The importance of basal stem rot (BSR) infected stumps as foci of new infection is of considerable relevance to planting point sanitation. This was shown by results of a trial in which bait seedlings were planted at different levels of BSR points (Khairudin, 1990; Flood et al., 2000). Idris et al. (2004) reported that 87.5% of seedlings planted around diseased stumps (60 cm distance) left in the field became infected within two years. In contrast, only 37.5% of seedlings planted around sites, which has been excavated (1x1x1 m pit) to remove diseased stumps, became infected and none when diseased stumps have been excavated to a size of 1.5×1.5×1.5 m, 2x2x2 m and 2.5×2.5×2.5 m. Since tissues of the former stand of oil palms are the primary source of infection at replanting (Hasan and Turner, 1998), disease avoidance through sanitation is important. This paper reports the technique for reducing risk of Ganoderma infection in supply palms in areas with BSR incidence.

Main Research: Dr Idris Abu Seman