Management of Rice Phytopathogens through Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Plant diseases cause massive losses in rice production and may impede progress toward food security goals. Biological control is the most environmentally friendly and safest method of phytopathogen management. By interacting with plant roots and soil microbes, rhizospheric bacteria can influence plant development and health. The most frequent symbiotic mycorrhiza is endotrophic arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). AM symbiosis plays significant part in boosting plant growth improvement and resilience to abiotic and biotic stresses. In this chapter, we looked at the role of AM in relieving various biotic stresses in the rice crop. Rice is a vital agricultural crop that feeds more than half of the world's populace. Plant diseases play a significant role in the production of rice, having a substantial impact on earnings. In the biological approach to reducing the adverse impacts of phytopathogens, using various arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) or AMF-based consortiums would be the best alternative. Rice is primarily grown in wetland settings, which have anaerobic circumstances that make AMF survival challenging. The interaction between AMF and rice is impacted by soil pathogens. Dehne studied the patterns of AMF colonization and root pathogens within similar host and observed that they frequently invade discrete cortical cells, signifying space rivalry. Mycorrhiza engage with soil in various ways, generating alterations in the microbial population in rhizosperic zones. Bacterial leaf blight caused by Xanthomonas oryza epvoryzae is currently one of the most serious problems in lowland rice. This disease reduces yield by 30%-40%.