, produtividade de grãos e reação a PVR. PVR apresentou baixa correlação genética com acamamento, produtividade de grãos, teor de óleo, produtividade de óleo; entretanto, foi possível obter progênies com alta produtividade de grãos e de óleo e tolerantes a PVR. Os marcadores microssatélites mostraram-se polimórficos e, foram associados dois locos SSR ao caráter teor de óleo e outros dois locos ao caráter reação a PVR. / The demand for vegetable oils has increased, mainly because of its use as a renewable energy source like biodiesel. Moreover, the sudden death syndrome (SDS) in soybean, caused by the fungus Fusarium solani f.sp. glycines, has become a worrying disease for soybean producers, technicians and researchers, and the adoption of an integrated control system using tolerant cultivars as an essential component has been a recommended strategy. This work aimed to verify the possibility of gathering genes for high oil yield and tolerance to SDS in the same soybean plant. The genetic system comprised a partial diallel 7x7 involving seven parents with high oil yield and seven parents tolerant to SDS. Most of the parents were experimental lines developed at the Sector of Genetics Applied to Self-Pollinated Species (ESALQ/USP). The 2008/2009 trials involved the F2 plants, and the 2009/2010 trials involved the evaluation of F2:3 progenies traits, such as agronomic characters, oil content and oil yield in the experimental field; whereas the analysis of the SDS reaction was tested in F2:4 progenies, in a greenhouse with artificial inoculation of the pathogen through a rating scale for severity of radicular symptoms. Moreover, a study of genetic association among microsatellite markers and the characters reaction to SDS and oil content in three populations was performed. The results showed the existence of variability in parents and progenies for all characters. The parent who had the highest general combining ability and average oil content was the cultivar A 7002; on the other hand, the lowest values were found in PI 520733 and IAC 100. The crosses that originated the best oil content progenies have involved the parent A 7002, except when it was crossed with IAC 100. Ten crosses (USP 70004 with USP 14-10-38, USP 14-01-20, USP 14-13-16 and M-Soy 8001; USP 14-10-38 with USP 70057 and USP 70080; M-Soy 8001 with USP 70006, USP 70080 and USP 70123; USP 14-01-20 x USP 70006) distinguished from the others by originating the majority of their progenies with the best features in all traits, in other words, showed early and semi-early maturity, medium height, upright plants, good or average agronomic value, high grain and oil yield, high oil content and tolerance to SDS. None of the crosses originated the majority of their progeny with the worst characteristics in all traits. Oil content showed low genetic correlation with plant height at maturity, lodging, agronomic value, yield and reaction to SDS. SDS showed a low genetic correlation with lodging, grain yield, oil content, oil yield. However, it was possible to obtain progenies with high grain and oil yield and tolerance to SDS. The microsatellite markers were polymorphic and, moreover, two SSR loci were associated with the character oil content and other two loci to the character SDS reaction.

No description available.

Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium spp. are aggressive soil-borne fungal pathogens responsible for seed rot and seedling damping-off of many crops. With increased environmental and public concern over the use of chemicals, biological control of these diseases has been attracting more attention. However, success with this strategy depends on the development of effective antagonists, which requires repeated in vitro and in vivo tests. Bacillus spp. were isolated from a soil sample obtained from a field where sorghum and tef had been grown for at least two years. Potential Bacillus isolates were screened for their ability to inhibit in vitro growth of R. solani and Pythium sp. Among 80 isolates tested, endospore forming Bacillus spp. H44 and H51 gave highest antifungal activity against the two test-pathogens in three consecutive tests. Results demonstrated that both H44 and H51 have potential as biocontrol agents against diseases caused by these two pathogenic fungi. The interaction between three isolates of Trichoderma (T. harzianum Eco-T, Trichoderma spp. SY3 and SY4) and Pythium sp. were investigated using in vitro bioassays together with environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). Visual observation on the dual culture tests revealed that hyphal growth of Pythium was inhibited by these antagonists soon after contact between the two organisms within 3-4 days of incubation. The ESEM investigations showed that all three isolates of Trichoderma grew toward the pathogen, attached firmly, coiled around and penetrated the hyphae of the pathogen, leading to the collapse and disintegration of the host's cell wall. Degradation of the host cell wall was postulated as being due to the production of lytic enzymes. Based on these observations, antibiosis (only by Eco-T) and mycoparasitism (by all three isolates) were the mechanisms of action by which in vitro growth of Pythium sp. was suppressed by these Trichoderma isolates. The reduction of seedling diseases caused by R. solani and a pythium sp. were evaluated by applying the antagonists as seed coating and drenching antagonistic Bacillus spp. (B81, H44 and H51) and Trichoderma (T. harzianum Eco-T and Trichoderma spp. SY3 and SY4). On both crops, R. solani and Pythium sp. affected stand and growth of seedlings severely. With the exceptions of H51, applications all of isoltes to seeds reduced damping-off caused by R. solani in both crops. Application of Eco-T, H44 and SY3 to sorghum controlled R. solani and Pythium sp. effectively by yielding similar results to that of Previcur®. On tef, biological treatments with Eco-T and SY4 reduced seedling damping-off caused by R. solani and Pythium sp., respectively, by providing seedling results similar to the standard fungicides, Benlate® and Previcur®. Most other treatments gave substantial control of the two pathogens on tef. Overall, Bacillus sp. H44 and T harzianum Eco-T were the best biocontrol agents from their respective groups in reducing damping-off by the two pathogens. In all instances, effects of application method on performance of biocontrol agents and adhesive on emergence and growth of seedlings were not significant. A field trial was conducted at Ukulinga Research Farm at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, to determine efficacy of biological and chemical treatments on growth promotion and reduction of damping-off incited by R. solani and Pythium sp., and to evaluate the effects of a seed coating material, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), on seedling emergence and disease incidence. Seeds of sorghum and tef were treated with suspensions of antagonistic Bacillus H44 or T harzianum Eco-T, or sprayed with fungicides, Benlate® or Previcur®. Application of Benlate® and Previcur® during planting significantly increased the final stand and growth of sorghum seedlings. Seed treatments with both H44 and Eco-T substantially controlled damping-off caused by Pythium, resulting in greater dry weights of seedlings than the standard fungicide. However, they had negative effects when they were tested for their growth stimulation and control of R. solani. The CMC had no significant effect on germination and disease levels. These results showed that these antagonists can be used as biocontrol agents against Pythium sp. However, repeated trials and better understanding of the interactions among the antagonists, the pathogens, the crop and their environment are needed to enhance control efficiency and growth promotion of these antagonists. Some of these biocontrol agents used in this study have the potential to diseases caused by R. solani and Pythium sp. However, a thorough understanding of the host, pathogen, the antagonist and the environment and the interactions among each other is needed for successful disease control using these antagonists. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

A demanda por óleos vegetais tem sido crescente, principalmente para utilização como fonte de energia renovável na forma de biodiesel. Somando-se a isso, a podridão vermelha das raízes da soja (PVR), ou síndrome da morte súbita, causada pelo fungo Fusarium solani f.sp. glycines, tornou-se uma doença preocupante para os sojicultores, técnicos e pesquisadores, sendo uma estratégia recomendada a adoção de um sistema de controle integrado em que a utilização de cultivares tolerantes é um componente indispensável. Assim, este trabalho teve por objetivo verificar a possibilidade de se reunir em uma mesma planta de soja genes para alta produtividade de óleo e para tolerância a PVR. O sistema genético compreendeu um dialelo parcial 7x7, envolvendo sete genitores com alta produtividade de óleo e sete genitores tolerantes a PVR. A maioria dos genitores compreendeu linhagens experimentais desenvolvidas no Setor de Genética Aplicada às Espécies Autógamas (ESALQ/USP). Os experimentos envolveram as plantas F2, na safra 2008/2009 e progênies F2:3, na safra 2009/2010, para avaliação de caracteres agronômicos, do teor de óleo e produtividade de óleo em campo experimental; já a avaliação da reação a PVR foi realizada em progênies F2:4, em casa de vegetação com inoculação artificial do patógeno, por meio de uma escala de notas para a severidade dos sintomas radiculares. Além disso, por meio de marcadores microssatélites fez-se um estudo de genética de associação entre os marcadores e os caracteres reação a PVR e teor de óleo em três populações. Os resultados evidenciaram a existência de variabilidade nos genitores e nas progênies para todos os caracteres avaliados. O genitor com a maior capacidade geral de combinação e média de teor de óleo foi a cultivar A 7002; por outro lado, os menores valores foram verificados em PI 520733 e IAC 100. Os cruzamentos mais produtivos em óleo foram aqueles que envolveram o genitor A 7002, exceto quando este foi cruzado com IAC 100. Dez cruzamentos (USP 70004 com USP 14-10-38, USP 14-01-20, USP 14-13-16 e M-Soy 8001; USP 14-10-38 com USP 70057 e USP 70080; M-Soy 8001 com USP 70006, USP 70080 e USP 70123; e USP 14-01-20 x USP 70006) destacaram-se por originar a maioria de suas progênies com as melhores características em todos os caracteres, ou seja, apresentaram ciclo precoce ou semi-precoce, altura média, plantas eretas e com valor agronômico bom ou médio, alta produtividade de grãos e de óleo, alto teor de óleo e tolerância a PVR. Nenhum cruzamento originou a maioria de suas progênies com as piores características em todos os caracteres. Teor de óleo apresentou baixa correlação genética com altura da planta na maturidade, acamamento, valor agronômico, produtividade de grãos e reação a PVR. PVR apresentou baixa correlação genética com acamamento, produtividade de grãos, teor de óleo, produtividade de óleo; entretanto, foi possível obter progênies com alta produtividade de grãos e de óleo e tolerantes a PVR. Os marcadores microssatélites mostraram-se polimórficos e, foram associados dois locos SSR ao caráter teor de óleo e outros dois locos ao caráter reação a PVR. / The demand for vegetable oils has increased, mainly because of its use as a renewable energy source like biodiesel. Moreover, the sudden death syndrome (SDS) in soybean, caused by the fungus Fusarium solani f.sp. glycines, has become a worrying disease for soybean producers, technicians and researchers, and the adoption of an integrated control system using tolerant cultivars as an essential component has been a recommended strategy. This work aimed to verify the possibility of gathering genes for high oil yield and tolerance to SDS in the same soybean plant. The genetic system comprised a partial diallel 7x7 involving seven parents with high oil yield and seven parents tolerant to SDS. Most of the parents were experimental lines developed at the Sector of Genetics Applied to Self-Pollinated Species (ESALQ/USP). The 2008/2009 trials involved the F2 plants, and the 2009/2010 trials involved the evaluation of F2:3 progenies traits, such as agronomic characters, oil content and oil yield in the experimental field; whereas the analysis of the SDS reaction was tested in F2:4 progenies, in a greenhouse with artificial inoculation of the pathogen through a rating scale for severity of radicular symptoms. Moreover, a study of genetic association among microsatellite markers and the characters reaction to SDS and oil content in three populations was performed. The results showed the existence of variability in parents and progenies for all characters. The parent who had the highest general combining ability and average oil content was the cultivar A 7002; on the other hand, the lowest values were found in PI 520733 and IAC 100. The crosses that originated the best oil content progenies have involved the parent A 7002, except when it was crossed with IAC 100. Ten crosses (USP 70004 with USP 14-10-38, USP 14-01-20, USP 14-13-16 and M-Soy 8001; USP 14-10-38 with USP 70057 and USP 70080; M-Soy 8001 with USP 70006, USP 70080 and USP 70123; USP 14-01-20 x USP 70006) distinguished from the others by originating the majority of their progenies with the best features in all traits, in other words, showed early and semi-early maturity, medium height, upright plants, good or average agronomic value, high grain and oil yield, high oil content and tolerance to SDS. None of the crosses originated the majority of their progeny with the worst characteristics in all traits. Oil content showed low genetic correlation with plant height at maturity, lodging, agronomic value, yield and reaction to SDS. SDS showed a low genetic correlation with lodging, grain yield, oil content, oil yield. However, it was possible to obtain progenies with high grain and oil yield and tolerance to SDS. The microsatellite markers were polymorphic and, moreover, two SSR loci were associated with the character oil content and other two loci to the character SDS reaction.

<p dir="ltr">Reflectance spectroscopy has been increasingly used in forestry due to its ability to rapidly, efficiently, and non-destructively detect tree stress, enabling timely and cost-effective forest management decisions. This dissertation synthesizes three studies and five experiments to understand and improve our ability to use spectral data to estimate a variety of foliar physiochemical traits and identify spectral responses in multi-stress environments, thus, advancing our understanding and application of hyperspectral data in forest management.</p><p dir="ltr">The first study seeks to refine the hyperspectral approach to monitoring tree stress by selecting optimal wavelength ranges to enhance the estimation of foliar traits, such as CO₂ assimilation rate, specific leaf area, leaf water content, and concentrations of foliar nitrogen, sugars, and gallic acid. The study revealed that model performance varied significantly across the different wavelength ranges tested and consistently, including longer wavelength regions improved trait estimation for all traits modeled. This research also established a framework for discovering novel or previously unknown absorption features associated with functional traits, thereby laying the groundwork for expanded spectral applications. This advancement enables the estimation of diverse foliar traits and facilitates detailed stress detection in trees.</p><p dir="ltr">The second study focuses on assessing the effectiveness of hyperspectral data in estimating foliar functional trait responses to various biotic and abiotic stressors and to differentiate those stressors in black walnut (<i>Juglans nigra </i>L.) and red oak (<i>Quercus rubra</i> L.) seedlings. We demonstrated that spectral data can reliably estimate a wide range of foliar traits, highlighting its potential as a surrogate for reference data in understanding plant responses to stress. This research revealed that spectral leaf predictions can effectively provide stress-specific insights into tree physiochemical responses to biotic and abiotic stressors.</p><p dir="ltr">The third study explores the application of hyperspectral reflectance to identify drought-induced foliar responses in black walnut seedlings during their initial field establishment. Chemometric models developed from greenhouse experiments were applied to spectral data collected in the field to assess their transferability and accuracy in predicting various leaf traits under drought stress. Using only spectral data, we demonstrated that seedlings show distinct spectral responses to past and ongoing drought stress, with varying degrees depending on seed provenances. This research aims to provide practical insights for utilizing spectral analysis in real-world conditions and understanding the challenges of using spectral tools in the field.</p><p dir="ltr">Collectively, this dissertation demonstrates the robust potential of hyperspectral reflectance technology in advancing the monitoring of tree health. By optimizing spectral range selection, reliably estimating tree foliar traits under stress conditions, differentiating various stressors in controlled environments, and effectively detecting current and past drought stress in field conditions, this research offers valuable insights for improving forest health monitoring and management strategies in response to environmental challenges.</p>

Fusarium root rot (FRR) disease, caused by the fungus Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli (FSP), is an important soil-borne disease reducing common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) yields, and hence food security, in Uganda and elsewhere in developing countries where the crop is grown without fungicides. The key aim of this study was to elucidate the significance of bean root rot (BRR), appraise methods for screening germplasm for resistance to FRR, determine the genotypic variability of resistance, and the inheritance of resistance to FRR in common bean. This information was deemed useful in devising an appropriate strategy for breeding FRR resistance in beans. A participatory rural appraisal (PRA) was conducted in south-western and eastern Uganda to ascertain farmers’ awareness of BRR and their influence on preferred bean varieties. Bean root rot is considered to be the most devastating and most recognised disease, especially in south-western Uganda. Control measures for BRR were very minimal, and in some cases, non-existent. Use of resistant varieties to control the disease was not evident, because the most popular varieties were susceptible to the disease. The resistant bean varieties currently available have undesirable characteristics such as small seed size, black seed and late maturity. Large-seeded bean varieties, even though cited as being more susceptible to BRR than the small-seeded varieties, are still very popular. The study highlighted the need for breeding FRR resistance in the large-seeded bean varieties that are highly preferred by farmers. Four isolates of FSP (FSP-1, FSP-2, FSP-3 and FSP-4) were tested for pathogenicity under screenhouse and laboratory conditions. In addition, three methods of storing and maintaining the viability of FSP isolates were appraised. The isolate FSP-3, was found to be the most pathogenic, resulting in 100% disease incidence on all bean varieties tested, with high severity scores. The potato dextrose agar (PDA) slants stored at 5oC were found to be the best method of storage for pathogenic isolates. The FSP-3 isolate was subsequently utilised for screening bean lines for resistance to FRR. The influence of soil composition, irrigation frequency, and inoculation technique on the severity of FRR was studied on six bean lines. Interactions of irrigation frequency, soil composition, and bean lines were not significant. The 50% swamp soil:50% forest soil composition and forest soil alone categorized the varieties most distinctly according to their reaction to FRR. Also, the best distinct classification for the varieties was obtained under treatments that were watered daily and once in a week. Based on economic considerations, the standard forest soil and daily irrigation were subsequently adopted for screening bean germplasm for resistance to FRR. It was also found that sorghum seed as a medium for pathogen inoculation was better than the agar slurry medium. One hundred and forty seven common bean varieties were evaluated for resistance to FRR (isolate FSP-3) under screenhouse conditions. In order to confirm this resistance, 46 common bean lines selected from the screenhouse trial were further evaluated using natural inoculum in a BRR-infested field. Forty-four varieties comprising ten large-seeded, four medium-seeded and 30 small-seeded varieties showed moderate resistance to FRR; but none were resistant or immune to the disease. Based on adaptability, eight moderately resistant varieties were selected for use as parents in the study of inheritance of resistance to FRR. A 12 x 12 diallel mating design was utilised to develop 66 F1 and F2 populations, plus their reciprocal crosses, with the aim of studying the mode of inheritance of resistance to FRR. The F1 and F2 progeny evaluations showed that FRR resistance was mainly governed by additive genes in most populations. However, there were a few crosses which displayed highly significant specific combining ability (SCA) effects, implying that dominant effects were important in some populations. Maternal effects were also highly significant at both the F1 and F2 generations, suggesting that resistance was modified by cytoplasmic genes. The non-maternal effects were also significant in some populations, suggesting that the cytoplasmic genes were interacting with nuclear genes. The number of genes governing resistance to FRR varied from two to nine among the eight sources of resistance. The allelism test of resistant x resistant populations, and the observation of continuous distributions of severity scores, suggested the presence of many loci governing FRR resistance in beans. Broad sense heritability of disease resistance varied from 0.22-0.69, while heritability in the narrow sense was estimated as 0.35-0.49 in the populations. These results suggested that selection and backcrossing to both parents would be the best breeding procedures for improving resistance in the popular large-seeded bean varieties in Uganda. However, there could be complications in breeding for resistance to FRR in beans, because resistance was modified by cytoplasmic gene effects and their interaction with nuclear genes in some of the populations. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.