Biological control agents such as endophytic bacteria have gained significance in suppressing and controlling plant disease. Endophytes have been isolated from several hosts, such as oil palm (Zaiton et al., 2007) and banana (Pan et al., 1997). The capability of colonising host tissue has made endophytic bateria valuable as a tool to improve crop performance. The efficacy of bacteria from the genera Burkholderia in controlling Ganoderma boninense, the casual agent of basal stem rot (BSR) of oil palm was reported (Sapak et al., Idris et al., 2010; Bivi et al., 2010). Pure culture of the endophytic bacterium Burkholderia isolated from oil palm has the capability of suppressing G.boninense in vitro and in a nursery trial (Maizatul and Idris, 2009). 

Main Research: Maizatul Suriza Mohammed