Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

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Rice bacterial leaf blight (418)

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Photo 1. Bacterial leaf blight of rice, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, as it appears in the field.

Photo 2. Pale yellow-whitish streaks of bacterial leaf blight, Xanthomonas oryze pv. oryzae, showing wavy margins.

Photo 3. Droplets oozing from infected rice leaves, containing Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the bacterial leaf blight pathogen.

Photo 4. Crust on rice leaves of dried droplets containing bacterial leaf blight, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae.

Summary

• Widespread. Asia, Africa, North, South, Central America, Europe, Oceania. In Australia, Fiji.
• Important disease of rice, causing regular epidemics. Wild grasses are hosts.
• Bacteria enter natural openings and wounds, moving in water conducting tissues, causing streaks with wavy margins – yellowish-white (seedlings), pale yellow (older plants) - joining together, resulting in wilts, drying and death. Droplets ooze from streaks leaving crusts. Spread with irrigation water, wind and rain, possibly seed. Survival in seed, and weeds.
• Biosecurity: import only bacteria-free certified seed, and subject to closed quarantine.
• Cultural control: use certified seed, or select seed from healthy plants; do not clip seedling leaves; do not apply excessive N; ensure good drainage (flooding allows infection); weed (especially Leersia species); plough stubble after harvest; fallow fields to destroy bacteria; use resistant varieties - available in Africa and Asia.
• Chemical control: not effective for this disease.

Common Name

Rice bacterial leaf blight; also known as rice leaf blight.

Scientific Name

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Different strains exist in Japan and the Philippines and, importantly, differences exist between strains in Asia and Africa.

This mini fact sheet is a part of the app Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds

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