Controlling Basal Stem Rot in Oil Palm Plantations by Applying Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Trichoderma spp.

Biological agents are critical in the management of major diseases in oil palm
plantations. The potential of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi (AMF) and Trichoderma spp.
to control basal stem rot disease was investigated in this study. Three-month-old
seedlings treated with AMF since the beginning of planting demonstrated AMF
colonization of the roots. With a 25 gram AMF treatment in the main nursery, AMF
colonization increased by 85.99% in TBM-1 (the 1-year immature plant). In TBM-2, AMF
colonization increased by 86.00-97.33% (2-year immature plant). All of the treatments
started with 30 grams of Trichoderma spp. applied at the start of pre-nursery planting.
Root colonization and the number of spores in the root rhizosphere in TBM-2 had a
strong relationship (2-year immature plant). AMF inoculation had a significant impact on
root colonization and spore number response. According to this study, the application
of 25 grams of AMF in the pre-nursery and main nursery, as well as repeated additions
at planting, were found to be effective in controlling attacks of basal stem rot disease
through early prevention strategies.