SBARE Dry Bean Granting Committee

Holiday Inn, Fargo

Meeting Minutes

March 16, 2009

The meeting was called to order by Tim Courneya. Voting members present were Joe Mauch, Nick Kitsch, Scott Mund and Jim Sletten. Also present were Courneya and Lori Capouch.

Presentation of proposal (submitted for SBARE funding)

Root rot resistance and disease management of dry beans

Researchers: Rubella Goswami, Juan Osorno & Samuel Markell

Amount requested: $12,713

Root rot of dry bean has been a yield-limiting disease problem for growers in the Northarvest area for several years. This disease is known to be caused by a complex of pathogens. In North Dakota and Minnesota Fusarium solani was considered to be the most common causal agent of root rot followed by Rhizoctonia solani. However, recent findings have highlighted the ability of other Fusarium species to cause root rot in dry beans. Limited information is available about resistance to these pathogens in commercial varieties and upcoming germplasm. Therefore, over the past few years SBARE and Northarvest Growers Association has supported research in this area. Initial studies on these varieties involved development of an efficient green-house based screening method for resistance to Fusarium solani. This also resulted in the identification of potential sources of resistance within commercial lines that can be used in the breeding program. Durable resistance to root rot can only be achieved if researchers can bring together resistance to all the causal agents associated with the disease. Therefore, over the previous yea a set of twelve varieties representing dry beans belonging to the market classes commonly grown in North Dakota and Minnesota, namely pinto, kidney, navy, small-red, black and great northern that had previously been screened for resistance to F. solani were also screened for resistance to Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium graminearum under greenhouse conditions. The findings suggest that some varieties may have the resistance to more than one of these pathogenic species. This project aims at evaluating these varieties for resistance under field conditions where there is significant amount of disease pressure.

Funding Decisions

It was moved and seconded by to grant negotiated funding of up to $12,713 to the project titled “Root rot resistance and disease management of dry beans”.

The motion carried unanimously.

There being no further business, the committee meeting was adjourned.