Phaseolus vulgaris-Colletotrichum lindemuthianum Pathosystem in the Post-Genomic Era: An Update

Phaseolus vulgaris-Colletotrichum lindemuthianum is one among the oldest host and pathogen interface. Researchers have taken painstaking efforts across the world for understanding the dialogue during early and late phases of interaction. Collectively, these efforts resulted in the deluge of information that helped the researchers to underpin the interface. The latest molecular biology techniques furnished novel detection methods for the anthracnose pathogen, refined the understanding of pathogen population dynamics, and provided the insights on co-evolutionary common bean resistance and C. lindemuthianum virulence dynamics. One of the important breakthroughs came when the Phaseolus vulgaris and its corresponding anthracnose pathogen (C. lindemuthianum) genomes were decoded in 2014 and 2017, respectively. Availability of both the genomes yielded a significant genomic information that helped bean communities to fine map the economically important traits and to identify the pathogenicity determinants and effector molecules. The interface is in a continuous development as knowledge of the anthracnose resistance genes, their precise physical locations, and the identification of effector proteins; the fungus arsenals are being routinely updated. Hence, we revisited the interface and tried to provide an overview of host pathogen dialogue in the genomic era. Additionally, we compiled the sporadic information on this pathosystem from India and provided its futuristic road map to shape its research in the world and northern India, the major dry bean area in the country.