Evaluation of Organic Amendments as Eco-Friendly Alternatives for Controlling Rice Bacterial Leaf Blight
- Publicado
- Servidor
- Preprints.org
- DOI
- 10.20944/preprints202607.0011.v1
Bacterial leaf blight (BLB), caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo), is a devastating vascular disease affecting global rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation, leading to severe yield losses. Over-reliance on synthetic antibiotics and chemical pesticides has accelerated environmental degradation and led to the emergence of pathogen resistance. This study evaluated the efficacy of sustainable organic amendments as alternative bactericides. The pathogen was isolated from infected Basmati-370 plants at the SKUAST-Jammu research farm and confirmed via morphological characterization, Gram’s staining, and pathogenicity trials. In vitro screening using the poisoned food technique evaluated three organic extracts (Neem Seed Kernel Extract [NSKE], Neem Organic Extract [NOE], and Banana Peel Extract [BPE]) at 10%, 15%, and 20% concentrations against Xoo. In vivo pot trials assessed a combination of seed-dip and foliar spray applications at a 10% concentration. In vitro results demonstrated that 10% NSKE completely suppressed Xoo growth, mirroring the efficacy of the positive control (Streptomycin sulphate), while BPE exhibited negligible inhibition. In greenhouse experiments, 10% NSKE reduced disease incidence to 16.2% and disease severity to 12.9%, compared to 30.9% incidence and 24.1% severity in the untreated control. NOE also showed significant protection, reducing incidence to 18.8% and severity to 15.3%. These findings demonstrate that neem-based derivatives, particularly NSKE, are powerful, eco-friendly alternatives to chemical antibiotics for the sustainable management of BLB in rice ecosystems.