IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science

PAPER • OPEN ACCESS

Incidence of basal stem rot disease of oil palm in converted planting

areas and control treatments
To cite this article: H Priwiratama et al 2020 IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 468 012036

View the article online for updates and enhancements.

This content was downloaded from IP address 184.174.58.53 on 28/04/2020 at 18:11

Southeast Asia Plant Protection Conference 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 468 (2020) 012036 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/468/1/012036

Incidence of basal stem rot disease of oil palm in

converted planting areas and control treatments

H Priwiratama1*, A E Prasetyo1 and A Susanto1

1
Indonesian Oil Palm Research Institute, Jl. Brigjen. Katamso 51, Medan,
North Sumatra, Indonesia

*Email: hari.priwiratama@gmail.com

Abstract. The incidence of BSR was observed over years in 4 historically-different

planting areas i.e. land converted from rubber, cacao and swamp, and continuous oil
palm replanting area. In addition, we observed the effect of surgery-mounding to the
lifetime of Ganoderma-infected palms and the effectiveness of different replanting
techniques on the incidence of BSR disease. The infection rate of Ganoderma was
faster in oil palm replanting area at 7.68% per yr, followed by land conversion from
swamp, cacao, and rubber at 4.67%, 3.81%, and 1.06% per yr, respectively. Surgery-
mounding of Ganoderma-infected palms can prolong the lifetime of the infected palms
with number of death palm up to 4.45%. Meanwhile, removal of Ganoderma inoculum
sources during replanting contributes to lower BSR incidence in the first nine years. The
lowest incidence of BSR was observed following the complete removal of oil palm
debris in combination with big-hole planting system with less than 5% infected palms.
On the other hand, the incidence of BSR on the individual use of big-hole planting
system during replanting was at 6.29% at 9 yr after planting. The result suggests the
importance of inoculum removal during replanting to prevent Ganoderma infection in
the early phase of oil palm development.

1. Introduction
Basal stem rot (BSR) disease caused by Ganoderma boninense remains as the most destructive
disease of oil palm in Indonesia for decades [1-3]. The disease has caused a significant loss of
fresh fruit bunches (FFB) production, up to 35%, in several plantations due to 50% declining of
standing palms per ha area [1, 4]. Meanwhile, the economic losses due to BSR was estimated at
USD 256 million for every 1% incidence in Indonesia [2] and approximately USD 500 million
per year in Southeast Asia [5]. BSR is therefore classified as the most important disease on oil
palm in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia.
G. boninense was previously believed to only affected the old palm, but has recently found
attacking immature palm of less than 1-yr-old [6]. The fungus also capable of spreading through
wind using basidiospores and causes upper stem rot disease [7]. The incidence of BSR tends to
increase following oil palm planting generation. Susanto and Sudharto [8] reported that BSR
incidence of the old palm in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd planting generation was 17%, 18% and 75%,
respectively. On the other hand, the disease incidence of immature palm in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and
4th planting generation was 0%, 4%, 7%, and 11%, respectively.
In North Sumatra, oil palm is so popular for it has been planted in historically-different
planting areas due to land limitation. These includes replanting area from oil palm and

Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution
of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd 1
Southeast Asia Plant Protection Conference 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 468 (2020) 012036 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/468/1/012036
converted area from rubber, cacao or even wetland. However, there is lack of information on
how these different planting areas contribute to the incidence of BSR disease.
Many efforts have been introduced to mitigate BSR disease in the field, including
modification of replanting and cultural techniques, utilization of biocontrol agents, chemical
control using fungicides [6, 9-12], and recently, utilization of Ganoderma-tolerant cultivars
[13]. Chemical control using fungicide showed a promising result in laboratory testing but not
in the field [11, 14, 15]. Meanwhile, biological control often showed an inconsistency result in
the field [15, 16]. This seems to be related on the abundance of Ganoderma inoculum in the
field, particularly in Ganoderma-endemic area.
Most of Ganoderma inoculum can only be removed during replanting. Thus, a modification
in oil palm replanting protocols is required, particularly starting the 3rd-generation planting
where Ganoderma inoculum are abundant. Meanwhile in living palms, approach to prolong the
economic life of oil palm infected by G. boninense is also needed, aiming to harvest as many as
FFBs before the palm collapsed.
This paper discusses the incidence of BSR in different planting areas, including conversion
areas from other crops and abandoned land. We also demonstrated how surgery and mounding
capable of prolonging the economic life of infected palms. In addition, we studied the effect of
3 different replanting techniques on the incidence of BSR disease in the field.

2. Methods

2.1. Incidence of BSR in conversion areas

The incidence of BSR in 4 different planting areas was observed in Bukit Sentang estate, North
Sumatra. The area consists of oil palm replanting area (2nd generation planting of 12 to 15-yr-
old), converted land from rubber tree (19 to 20-yr-old), cacao tree (20 to 23-yr-old), and
wetland area (21 to 23-yr-old). The disease incidence was observed and calculated annually,
started in 2013, from a 5 ha plot of each land type.

a b Figure 1. Surgery and

mounding treatment on
Ganoderma-infected palm.
(a) removal of infected tissue
following tar application; (b)
Trichoderma application; (c)
soil mounding at 150 cm
c
radius from the palm; (d) soil
d
compacting.

2.2. The effect of surgery and mounding on Ganoderma-infected palms

This study was conducted in the 2nd generation planting area (planting year 2003) in Bukit
Sentang Estate. Fifty Ganoderma-infected palms with mild symptom were selected for surgery
and mounding treatment (Fig. 1). On every palm, visually-infected bole tissue was axed and
removed, leaving only the healthy-looking tissue. Following the surgery treatment, a thin layer
of tar was applied on the surface of the healthy tissue. Subsequently, the bole was mounded
with Ganoderma-free soil, mixed with 1 kg of Trichoderma product, of 60 cm in 8 with 150 cm
radius circling over the stem. The number of collapsed palms was recorded for 4 yr after
treatment.

2
Southeast Asia Plant Protection Conference 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 468 (2020) 012036 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/468/1/012036
2.3. The effect of replanting methods on BSR incidence
The study was conducted in the 4th generation planting area in Sei/Aek Pancur estate, North
Sumatra where BSR incidence reached more than 80% in the previous generation. Three
replanting methods were tested, consisted of standard replanting method [17], standard
replanting method with big hole planting system [6], and combination of big hole planting
system with root sanitation (Fig. 2). The incidence of BSR was observed annually in each area.

a b c d

e d g h

Figure 2. A preview of standard replanting method with big hole and root sanitation. (a-c)
creation of big hole planting point following bole removal, (d) collection of root masses, (e)
uprooting root masses of oil palm, (f) oil palm seedling planted in the centre of big hole, (g-h)
big hole planting point made on sanitized area.

3. Result and discussion

3.1. Incidence of BSR in second-generation planting and conversion areas

Since 2013, the incidence of BSR is continuously increased within all planting areas (Fig. 3). As
expected, the highest incidence of BSR was observed in the 2nd generation oil palm planting
with disease incidence of 29.80% in 2019 higher than those in converted area from wetland,
cacao, and rubber at 16.81%, 12.28%, and 10.15%, respectively. A dramatic increase of BSR
incidence was observed in the period of 2014-2016 in the 2nd generation planting area. The
higher incidence of BSR in the 2nd generation planting area was presumably due to the
accumulation of Ganoderma inoculum. It has generally been accepted that available inoculum
will increase over planting generations, resulting an increase in disease incidence in the newer
generation [3, 18].
In this 2nd generation planting area, the incidence of BSR increases following an exponential
pattern in the first 14 yr of oil palm age. Following the formula described by Oka [19], the
infection rate of Ganoderma in the 2nd generation planting area in Bukit Sentang was 7.68% per
yr, faster than in the converted area from wetland, cacao and rubber at 4.67%, 3.81%, and
1.06% per year, respectively. Following this pattern, the FFB yield loss at age of 10-yr-old is
predicted at 2.29 tonnes/ha/year, assuming that each infected palm produced 0.16 ton FFB/year
less than the normal palm. Flood, Hasan, Turner and O'Grady [18] has previously mentioned
that the economic loss due to BSR disease may begin to occur within 10 yr and severe loss at 15
yr. However, this may come earlier in the 3rd oil palm generation onward as Ganoderma
infection tends to start earlier, even worst, in the immature stage.

3
Southeast Asia Plant Protection Conference 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 468 (2020) 012036 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/468/1/012036

Figure 3. Growth of basal stem rot disease incidence over years in different planting areas.

Figure 4. Correlation between basal stem rot disease incidence and palm age in the 2nd
generation planting area in Bukit Sentang estate.

3.2. Surgery and mounding prolong the life of infected palms

The number of collapse palm is continously increased in treated and untreated palms (Fig. 5).
The percentage of collapse palm in surgery and mounding increased from 0% in the 1st year
after treatment (YAT) to 4.45% at 4 YAT, lower than untreated palm which increased from
2.72% to 14.14% at the end of observation. In surgery and mounding, palms begin to collapse in
the 2nd year onward and at the lower rate than the untreated palms. The number of collapse palm
in surgery and mounding plot increase at higher rate in the 4th yr. This indicates that surgery and
mounding treatment is capable of prolonging the economic life of infecfected palms. Similar
result was previously reported by Ho and Hashim [20] followed by Marshall, Hunt and Pilotti
[21].

4
Southeast Asia Plant Protection Conference 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 468 (2020) 012036 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/468/1/012036

Figure 5. Percentage of collapse palms in surgery and mounding treatment.

Collapse palms in surgery and mounding treatment showed that Ganoderma infection is still
developing, possibly from the root base that cannot be removed during the surgery activities.
Despite Ganoderma infection cannot be stopped, the economic life of infected palms can be
prolonged for 2 to 3 yr during which FFB can still be produced and harvested [10, 14, 20]. The
success of surgery and mounding depends on the accuracy of infected stem tissue removal. If
the infected tissue is not completely removed, generally the palm will collapse in the 1st yr after
treatment.

3.3. Incidence of BSR following different replanting methods

The incidence of BSR varies within different replanting methods (Fig. 6). The incidence is
higher in the standard replanting method since the 1st yr compare to the big hole and its
combination with root sanitation method. BSR incidence increased from 2.10% in the 1st yr to
52.35% in the 9th yr after planting. Meanwhile the incidence of BSR in big hole and
combination with root sanitation begins in the 3rd and 7th yr after planting, respectively. BSR
incidence was successfully maintained under 5% for 7 and 9 yr in big hole and combination
with root sanitation method, respectively. This result demonstrated that the removal of
Ganoderma inoculum sources such as trunks, boles, and roots are essential to avoid infection in
the early phase of oil palm development in the 3rd generation planting onward.

Figure 6. The incidence of basal stem rot within 3 different replanting methods.

Disease avoidance through inoculum removal during replanting is one of the success keys in
Ganoderma disease management [22]. However, the total removal of all inoculum sources from
an old stand in a Ganoderma endemic area is practically imposible. Thus, the modification in

5
Southeast Asia Plant Protection Conference 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 468 (2020) 012036 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/468/1/012036
replanting method aiming at removing as many of the larger tissue sections as possible. Stump
tissue, consisted of bole and thick crust of roots immediately surrounding it, is the most
important inoculum source of BSR disease [18]. Most of this part can be removed by excavating
the soil using a big hole of 3x3 m at 1.5 m depth. In this study, the infection of Ganoderma in
big hole system was observed starting the 3rd yr. This is probably because the roots of the palm
have a lower chances of get in contact with Ganoderma inoculum in the first 2 yr after planting.
Prasetyo, Susanto and Utomo [23] previously reported that roots of oil palm in a big hole
planting system will only spread laterally within the hole in the first 3 yr and thus avoiding
contact with Ganoderma inoculum outside the hole.
Infected roots, on the other hand, play a significant role in BSR disease infection in
replanting area. Current replanting methods are directed largely to reduce the amounts of large
oil palm remnant such as stumps and trunks [12, 17, 24] but most of the root debris stays
untouched inside the area. Thus, adopting the replanting method in rubber plantation, we
removed as much root debris as possible, more than 1.5 tonnes roots/ha area, in combination
with stumps removal via big hole planting system. This replanting method resulted in smaller
disease incidence compare to standard replanting procedure and big hole planting system. Palms
showing BSR symptoms were observed starting in the 7th yr after planting, suggesting that the
removal of roots remnant will greatly suppress Ganoderma infection in the beginning phase of
oil palm development.

4. Conclusion
The infection rate of Ganoderma was faster in oil palm replanting area at 7.68% per yr,
followed by land conversion from wetland, cacao, and rubber at 4.67%, 3.81%, and 1.06% per
year, respectively. Surgery-mounding of Ganoderma-infected palms can prolong the lifetime of
the infected palms for 2 to 3 YAT. Meanwhile, removal of Ganoderma inoculum sources during
replanting contributes to lower BSR incidence on oil palm in the first 9 yr after planting
whereas the incidence of BSR was keep maintained under 5%.

References
[1] Susanto A 2011 Ganoderma di perkebunan kelapa sawit dari waktu ke waktu Proc.
Symp. Nasional & Lokakarya Ganoderma "Sebagai Patogen Penyakit Tanaman dan
Bahan Baku Obat Tradisional" (Bogor: IPB Press)
[2] Darmono T 2011 Strategi berperang melawan Ganoderma pada perkebunan kelapa sawit
Proc. Symp. Nasional & Lokakarya Ganoderma “Sebagai Patogen Penyakit Tanaman
& Bahan Baku Obat Tradisional” (Bogor: IPB Press)
[3] Turner P D 1981 Oil palm diseases and disorders: Oxford Univ. Press)
[4] Subagio A and Foster H L 2003 Implications of Ganoderma disease on loss in stand and
yield production of oil palm in North Sumatra. In: The 6th International Conference
on Plant Protection in the Tropics (Kuala Lumpur)
[5] Ommelna B G, Jennifer A N and Chong K P 2012 Journal of Sustainability Science and
Management 7 186-92
[6] Susanto A 2012 S.O.P. Pengendalian Ganoderma di Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit (Medan:
Pusat Penelitian Kelapa Sawit)
[7] Susanto A, Prasetyo A E, Priwiratama H, Wening S and Surianto S 2014 Jurnal
Fitopatologi Indonesia 9 123-6
[8] Susanto A and Sudharto 2003 Status of Ganoderma disease on oil palm In Indonesia. In:
3rd Int. Work. on Ganoderma Diseases of Perennial Crops (Medan: IOPRI)
[9] Priwiratama H and Susanto A 2014 Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology A 4
103-11
[10] Priwiratama H, Prasetyo A E and Susanto A 2014 Jurnal Fitopatologi Indonesia 10 1-7
[11] Prasetyo A E and Susanto A 2016 Prolonging the productive life of oil palms in
Ganoderma endemic area with flutriafol Proc. 6th IOPRI-MPOB Int. Seminar:

6
Southeast Asia Plant Protection Conference 2019 IOP Publishing
IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 468 (2020) 012036 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/468/1/012036
Current Research and Management of Pests, Ganoderma, and Pollination in Oil Palm
for Higher Productivity (Medan: IOPRI) pp 54-66
[12] Virdiana I, Flood J, Sitepu B, Hasan Y, Aditya R and Nelson S P C 2012 Planters 88
383-93
[13] Wening S, Rahmadi H Y, Arif M, Supena N, Siregar H A, Prasetyo A E, Setiawati R D,
Yenni Y, Suprianto E, Ernayunita, Faizah R, Sujadi, Susanto A and Purba A R 2016
Construction of Ganoderma resistant oil palm planting material: Progress in IOPRI
Proc. 6th IOPRI-MPOB Int. Seminar: Current Research and Management of Pests,
Ganoderma, and Pollination in Oil Palm for Higher Productivity (Medan: IOPRI) pp
54-66
[14] Idris A S 2009 Basal stem rot in Malaysia: Biology, economic importance, epidemiology,
detection and control Proc. Int. Work. of Awareness, Detection and Control of Oil
Palm Devastating Diseases (Kuala Lumpur: MPOB)
[15] Susanto A 2009 Basal stem rot in Indonesia: Biology, economic importance,
epidemiology, detection and control Proc. Int. Work. of Awareness, Detection and
Control of Oil Palm Devastating Diseases (Kuala Lumpur: MPOB)
[16] Widiastuti H, Suharyanto, Susanto A, Sugiyono, Rais and Budi 2006 Assessment of the
effectiveness of AM fungal as active agent of biofertilizer and in combination with
Trichoderma as biocontrol for oil palm seedling under commersial scale production
Proc. Int. Oil Palm Conf. 2006 (Medan: IOPRI)
[17] Turner P D and Gillbanks R 2003 Oil palm cultivation and management: the Incorporated
Society of Planters of Malaysia)
[18] Flood J, Hasan Y, Turner P D and O'Grady E B 2000 Ganoderma diseases of perennial
crops ed J Flood, et al. (UK: CABI) pp 101-12
[19] Oka I N 1993 Pengantar epidemiologi penyakit tanaman (Yogyakarta: Gadjah Mada
University Press)
[20] Ho C T and Hashim K 1997 Usefulness of soil mounding treatments in prolonging
productivity of prime-aged Ganoderma infected palms Planter 73 239-44
[21] Marshall R, Hunt R and Pilotti C 2004 Planter 80 173-6
[22] Susanto A, Prasetyo A E, Priwiratama H, Rozziansha T A P, Simanjuntak D, Sipayung
A, Purba R Y, Sudharto and de Chenon R D 2015 Kunci Sukses Pengendalian Hama
dan Penyakit Kelapa Sawit (Medan: Pusat Penelitian Kelapa Sawit)
[23] Prasetyo A E, Susanto A and Utomo T 2008 Jurnal Penelitian Kelapa Sawit 16 77-86
[24] Corley R H V and Tinker P B 2016 The Oil Palm (Chichester, UK: Blackwell Science
Ltd.)