Temporal Changes Analysis of Soil Properties Associated with Ganoderma boninense Pat. Infection in Oil Palm Seedlings in a Controlled Environment

Abstract

Basal stem rot (BSR) disease of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) spreads through the contact of the plant roots with Ganoderma boninense (G. boninense) Pat. inoculum in the soil. The soil properties can be altered by growing seedlings with or without G. boninense inoculum. In the early stage of infection, the symptoms are difficult to detect. Therefore, an understanding of the environmental soil conditions of the plant is crucial in order to indicate the presence of the fungus. This paper presents an analysis of the temporal changes of the soil properties associated with the G. boninense infection in oil palm seedlings. A total of 40 seedlings aged five months were used in the study, comprising 20 inoculated (infected seedlings: IS) and 20 control (healthy seedlings: HS) seedlings. The seedlings were grown in a greenhouse for six months (24 weeks) under a controlled environmental temperature and humidity. The data of the soil moisture content (MC in %), electrical conductivity (EC in µS/cm), and temperature (T in °C) for each seedling were collected daily using three MEC10 soil sensors every hour and then transferred to the ThingSpeak cloud using a 3G Internet connection. Based on the results, the mean MC and EC showed a decreasing trend, while the mean T showed an increasing trend in both HS and IS during the six-month monitoring period. The overall mean in both the monthly and weekly analysis of MC, EC, and T was higher in HS than IS. However, in the monthly analysis, a Student’s t-test at a 5% significance level showed that only the soil MC and EC were significantly different between HS and IS, while in the weekly analysis, HS was significantly different from IS in all parameters. This study suggests that soil MC, EC, and T can be used as indicators of the G. boninense infection, especially for the weekly data.

Classification of basal stem rot using deep learning: a review of digital data collection and palm disease classification methods

“…Furthermore, healthy seedlings were significantly different from infected seedlings in all parameters in the weekly analysis, according to a Student’s t-test at a 5% significance level. The results of this study suggested that soil MC, EC, and T could be used as indicators of G. boninense infection, particularly for weekly data ( Aziz et al, 2021 ).…”

“… Aziz et al (2021) detected G. boninense infection in oil palm seedlings using electrical properties. The data for soil moisture content (MC in percent), electrical conductivity (EC in S/cm), and temperature (T in °C) were collected daily using an IoT approach in which the readings from MEC10 (Dalian Endeavour Technology Co., Ltd., Dalian, China) soil sensors were transferred to the ThingSpeak cloud every hour over a 6-month monitoring period using a 3G Internet connection.…”

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

“…Several studies have been conducted to investigate the pathogenicity mechanisms, molecular characteristics, and genetic makeup of G. boninense . These studies have explored various aspects, including genomics [ 14 ], metabolomics [ 21 ], soil properties [ 16 ], gene expression [ 89 , 195 ], transformation protocols [ 196 , 197 ], and the role of specific genes and enzymes [ 175 , 198 , 199 ]. By gaining insights into the pathogenicity of G. boninense , researchers aim to develop effective strategies for disease control and to identify potential resistance genes in oil palm [ 200 ].…”

“…Ganoderma species break down complex organic compounds, releasing nutrients into the ecosystem and facilitating the recycling of The pathogenicity mechanisms employed by Ganoderma species involve the secretion of various enzymes and toxins that facilitate the invasion and destruction of host tissues, including ligninases, cellulases, proteases, laccases, phytotoxins, and secondary metabolites such as ganoderic acids [14,15]. Furthermore, environmental factors, such as temperature, humidity, and soil characteristics, are critical in Ganoderma infection and disease development [16,17]. Understanding these factors' influence is essential for designing and implementing effective disease management strategies.…”

Mathematical Model of Basal Stem Rot (BSR) Disease Spread in Oil Palm Plants

“…When initially infected by the Ganoderma sp. fungus, oil palm plants have no symptoms at all, but when the infection has developed to 60-70%, symptoms begin to appear, characterized by rotting at the base of the tree trunk, then causing inhibition of water and nutrient supply to all parts of the tree which causes the tree to gradually die (Aziz et al, 2021)).…”