MPOB has introduced the Integrated Ganoderma Management (IGM) which incorporates biological control by using micro-organism antagonist against basal stem rot (BSR) or Ganoderma disease (Idris,2011). Studies by several researchers have shown that many species of beneficial microorganisms including actinomycetes, bacteria and fungi have the ability to effectively suppress plant diseases. Actinomycetes are a group of microorganisms which produce secondary metabolites with biological activities such as antibiotic, anti-fungal, anti-viral, plant growth factors, enzymes and enzymes inhibitor (Berdy, 2005). The filamentous gram positive bacteria are inhabiting the soil (Kim et al., 1998) and rhizosphere (Sardi et al., 1992). They are widely distributed in the natural ecosystem (Srivinasan et al., 1991).

Main Research: Dr Idris Abu Seman