Review of integrated strategies for managing tobacco black shank in soilborne disease environments

Photo by Erfan Rg / Unsplash

Frontiers in Medicine Published May 28, 2026 Medically reviewed May 28, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

Key Takeaway

Note that tobacco black shank development is associated with direct pathogen infection and rhizosphere microecological imbalance.

This narrative review evaluates integrated strategies for managing tobacco black shank within soilborne disease environments. The scope encompasses crop rotation, biological control, rational chemical intervention, resistant cultivars, and reductive soil disinfestation. The authors do not report a specific sample size or follow-up duration for these agricultural practices.

The review synthesizes key findings regarding tobacco black shank development, noting it is associated with direct pathogen infection and rhizosphere microecological imbalance. Specific outcomes include decline of beneficial microbes, enrichment of opportunistic pathogens, reduced microbial diversity, and weakened soil suppressiveness. These factors are described as promoting pathogen persistence and disease recurrence. No quantitative effect sizes or p-values were reported in the source text.

The authors note that current evidence indicates tobacco black shank development is not only associated with direct pathogen infection but also with rhizosphere microecological imbalance. The review offers a theoretical basis for sustainable management of tobacco black shank. Safety data, tolerability, and discontinuations were not reported. The authors do not overstate the certainty of these findings.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedMay 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

Tobacco black shank (TBS), caused by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora nicotianae, is a destructive soilborne disease that seriously threatens tobacco production worldwide. This review summarizes recent progress in the infection biology of P. nicotianae, the disturbance of rhizosphere microbial communities under disease pressure, and integrated strategies for disease management. Current evidence indicates that TBS development is not only associated with direct pathogen infection, but also with rhizosphere microecological imbalance, including the decline of beneficial microbes, enrichment of opportunistic pathogens, reduced microbial diversity, and weakened soil suppressiveness. These changes may further promote pathogen persistence and disease recurrence. Based on this understanding, effective management should combine crop rotation, biological control, rational chemical intervention, resistant cultivars, and reductive soil disinfestation to suppress pathogen pressure while restoring soil microbial balance. Future research should further integrate multi-omics analysis, microbiome-based regulation, and intelligent monitoring to support early warning and precision control. This review provides an integrated perspective on pathogen–host–soil microbiome interactions and offers a theoretical basis for sustainable management of tobacco black shank.