Abstract

Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a staple food for over half of the global population, plays a crucial role in meeting nutritional needs, particularly in Asia, often referred to as the world’s “Rice Bowl.” Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae poses a significant threat to rice production. In response to the destructive nature of the pathogen, a survey was conducted during the kharif 2023 in Ahmedabad, Tapi, Anand, Kheda and Navsari districts of Gujarat. The survey aimed to assess the incidence of bacterial leaf blight, providing crucial insights into the current status of the disease. Among all the surveyed districts highest per centage incidence (49.54%) of bacterial leaf blight was observed in Kheda followed by Tapi (48.73%), Ahmedabad (46.53%), Navsari (12.74%) and the lowest incidence per centage was recorded in Anand (22.57%).