Under glasshouse conditiones, the effect of drought stress on the incidence and severity of antracnosis, caused by C. gloeosporioides, in S. guianensis var. guianensis CIAT 136, var. pauciflora CIAT 1283 and in S. capitata CIAT 1315 was evaluated; at the same time, the different morphological and physiological response of the three ecotypes under deficiency of water in the soil and pathogen pressure were studied. The ecotypes of Stylosanthes studies not only tolerate dehydration (- 26 bares) but also shoved important mechanisms of morphological adaptation that they have to avoid it. The additive effect of stress caused by antracnose in drought conditions affected the persistence of more susceptible ecotypes.