Effect of mixed cropping of water yam (Dioscorea alata) on Ganoderma disease of oil palm

Abstract

Basal stem rot caused by a soil-borne fungus, Ganoderma boninense, is one of the most severe diseases in monoculture oil palm plantations. The effect of mixed cropping with water yam on infection and inoculum potential of Ganoderma boninense on oil palm seedlings was assessed under a pot experiment. Plant inoculation with rubber woodblock (RWB)-colonized Ganoderma induced disease on both mixed cropped hosts (multiple host infection), but with less severe root necrotic and less plant mortality relative to inoculation on a single oil palm host. Inoculum potential of the pathogen was reduced under mixed cropping, as shown by more considerable RWB decay than a single host, and the fungal survival was suppressed to be 55% for 12 months trial. Water yam mixed cropping did not interfere with the growth of the inoculated oil palm seedling. This study revealed the multiple host infection under mixed cropping with water yam suppressed damage caused by Ganoderma boninense to oil palm as the primary host.

The suppression of Ganoderma boninense on oil palm under mixed planting with taro plants

“…has a wide range of host plants, all woody plants (Loyd et al 2018). Previous studies also demonstrated that G. boninense could cause infection in non-woody plants such as ginger, galangal, Java turmeric (Suwandi et al 2023), and water yam (Fadli et al 2023). The taro plant infection confirms the pathogen's cosmopolitan nature in using diverse lignin sources, from herbaceous to woody plants.…”

“…The highest RWB decay occurred in the inoculated susceptible Indralaya taro. Increased RWB decay was also observed in mixed oil palm plantings with other susceptible hosts, such as galangal (Suwandi et al 2023) and water yam (Dioscorea alata) (Fadli et al 2023). Ganoderma boninense degrades RWB, a lignin and cellulose-rich food base crucial for initiating oil palm infection (Rees et al 2007).…”

An In-Depth Study of Phytopathogenic Ganoderma: Pathogenicity, Advanced Detection Techniques, Control Strategies, and Sustainable Management

“…Fungal survival is suppressed, and oil palm seedling growth remains unaffected. Mixed cropping shows promise as a strategy to control G. boninense damage in oil palm plantations [ 417 ]. Molecular studies revealed the involvement of protein-coding genes and non-coding RNAs in the interaction between G. boninense and oil palm.…”

“…A talc-based formulation with Trichoderma reesei , Pseudomonas fluorescens , and neem cake significantly reduced the disease index. Mixed cropping with water yam suppressed G. boninense infection in oil palm seedlings, showing potential for disease management [ 417 , 473 ]. In the lower Assam districts of India, Ganoderma disease caused by G. lucidum is highly prevalent, with an incidence rate of up to 55%.…”