Ganoderma boninense: general characteristics of pathogenicity and methods of control

Abstract

Ganoderma boninense (G. boninense) is a soil-borne fungus threatening oil palm at the present. It causes basal stem rot disease on oil palm. Within six months, this fungus can cause an oil palm plantation to suffer a significant 43% economic loss. The high persistence and nature of spread of G. boninense in soil make control of the disease challenging. Therefore, controlling the pathogen requires a thorough understanding of the mechanisms that underlie pathogenicity as well as its interactions with host plants. In this paper, we present the general characteristics, the pathogenic mechanisms, and the host’s defensive system of G. boninense. We also review upcoming and most promising techniques for disease management that will have the least negative effects on the environment and natural resources.

Pathogenicity of monokaryotic and dikaryotic mycelia of Ganoderma boninense revealed via LC–MS-based metabolomics

“…Malaysia has the second largest oil palm plantations (about 5.8 million hectares) worldwide and produces more than 19.5 million tons of palm oil, which contribute approximately USD 16 billion to Malaysia export revenue 7 . G. boninense is a hemibiotroph that causes the basal stem rot (BSR) disease of oil palm that is characterized by the gradual decay of the roots, bole and trunk tissues of the oil palm, which then progresses to palm toppling 8 , 9 . It was estimated that G. boninense may infect 860,610 ha of mature oil palms by 2040, adversely impacting the economy 9 .…”

“…G. boninense is a hemibiotroph that causes the basal stem rot (BSR) disease of oil palm that is characterized by the gradual decay of the roots, bole and trunk tissues of the oil palm, which then progresses to palm toppling 8 , 9 . It was estimated that G. boninense may infect 860,610 ha of mature oil palms by 2040, adversely impacting the economy 9 . G. boninense , therefore, is an economically devastating pathogen that must be controlled.…”

“…Ganoderma boninense is known to undergo a complex life cycle that includes the monokaryotic and dikaryotic stages 9 . The monokaryotic stage involves the formation of vegetative and non-infectious mycelium (monokaryon) from basidiospores, followed by the dikaryotic stage where fusion of compatible mating types takes place to form the infectious dikaryotic mycelium (dikaryon) 9 . The resulting dikaryon colonizes and infects the roots and basal stem of the oil palm 6 , 9 .…”

“…The monokaryotic stage involves the formation of vegetative and non-infectious mycelium (monokaryon) from basidiospores, followed by the dikaryotic stage where fusion of compatible mating types takes place to form the infectious dikaryotic mycelium (dikaryon) 9 . The resulting dikaryon colonizes and infects the roots and basal stem of the oil palm 6 , 9 . The pathogenicity of dikaryotic G. boninense to oil palm is established, typically through pathogenicity assays performed using both monokaryotic and dikaryotic mycelia of G. boninense on germinated seeds and oil palm seedlings 6 .…”

ANTIFUNGAL VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC) FROM A STRAIN OF Fusarium foetens AGAINST Ganoderma boninense

“…effective in reducing the incidence of G. boninense infection and infestation in healthy, mature oil palm trees (Khoo and Chong, 2023;Nur-Rashyeda et al, 2023). However, its efficacy decreases when faced with melanised mycelium, basidiospores, and pseudosclerotia of G. boninense (Susanto et al, 2005).…”