Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) production in Southeast Asia, particularly Malaysia and Indonesia, is threatened by a pathogenic fungi, Ganoderma boninense. Infected oil palm debris left to rot in plantations is an important source of inoculum for the pathogen. Root contact with unattended infected debris is known to be the primary source of infection that spreads in the soil. In general, numerous methods have been utilised for the management of basal stem rot (BSR) disease in oil palm plantations, including cultural techniques, mechanical, chemical and biological controls, but with little success (Idris, 2011). The oil palm biomass provides a substrate for the breeding of pest such as rhinoceros beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros) and serves as a source of Ganoderma sp. inoculum, to initiate basal stem rot infection. An alternative approach has been adopted by utilising wood degrading fungi to accelerate biomass degradation and minimise the inoculum of Ganoderma during replanting of oil palm.
Main researcher: Dr. Yuvarani Naidu
E-mail: yuvarani@mpob.gov.my