Can beneficial microbes protect oil palm from Ganoderma boninense

Dorothy Sarim, . (2013) Can beneficial microbes protect oil palm from Ganoderma boninense. [Proceedings Paper]

The soil has a complex diverse microbial ecosystem that existed long before agriculture became industrialised. When the diverse above ground ecosystem is destroyed and monoculture is put in its place a radical change will also take place in the below ground microbial ecosystem. It is made worse further depletion by the indiscriminate use of agricultural chemicals be it the inorganic fertilisers pesticides herbicides fungicides etc. When more soil microorganisms which were beneficial to plants are wiped out by the over use of agricultural chemicals plant pathogens such as Ganoderma boninense the causal agent of oil palm;s basal rot stem BSR start to occupy the space that was once occupied by the beneficial microorganisms making the soil ;toxic; to the plants. One strategy that should be adapted to overcome this is by restoring the soil microbial ecosystem. The plant;s first line of defence to suppress soil-borne pathogens is the beneficial microbes that live symbiotically in the rhizosphere root-area. Studies have shown that complex microbial networks in the soil have prevented weak pathogens from breaching this space and moving up to infect the oil palm roots. The primary functions of these beneficial microbes are to solubilise mobilise nutrients and biologically fix atmospheric nitrogen ensuring good growth that will enable the palms to better withstand diseases. Unlike many plants the oil palm relies on mycorrhizae fungi to increase the surface area for nutrient absorption. Although studies have also shown that artificial inoculation for Mycorrhizae has not stopped the progress of G. boninense the infection was delayed significantly when compared to untreated palms. This will provide another proactive barrier to the palms against G. boninense whilst the use of chitin products directly attack potential invasion from G. boninense. One of the many defence-related enzymes produced by plants is chitinase. Chitinolytic microbes a component of complex microbial ecosystem in presence of chitin will secrete chitinase that will convert chitin to chitosan. Fungi including G. boninense have a coating of chitin that gives them their shape. Chitinase will puncture this coating. Individually an introduced complex-diverse microbial ecosystem mycorrhizae and chitin chitinase may not be able to withstand G. boninense in depleted infertile soils. Used together they are a very good holistic strategy to combat G. boninense.

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Abstract

The soil has a complex diverse microbial ecosystem that existed long before agriculture became industrialised. When the diverse above ground ecosystem is destroyed and monoculture is put in its place a radical change will also take place in the below ground microbial ecosystem. It is made worse further depletion by the indiscriminate use of agricultural chemicals be it the inorganic fertilisers pesticides herbicides fungicides etc. When more soil microorganisms which were beneficial to plants are wiped out by the over use of agricultural chemicals plant pathogens such as Ganoderma boninense the causal agent of oil palm;s basal rot stem BSR start to occupy the space that was once occupied by the beneficial microorganisms making the soil ;toxic; to the plants. One strategy that should be adapted to overcome this is by restoring the soil microbial ecosystem. The plant;s first line of defence to suppress soil-borne pathogens is the beneficial microbes that live symbiotically in the rhizosphere root-area. Studies have shown that complex microbial networks in the soil have prevented weak pathogens from breaching this space and moving up to infect the oil palm roots. The primary functions of these beneficial microbes are to solubilise mobilise nutrients and biologically fix atmospheric nitrogen ensuring good growth that will enable the palms to better withstand diseases. Unlike many plants the oil palm relies on mycorrhizae fungi to increase the surface area for nutrient absorption. Although studies have also shown that artificial inoculation for Mycorrhizae has not stopped the progress of G. boninense the infection was delayed significantly when compared to untreated palms. This will provide another proactive barrier to the palms against G. boninense whilst the use of chitin products directly attack potential invasion from G. boninense. One of the many defence-related enzymes produced by plants is chitinase. Chitinolytic microbes a component of complex microbial ecosystem in presence of chitin will secrete chitinase that will convert chitin to chitosan. Fungi including G. boninense have a coating of chitin that gives them their shape. Chitinase will puncture this coating. Individually an introduced complex-diverse microbial ecosystem mycorrhizae and chitin chitinase may not be able to withstand G. boninense in depleted infertile soils. Used together they are a very good holistic strategy to combat G. boninense.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Malaysia. SB608 O27M939 2013 Call Number.
AGROVOC Term:	Oil palm
AGROVOC Term:	Plant disease control
AGROVOC Term:	Biological control
AGROVOC Term:	Ganoderma
AGROVOC Term:	Pathogenic fungi
AGROVOC Term:	Rots
AGROVOC Term:	Soil microorganisms
AGROVOC Term:	Microbial ecology
AGROVOC Term:	Enzymes
AGROVOC Term:	Chitosan
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:15
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/13226

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