Methods for the control of soybean bacterial pustule disease

Soybean bacterial pustule disease, caused by the pathogen Xanthomonas citri pv. glycines(Xcg), is a recurring issue in soybean cultivation, leading to substantial reductions in yield and quality. Outbreaks have been documented in key soybean-producing regions, including the United States, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, China, and India.This review compiles reported methods for managing Xcg. Control efficacies exceeding 60% have been achieved with the commercial antibiotic oxytetracycline, the bacterial biocontrol agents Pseudomonas parafulva JBCS1880 and Curtobacterium sp. M84, and the natural compounds Biochanin A and thymol. Extracts from Hericium erinaceus and shiitake mushrooms have demonstrated inhibition of Xcg growth in vitro, though their application in planta remains untested. Breeding also emerges as an effective strategy, with resistant soybean varieties significantly reducing disease incidence in the Republic of Korea and the United States. However, data on Chinese soybean cultivars resistant to bacterial pustule disease are scarce. In China, management currently depends heavily on toxic antibiotics, with oxytetracycline being the sole commercially available option among the reported agents.