MPOB INVENTS BIOCONTROL INNOVATION TO TREAT GANODERMA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25  -- The Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) has developed a natural biocontrol innovation to cure the Ganoderma basal stem rot (BSR) disease. 

In a statement today it said the BSR is the most serious disease afflicting the Malaysian oil palm industry, and if left untreated, will result in massive losses, with the oil palm industry losing roughly RM1.5 billion per year.

“Endophytic bacteria is expected to minimise and delay the onset of the BSR disease, which contained specific antagonistic characteristics that are specifically important in controlling the disease,” MPOB director-general Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir said.

bootstrap slideshow

Ahmad Parveez said the innovation provides advantages to estates and plantation owners because the bacteria colonises the internal root system of the host, as well the above-ground plant root system. 

The colonisation of the endophytic bacteria is not influenced by environment parameters and can be initiated at the nursery stage and requires less application in the field contrary to the available non-endophytic microbial products, he added.

The research on the innovation was initiated in 2016 and completed this year. It was launched at the MPOB Transfer of Technology Seminar and Exhibition 2021.

bootstrap slideshow

-- BERNAMA