The threat of Ganoderma, the causal agent of basal stem rot (BSR) disease to the oil palm industry in Malaysia warrants new and more aggressive approaches in Tfinding solution to this disease. The situation is more critical with the active replanting of second generation of oil palm which is currently being carried out in some plantations including areas with bad history of Ganoderma. Correct techniques of land preparation at the time of oil palm replanting are regarded as an important practice for controlling the BSR disease. These control strategies are based on observations that infection occurs by mycelial spread through root to root contact. Although the clean clearing technique gave lower disease incidence in oil palm replanting compared to windrowing and underplanting (Khairudin, 1990), it was however not entirely satisfactory in reducing the disease incidence. Incidence as high as 2.8%-32.4% was reported despite the adoption of this technique (Singh, 1990). Since tissues of the former stand of oil palms are the primary source of infection at replanting, disease avoidance through sanitation is important. This paper reports the efficacy of sanitation in the old oil palm stands for controlling BSR disease during replanting.

Main Research:  Dr. Idris Abu Seman