SCREENING OF COMMON BEAN GENOTYPES FOR RESISTANCE AGAINST Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli IN KAKAMEGA COUNTY, KENYA

Purpose: To screen nine available bean genotypes for resistance to common bacterial blight disease under green house and field conditions.Methodology: Experiments were conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications in a 9×2×2 factorial factor of 9 bean genotypes, grown in sterile or non-sterile soil and inoculated or non-inoculated (control) during the greenhouse and a 9×2 field screening of 9 bean genotypes, and inoculated or non-inoculated. During growth, data on plant height number of pods per plant, length of pods and size and number ofCBB spots was taken. Yield parameters were also assessed.Findings: The findings from the experiment revealed a significant variation (P<0.05) on the entire traits studied among the nine bean genotypes. Data from the field and greenhouse experiments were in conformity. None of the evaluated genotype was immune to CBB. In the green house, it was observed that disease symptoms were severe in beans planted in non-sterile soil and inoculated with Xap compared to those planted in sterile soil and non-inoculated respectively.Contribution to practice and policy: There was a strong positive correlation between size and number of CBB spots and growth and yield parameters. CAL77 and Cal 156A genotypes exhibited high levels of resistance to CBB which could improve the bean yields resulting to sufficient food supply, improved nutrition, health and improvement of the source of income to the local communities