Strategies for sustainable rice bacterial leaf blight management: a holistic approach through phage biocontrol and nanoparticle encapsulation

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) is a devastating disease of rice crop worldwide, caused by the incitant Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). In the recent past, the disease is mainly managed by various chemicals like copper fungicide and antibiotics which are deleterious to the environment and human health and are becoming less effective due to development of antibiotic resistance in Xoo pathogen. In the recent years, there has been growing interest in eco-friendly approaches for controlling Xoo pathogen, mainly by employing the use of bio-control agents, botanicals, bacteriophages and nano formulations as alternatives to chemical pesticides. Many successful experiments and comprehensive studies have reported the efficacy of these eco-friendly management of the disease. This review highlights the combined effect of phages and nanoparticles on the growth, biofilm formation and virulence of Xoo. In addition, this review paper insights the possible mechanisms and interactions of these bacterium and phages.