Bacteriophages as a Sustainable Tool for Plant Disease Management: Benefits and Challenges

Bacterial diseases cause significant economic losses and pose a major challenge to global crop yields. These diseases reduce yields and affect food security, particularly for small-scale farmers in developing regions. Post-harvest losses also contribute to resource waste, soil degradation, and deforestation. Conventional management strategies, such as synthetic fungicides and antimicrobials, raise concerns about environmental sustainability, human health, and pathogen resistance. Bacteriophages—viruses that selectively infect bacterial pathogens—offer a highly specific and eco-friendly alternative for disease management both post-harvest and pre-harvest, reducing the need for chemical pesticides throughout the plant lifecycle. This review examines bacteriophage biology, advantages over traditional treatments, and challenges to their application. Phages effectively target pathogens such as Pectobacterium, Xanthomonas, Xylella, Clavibacter, and Dickeya, while preserving beneficial microorganisms. Key challenges include bacterial resistance, regulatory hurdles, and phage stability under environmental conditions. Advances in phage genomics, bioengineering, and formulation have enhanced viability and efficacy, supporting phages as promising biocontrol agents. Integrating phage therapy with other eco-friendly strategies may improve effectiveness further. Future research should focus on optimizing production, refining regulations, and large-scale field studies to ensure practical feasibility. Addressing these issues will help bacteriophages contribute significantly to sustainable plant disease management and global food security.