“…Oil palm is currently grown in optimal climatic conditions and has been for many decades (Corley & Tinker, 2015; Paterson, 2018a, 2018b, 2018c, 2019a, 2019b, 2020;Paterson et al., 2015; Paterson & Lima, 2018). The increase in BSR previously reported (Ariffin, Idris, & Singh, 2000; Flood, Hasan, Turner, & O`Grady, 2000; Lisnawita & Tantawi, 2016; Merciere et al., 2017; Paterson et al., 2013) will not be as a result of increased susceptibility of OP from less suitable climate, but partly from increased virulence of the fungus (Paterson, 2019a, 2019b). Repeated cropping of OP will also increase BSR especially in old plantations.…”