Agriculture & Horticulture

Statement of the Problems: Ganoderma boninense Pat caused basal stem rot (BSR) disease in oil palm and the disease resulted

in great losses in palm oil production. Another fungus Fusarium oxysporum cubense is the most versatile pathogen for wilt

disease in several plants while Fusarium wilt in banana has great impact for losses in commercial banana production.

Methodology: Both causal pathogens of G. boninense and F. oxysporum have been tested with Trichoderma harzianum to

determine the biocontrol mode of T. harzianum against the pathogens.

Findings: T. harzianum showed the biocontrol activity with the inhibition rate more than 60% against both G. boninense and F.

oxysporum. The mode of biocontrol activity as process of mycoparasitism action is also observed under the scanning electronic

microscope. The coiling of Trichoderma on the pathogens or shrinkage mycelium of the pathogen has proven Trichoderma’s

biocontrol ability. At molecular level only for studies on Ganoderma-oil palm or Ganoderma-oil palm- Trichoderma interactions

showed that Trichoderma induced chitinase genes or enzyme in oil palm leaves or roots tissues as well as plant growth was also

enhanced in the presence of Trichoderma.

Conclusion & Significance: The data from this study showed that T. harzianum successfully manage the interaction between

plant-pathogen and pathogen only as well as enhance the defence responses in plant which indicates Trichoderma has good

impact for sustainable crop protection.