The potency of antagonistic microbes as plant growth-promoting on oil palm seedling infected with basal stem rot disease (Ganoderma boninense.)

Abstract

Basal stem rot disease (BSR) is one of the significant oil palm plant diseases triggered by the presence of Ganoderma boninense. This poses a major risk in terms of production oil palm sustainability in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, and is implicated in great economic loss. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the antagonistic potential of plant growth-promoting microbes on oil palm seedlings infected by BSR disease which involved the use of four antagonistic microbial agents, including T. harzianum (TF), Trichoderma viride (TC), Stenotrophomonas sp2. (S81-1), Stenotrophomonas sp1. (S51-3). The results showed that in dual culture antagonistic test, it was found that all antagonistic microbes used had the ability to inhibit the growth of G. boninense in vitro with the percentage of inhibition from 38-60%. T. viride and T. harzianum combine (A6), as well as a mixture of Trichoderma and Stenotrophomonas (A12, A13, and A16), can significantly increase the height of oil palm seedlings infected with G. boninense. The use of T. viride and T. harzianum were singly (A2 and A3) and combined with Stenotrophomonas sp1. and Stenotrophomonas sp2. (A12, A13, and A16) had increased number of leaves and leaf colours.