Development of plant-based emulsion formulations to control bacterial leaf blight and sheath brown rot of rice.

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) and sheath brown rot (SBR), caused by pv. (Xoo) and , respectively, are bacterial diseases that lead to substantial yield losses in rice. Natural plant-based products represent a sustainable alternative to combat bacterial diseases due to their biodegradability and overall safety. However efficient ways of delivering them are crucial to their success. In an attempt to maximize the antibacterial properties of botanical bactericides for the control of these pathogens, this study evaluated the efficiency of different emulsion formulations of extracts. The emulsion formulations were demonstrated to be effective in controlling BLB and SBR of rice in plate assays and under glasshouse conditions. The observed inhibition of the bacterial pathogens and significant disease suppression indicate that these plant extract formulations represent promising alternatives to be adopted in management strategies for controlling rice diseases.