A number of abiotic (unfavorable high and low temperature; nutritional imbalance etc.) and biotic factors such as fungi, bacteria, mycoplasma, insects and nematodes affecting the quantity and quality of the produce are known to attack cereal Among the biotic factors, the diseases caused by fungi and bacteria are economically more important because they cause heavy yield losses to the crops. Bacterial diseases are gaining importance during the recent years with several reports of emerging phytobacterial pathogens. One of them is Dickeya zeae, causing bacterial soft rot disease in Kharif sown cereals, rice and maize. The pathogen infection is typically characterized by tissue disintegration accompanied by alcoholic smell. The pathogen is aggressive especially during the monsoon season in Punjab.