Chilo suppressalis is a notorious pest that attacks rice, feeding throughout the entire growth period of rice and posing a serious threat to rice production worldwide. Due to the boring behavior and overlapping generations of C. suppressalis, the pest is difficult to control. Moreover, no rice variety with high resistance to the striped stem borer (SSB) has been found in the available rice germplasm, which also poses a challenge to controlling the SSB. At present, chemical control is widely used in agricultural production to manage the problem, but its effect is limited and it also pollutes the environment. Therefore, developing genetic resistance is the only way to avoid the use of chemical insecticides. This article primarily focuses on the research status of the induced defense of rice against the SSB from the perspective of immunity, in which plant hormones (such as jasmonic acid and ethylene) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play an important role in the immune response of rice to the SSB. The article also reviews progress in using transgenic technology to study the relationship between rice and the SSB as well as exploring the resistance genes. Lastly, the article discusses prospects for future research on rice’s resistance to the SSB.

Streptomyces scabies is a Gram-positive bacterial pathogen that causes common scab disease to several crops, particularly in the potato. It is a soil borne pathogen, a very devastating scab pathogen and difficult to manage in the field. Streptomyces has several species that cause common scab such as S. scabiei, S. acidiscabies, S. europaeiscabiei, S. luridiscabiei, S. niveiscabiei, S. puniciscabiei, S. reticuliscabiei, S. stelliscabiei, S. turgidiscabies, S. ipomoeae. Common scab disease harmfully affects potato economic and market value due to the presence of black spots on the tuber. Owing to its genetic diversity and pathogenicity, the determination of pathogen presence in potato fields is still challenging. In this study, S. scabies genetic diversity was measured by surveying five potato-growing areas of Pakistan during the growing season 2019. A total of 50 Streptomyces isolates, including S. scabies, S. acidiscabies, S. griseoflavus were isolated and identified based on morphologic, biochemical and molecular analysis. Virulent confirmation assays confirmed ten virulent strains of Streptomyces spp. On the potato cultivars Cardinal and Santee. Among the Streptomyces species, S. scabies showed the highest scab index, followed by S. acidiscabies and S. griseoflavus by exhibiting the scab-like lesions on potato tubers. Ten potato cultivars were screened against these virulent isolates of Streptomyces. The Faisalabad white variety showed the highest scab index followed By Cardinal, Tourag, Kuroda, Santee, Lady Rosetta, Asterix, Diamant, Faisalabad red and Sadaf. Moreover, genetic diversity and pathogenicity of Streptomyces spp. on potato tubers were also likely diverse in different geographical regions and also potato cultivars. This study represents a contribution to understanding the local interaction between potatoes and Streptomyces spp. in Pakistan. It will aid in supporting a solution for the management of this pathogen around the world.

Rice (Oryza sativa) is a crucial staple crop for global food security, particularly in Asia. However, rice production faces significant challenges from various diseases that can cause substantial yield losses. This review explores the role of genetic resistance in rice disease management, focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying plant–pathogen interactions and strategies for developing resistant varieties. The paper discusses qualitative and quantitative resistance, emphasizing the importance of resistance (R) genes, defense-regulator genes, and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in conferring broad-spectrum disease resistance. Gene-for-gene relationships in rice–pathogen interactions are examined, particularly for Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and Magnaporthe oryzae. The review also covers recent advancements in breeding techniques, including marker-assisted selection, genetic engineering, and genome editing technologies like CRISPR-Cas. These approaches offer promising avenues for enhancing disease resistance in rice while maintaining yield potential. Understanding and exploiting genetic resistance mechanisms is crucial for developing durable and broad-spectrum disease-resistant rice varieties, essential for ensuring sustainable rice production and global food security in the face of evolving pathogen threats and changing environmental conditions.

The phyllosphere, comprising the aerial portions of plants, is a vibrant ecosystem teeming with diverse microorganisms crucial for plant health and productivity. This review examines the functional roles of phyllosphere microorganisms in rice (Oryza sativa), focusing on their importance in nutrient uptake, disease resistance, and growth promotion. The molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions are explored along with their potential applications in enhancing sustainable rice production. The symbiotic relationships between rice plants and their associated microorganisms are highlighted, offering insights into improved agricultural practices. Furthermore, this review addresses the challenges and future developments in translating laboratory findings into practical applications. By synthesizing current research, this comprehensive analysis serves as a valuable resource for leveraging phyllosphere microbes in rice farming and related fields.

Rice sheath blight (RSB), caused by Rhizoctonia solani, causes 10–50% yield losses globally. Using 16S rRNA sequencing of 100 rice cultivars, we found that resistant varieties harbor significantly more diverse bacterial communities (3230 OTUs; 2064 unique) than susceptible cultivars (599 OTUs; 36 unique). Resistant varieties were enriched in beneficial Burkholderiaceae, Bacillaceae, and Pseudomonadaceae, while Sphingobacteriaceae and Enterobacteriaceae were predominant in the susceptible rice varieties. From the 260 bacterial isolates, Burkholderia vietnamiensis J14EPLEAF2 presented potent antifungal activity (77% inhibition), suppressed lesion development, and abolished sclerotia formation. This strain displayed multiple plant growth-promoting traits, enhanced seed germination, and primed defense responses by upregulating PR5 and PR10. Hypersensitive response assays confirmed B. vietnamiensis as non-pathogenic, unlike B. gladioli and B. cepacia. This study identifies B. vietnamiensis J14EPLEAF2 as a promising, safe biocontrol agent for sustainable rice disease management.