# Bacterial vector-borne plant diseases: global issues caused by three-way interactions

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how bacteria spread by insects harm plants, affecting agriculture and food security.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of insect-bacteria-plant interactions and highlights gaps in understanding.

## Key findings

- Insect-transmitted bacteria infect many plant species, threatening agriculture.
- Understanding of insect-bacteria-plant interactions is less advanced than virus systems.
- Current management strategies and future research directions are discussed.

## Abstract

Plant vascular tissues offer a unique habitat for piercing-sucking insects and the pathogens they carry. These insect-borne bacteria can infect thousands of plant species, threatening agriculture and food security. However, our understanding of their interactions with insect vectors and plant hosts is limited compared with that of the virus-vector-plant system, hindering the development of eco-friendly disease control methods. This review highlights recent findings on interactions between insects, plants, and key bacterial pathogens, including Xylella fastidiosa, Spiroplasmas, Phytoplasmas, and Liberibacters. We also discuss current management strategies and future directions.