Bacterial Leaf Blight (Rice)
Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae
Basic Details
Description
Taxonomy
Features
Translations
Basic Details
NameBacterial Leaf Blight (Rice)
DescriptionBacterial leaf blight causes wavy, yellow-to-white streaks along rice leaf margins. Identify milky 'ooze' droplets to prevent 'kresek' wilting and total crop failure.
TypeBacteria
FamilyXanthomonadaceae
GenusXanthomonas
Taxonomy & Features
PhylumProteobacteria
ClassGammaproteobacteria
OrderXanthomonadales
Features
- One of the most destructive diseases of rice (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae) throughout Asia, especially in high-yielding varieties
- Characterized by water-soaked streaks that start at the leaf tip or margins and enlarge into long, wavy, yellowish-white lesions
- In the morning, milky-white or opaque bacterial 'ooze' droplets can be seen on the surface of young lesions
- The 'Kresek' stage: systemic infection in young seedlings causing sudden wilting, drying, and eventual death within 2-3 weeks of transplanting
- Severely infected leaves turn straw-yellow and die prematurely, resulting in poorly filled grains and brittle straw
- The bacteria thrive in warm (25-34°C) and highly humid conditions. Strong winds and heavy rain rapidly spread the pathogen across fields
- Pathogen enters the plant through natural openings (water pores/hydathodes) or through wounds caused by wind, insects, or transplanting
- Bacteria survive in weed hosts, irrigation water, and infected straw. It can also be seed-borne in some conditions
- Prevent by using certified disease-free seeds and resistant varieties (e.g., IR64). Ensure balanced nitrogen fertilization as excess nitrogen favors the disease
- Manage by improving field drainage and avoiding late planting. Copper-based bactericides or antibiotics (streptomycin) may be used for control
Names in Different Languages
Latin / ScientificXanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae
English (Alternate)Rice BLB
Hindiचावल का जीवाणु झुलसा (Chawal ka jivanu jhulsa)
Tamilநெல் பாக்டீரியா இலை கருகல் (Nel bacteria ilai karugal)
Teluguవరి బ్యాక్టీరియా ఆకు ఎండు తెగులు (Vari bacteria aku endu tegulu)
Malayalamനെല്ലിലെ ബാക്ടീരിയൽ ഇലവാട്ടം (Nellile bākṭīriyaal ilavāṭṭaṃ)
Kannadaಭತ್ತದ ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ಟೀರಿಯಾ ಎಲೆ ಕಮರು ರೋಗ (Bhattada byāktīriyā ele kamaru rōga)
Sanskritतण्डुल-जीवाणु-ग्लानि (Taṇḍula-jīvāṇu-glāni)
Bengaliধানের ব্যাকটেরিয়াল লিফ ব্লাইট (Dhaner bacterial leaf blight)
Frenchflétrissement bactérien du riz
Russianбактериальный ожог риса (bakterial'nyy ozhog risa)
Spanishtizón bacteriano del arroz
GermanBakterielle Blattbräune des Reises
