Virulence variation and RAPD polymorphism in African isolates of Phaeoisariospis griseola (Sacc.) Ferr., the causal agent of angular leaf spot of common bean

Fifty four isolates of Phaeoisariopsis griseola, the agent of common bean angular leaf spot disease from the Great Lakes Region of Africa, were characterised according to their virulence behaviour and their molecular patterns. Virulence properties were revealed through the inoculation of 29 genotypes of Phaseolus vulgaris, Phaseolus coccineus and Phaseolus polyanthus. Differences in reaction types revealed high variability among these isolates. Most of them, even when collected within the same location, showed differences in their respective reactions on many plant genotypes. For molecular typing, RAPD amplifications were performed for each isolate using five random primers. Isolates with different patterns were collected within one region. Simultaneously, similar molecular patterns were found in isolates collected at different sites. However, the average of molecular similarity, based on the percentages of shared bands for each isolates pair, was higher among isolates collected within one site. No direct correlation between molecular pattern and pathotype was observed.