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Streptocycline

Streptocycline is an antibiotic bactericide formulation widely used in Indian agriculture against bacterial diseases of rice, citrus, cotton and solanaceous crops. It combines streptomycin sulphate and tetracycline hydrochloride in a 9:1 ratio.

Composition / Active ingredient

  • Composition: Streptomycin sulphate 90% + Tetracycline hydrochloride 10%
  • Chemical class: Aminoglycoside + Tetracycline antibiotic combination
  • Common brands: Streptocycline (Hindustan Antibiotics), KMYCIN (Katyayani) and generics

Mode of action

Both components are bacterial protein synthesis inhibitors acting at different ribosomal sites:

  • Streptomycin binds the 30S ribosomal subunit, causing misreading of mRNA and incorrect protein assembly.
  • Tetracycline binds the 30S subunit at a different site, blocking aminoacyl-tRNA from binding the A site and halting peptide chain elongation.

The combination delivers synergistic activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial plant pathogens. Once absorbed by the plant, it is systemic and rain-fast.

Target use and dose

Recommended dose is 1.5-2 g/L water (about 40 g + 350-450 g copper oxychloride per hectare); a common per-acre rate is 6 g/acre against bacterial wilt in chilli and BLB in paddy. Target diseases:

  • Paddy: bacterial leaf blight (BLB; Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae)
  • Citrus: canker (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri)
  • Cotton: bacterial blight (angular leaf spot)
  • Solanaceous crops: bacterial wilt of tomato, brinjal, chilli

A standard BLB tank-mix is 50 g streptocycline + 200 g copper oxychloride per acre (Input Copper Oxychloride) for synergistic bactericidal cover.

Safety and regulatory status

The use of human-medicine antibiotics in agriculture is under increasing regulatory scrutiny worldwide due to antimicrobial resistance concerns. Streptocycline must be applied judiciously, only at clear disease threshold; cultural measures (resistant varieties, balanced N, clean seed) should be the first line of BLB management.

See also: Input Copper Oxychloride, Bordeaux Paste Orchard Wounds, Mancozeb Carbendazim Saaf.

References

  1. Management of Bacterial Leaf Blight in Rice/Paddy. BigHaat Kisan Vedika.
  2. KMYCIN — Streptomycin Sulphate 90% + Tetracycline Hydrochloride 10%. Katyayani Organics.