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Sixty-eight Rhizoctonia solani isolates (31 AG-1, 37 of AG-2-2) associated with web blight (WB) of common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, were examined for sequence variations in the ITS-5.8S rDNA region. The isolates were collected in bean-growing lowland and mountainous regions in Central and South America. Sequences of these isolates were aligned with other known R. solani sequences from the NCBI GenBank and distance and parsimony analysis were used to obtain phylogenetic trees. WB isolates of AG-1 formed two clades separated from known AG-1 subgroups. WB isolates of AG-2-2 formed one clade separated from known AG-2-2 subgroups. Other isolates belonged to AG-1 IA and AG-1 IB. Based on phylogenetic analysis, we confirmed that at least five genetically different subgroups incite WB of common beans. Three new subgroups of R. solani have been identified and designated as AG-1 IE, AG-1 IF and AG-2-2 WB. DNA sequences of these isolates provided needed information to design taxon-specific primers that can be employed in ecological/epidemiological studies and seed health tests. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]