The disease bacterial blight is caused by the hemibiotroph Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) and ranks among the biggest threats for rice production. Xoo strains are equipped with diverse sets of transcription-activator like effectors (TALes) that induce the ectopic overexpression of SWEET transporters and redirect the sugar flux towards the site of the pathogen. While many key factors in the Xoo – Rice interaction have been identified, several missing links and major open questions remain to be answered to address future breeding goals. During this PhD project, I attempt to identify regulatory factors for SWEET expression, understand the impact on overall carbon allocation and elucidate possibly divergent infection mechanisms of African and Asian Xoo strains.