MONTH

JUN 03

TOPIC
Studies on Ganoderma Spread and Control

AUTHOR
RAO V , LIM C C , CHIA C C AND TEO K W
1 2

ABSTRACT
Serious basal stem rot (BSR) was observed in a handful of first generation oil palm fields at Pamol Sabah when due for replanting at 25 years. In the worst affected field, 29 per cent of the stand was infected. The disease re-appeared as early as the sixth year in the replant, rising sharply from the ninth year and reached 30 per cent by the fourteenth year. The disease was scattered and widespread. It developed slightly earlier in underplanted fields than in clear-planted ones but by 14 years after planting there was no difference in incidence. It spread faster where the diseased old stand was windrowed and not removed. Such sanitation was less effective in the new stand, which may require larger excavations. Soil mounding of infected palms did not retard Ganoderma spread. Diseased palms produced 10, 30 and 50 per cent respectively less yield in the year prior to, in that year, and in the year after disease detection. The decline was due to fewer fruit bunches that also became smaller as the disease progressed. Their fruits also had less oil from more water in the mesocarp. The yields of the immediately neighbouring palms increased by 14 per cent in the year after the central palm was found diseased, for a net loss over three years of slightly over 1 per cent, this increasing in time. Early infection or infection in patches is thus more costly than late or sporadic infection. Keywords: Ganoderma, BSR, spread, replanting, sanitation, yield decline

Pamol Plantations Sdn Bhd, P. O. Box 1, 86007 Kluang, Johor Darul Tazim, Malaysia

Control of Costus speciosus Sm in IOI Sabah Oil Palm Plantations

SOO S H, JOSHUA MATHEWS AND CLARENCE P J

IOI Research Centre, Sabah, Sandakan Regional Office, WDT 164, 90009 Sandakan, Sabah, East Malaysia

Selective chemical weeding to control Costus speciosus, commonly known as white costus, a tropical weed is described. Potassium was the nutrient most immobilised in C. speciosus, and that was followed by nitrogen. Of the herbicides, 2,4-D dimethyl amine (60% w/w) at the rate of 50 ml and triclopyr butoxy ethyl ester (32.1% w/w) at 60 ml, paraquat dichloride (25% w/w) 80 ml + 3 g of metsulfuron methyl (20% w/w), glyphosate isopropylamine (41% w/w) 80 ml + 3 g of metsulfuron methyl (20% w/w) diluted in 18 litres of water were found to be effective in controlling C. speciosus. Slashing of the weed followed by spraying of herbicides to wet run off over the stump pith gave quicker control than drenching of the weed directly with herbicides. In another experiment, the optimal rates of 2,4-D amine, and triclopyr butoxy ethyl ester to control the weed by slashing method was evaluated. It was observed that spraying of 40 ml 2,4-D amine and 20 ml of triclopyr butoxy ester diluted in 18 litres of water of spray pump effectively controlled the weed. Keywords: Costus speciosus, weeds, oil palm, herbicides