Insights into comprehensive review of research on canker disease management for sustainable citrus production

Bacterial citrus canker, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri of the Xanthomonadaceae family, is one of the most destructive diseases of citrus worldwide. Citrus, the third most important fruit crop globally, continues to face severe production challenges despite advances in agricultural technology. Among the five recognized variants of citrus canker, the Asiatic strain (canker A) is the most widespread and damaging. Infections result in dieback, leaf loss, fruit blemishes, premature fruit drop, and reduced fruit quality. Disease spread is favored by high humidity, warm temperatures, strong winds, and rainfall, leading to significant yield losses. Current management strategies primarily include quarantine, sanitation, and copper-based bactericides. However, the repeated use of copper compounds has caused the emergence of resistant strains and environmental concerns such as soil pollution. Consequently, alternative and sustainable control measures are urgently needed. This review synthesizes current knowledge on citrus canker, including pathogen diversity, host–pathogen interactions, molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity, and epidemiology. It highlights the role of xanthan and biofilm formation in disease development and discusses phylogenetic insights that improve understanding of strain variability. Special attention is given to elite endophytic bacteria as potential biocontrol agents and their contribution to integrated disease management. Advancements in biological control strategies offer promising, eco-friendly alternatives to chemical treatments. By compiling recent findings, this review provides a comprehensive perspective on citrus canker management and identifies research gaps to guide future studies aimed at sustainable citrus production. Supplementary Material File (pm-citrus canker-review-25.docx) - Download - 874.34 KB Information & Authors Information Version history Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License.

Authors Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 144views 76downloads Citations Download citation Mareeswari Petchimuthu, Shanmuga Priya Vadivel, N. Revathy, et al. Insights into comprehensive review of research on canker disease management for sustainable citrus production. Authorea. 18 September 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175819180.00699744/v1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.175819180.00699744/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu.