WITHDRAWN: Rice Pests and Diseases Around the World: Who, Where and What Damage Do They Cause?

Abstract

Rice stands as one of the most important staple crops for nearly half of the world’s population. Its productivity is pivotal in ensuring global food security, yet pests and diseases are one of the most important constraints. Despite its paramount significance, a comprehensive overview of the primary pests and diseases affecting rice worldwide has not been previously undertaken. This systematic review, following PRISMA guidelines and drawing upon three online databases (PubMed, WOS, and CAB Abstract), enabled the identification of distribution patterns of these pests and diseases across the globe. From an initial pool of 13.983 articles, exclusion criteria were applied, resulting in 838 final articles. Given that rice cultivation primarily occurs in Asia and Africa, it's unsurprising that the majority of documented pests and diseases are found on these continents. In Africa, the genera Diopsis, Maliarpha and Chilo are the most important pests affecting rice productivity, while in Asia the most important are Nilaparvata, Scirpophaga, Sogatella, Chilo, Cnaphalocrocis, Sesamia, and Nephotettix genera, demonstrating different pests under a continent overview. Regarding diseases, in Africa, the fungi Pyricularia, the bacteria Xanthomonas and the virus Sobemovirus are the most significant. In Asia, the fungal genera Fusarium, Pyricularia, Rhizoctonia, Bipolaris, Curvularia, Ustilaginoidea, Alternaria, and Sarocladium, and bacteria Xanthomonas, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, and Burkholderia are the most frequently reported. These findings reveal distinct geographic patterns in the distribution of rice pests and diseases, implying the development of specific regional management guidelines. In terms of yield loss, the most severe fungi are Pyricularia and Bipolaris, responsible for blast and brown spot diseases, respectively. Both occur in Africa and Asia and affect different parts of the plant, with Bipolaris being more evident on the leaves. A big concern restricted to Africa is the Sobemovirus (causing rice yellow mottle virus), which can lead to yield losses of up to 100%, primarily affecting the leaves. This study significantly contributes to identifying global rice pests and diseases, assessing their current distribution patterns and evaluating their effects on future rice productivity. Furthermore, it highlights the overlooked reporting of studies in Africa, despite the region’s significance in rice cultivation and production.