DISEASES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT

TOPICS
Introduction to plant diseases Nursery (10 examples) Immature planting (11 examples) Mature plantings(10 examples) Basal stem rot and upper stem rot (including fungicide recommendations)

DEFINATION OF PLANT DISEASE

A disease is defined as any harmful deviation from normal functioning of physiological processes Or in layman terms. A disease is any abnormal condition that damages a plant and reduces its productivity or usefulness to man

HEALTHY

UNHEALTHY (DISEASED)

TYPES OF DISEASES
NON-INFECTIOUS (Abiotic) Caused by certain factors that produces abnormality. Non-infectious diseases are not caused by any living organism, but are abiotic in nature. INFECTIOUS (Biotic)

Caused by organisms that attack plants and get their nutrition from them.
Host the affected plant Pathogen the organism causes the disease. It can be spread from a diseased plant to a healthy plant

COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE

Type Cause Description Deficiency or excess of essential elements Deficiency or excess of water Symptom Visual (no special equipment needed) Visual Examples Nitrogen deficiency, iron deficiency, zinc deficiency Wilting, excessive number of spears, skirting of green frond Heat canker, sunscald, lightning injury, crown fracture scorching, bending of growing point NonNutrition Infectious (Abiotic) Moisture

Meterological

Conditions

Temperature, wind, rainfall etc.

Visual

Toxic Chemicals

Salt, air pollutants, herbicides contaminations etc.

Visual

Yellowing of lower fronds caused by Mg deficiency - Nutrition

Suffocation of roots in flooding area - Moisture

Crown Fracture Meterological factor ( strong wind)

Toxic chemical glyphosate herbicide phytotoxicity

COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASES

Type Infectious (Biotic) Cause Fungi Description Grow as tiny threadlike filaments; fruiting structures may develop from these filaments Single-celled organisms. Very tiny rodshaped or spherical particles, composed of RNA with a protein coat. Very tiny organisms without a cell wall, no definite shape. Microscopic wormlike organism How They Reproduce Spores, Cell division Equipment Microscope (occasionally a hand lens)

Bacteria Viruses

Cell division Use host cells to multiply

Microscope Electron microscope

Phytoplasma

Cell division (vegetative) Eggs

Electron microscope Microscope (naked eye for larger forms)

Nematodes

FUNGUS / FUNGI Ganoderma boninense

BACTERIA

VIRUSES

PHYTOPLASMA

NEMATODES

DISEASE MANAGEMENT
Prevent or delay the introduction of pathogens or reduce initial pathogen populations and retard their subsequent increase Four basic methods of infectious disease management:
Exclusion Eradication Host resistance Protection (including the use of fungicides)

NURSERY DISEASES

NURSERY DISEASES
BROWN GERM DISEASE
SCHIZOPHYLLUM SEED INFECTION

not known; many fungi & bacteria Schizophyllum commune Glomerella cingulata, Botryodiplodia palmarum, Melanconium elaeidis Pythium sp & Rhizoctonia sp Curvularia eragrostidis
Drechslera ( Helminthosporium ) halodes Corticium solani

EARLY LEAF DISEASES BLAST CURVULARIA LEAF SPOT

HELMINTHOSPORIUM LEAF SPOT CORTICIUM LEAF SPOT

SPEAR OR BUD ROT

Phytophthora sp; secondary infection of Fusarium spp

BROWN GERM DISEASE

cause : precise cause not known; many bacteria & fungi symptoms : radicle discoloration extend backwards,yellowish or greenish blue lesions with spores control : maintain moisture < 17%; soak in 0.2% thiram solution for few minutes

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SCHIZOPHYLLUM SEED INFECTION

cause : Schizophyllum commune symptoms : small white patches of fungal growth on outer seed surface control : maintain moisture < 17%

SCHIZOPHYLLUM SEED INFECTION

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EARLY LEAF DISEASES

cause : Botryodiplodia spp symptoms : dark brown lesions usually found on distal part of the leaves, and surrounded by pale brown halo control : spraying with thiram at 0.16% a.i. most commonly encountered leaf disease in nurseries

EARLY LEAF DISEASES

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EARLY LEAF DISEASES

cause : Melanconium spp symptoms : dark brown lesions usually found on distal part of the leaves, and surrounded by pale brown halo control : spraying with thiram at 0.16% a.i. most commonly encountered leaf disease in nurseries

EARLY LEAF DISEASES

cause : Glomerella spp symptoms : small brown water soaked spots develop between the veins; brown or black in colour bordered by pale yellow halo control : spraying with thiram at 0.16% a.i. most commonly encountered leaf disease in nurseries

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DRECHSLERA LEAF SPOT

cause : Drechslera halodes symptoms : bright yellow discoloration first appear in spear or youngest fully open fronds; pin point spots of brown colour which is pale turning to brown later control : spray thiram at 0.16% a.i. ( Thiram 80 WP at 20 g per 10 litres water)

DRECHSLERA LEAF SPOT

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HELMINTHOSPORIUM LEAF DISEASE

cause : Helminthosporium spp symptoms : bright yellow discoloration first appear in spear or youngest fully open fronds; lesions turning to brown later control : spray thiram at 0.16% a.i. ( Thiram 80 WP at 20 g per 10 litres water)

HELMINTHOSPORIUM LEAF DISEASE

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CURVULARIA LEAF SPOT

cause : Curvularia eragrostidis symptoms : early symptom is small , circular translucent yellow spots; enlarged into light brown spots with distinct yellow-orange halo control : spray propineb at 0.21% a.i. ( Antracol 70 WP at 30 g / 10 litres water )

CURVULARIA LEAF SPOT

causal agent : Curvularia eragrostidis
spray Antracol 70 WP at 31 g per 10 litres water

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CURVULARIA LEAF SPOT

CURVULARIA LEAF SPOT

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dead, severe category

CORTICIUM LEAF ROT

cause : Corticium solani symptoms : lesions are initially irregular, pale, olive-green patches bounded by a violetbrown zone, eventually becoming dark brown and dry spot control : normally no control is required

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CORTICIUM LEAF ROT

PESTALOTIOSIS LEAF SPOT

cause : Pestalotiopsis spp symptoms : irregular shaped large orange-red lesions control - sanitation removal

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PESTALOTIOPSIS LEAF SPOT

BLAST
cause : co-infection of Pythium sp & Rhizoctonia solani symptoms : whole plant dies and turning brown very quickly; affected roots showing vascular strands and the 'skin' control : adequate watering

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BLAST frond drying root decay

NURSERY SPEAR ROT

1) Phytopththora Disease symptoms : localized rotten areas on median leaflets of spear more dark brown rotting with no margin entire spear rotten away Severity of damage : affect median leaflets only Control recommendation : sanitation removal

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NURSERY SPEAR ROT

2) non Phytophthora
Disease symptoms : dark brown or water soaked lesion on exposed part of spear water soaked colourless lesions ; enlarge into pale brown in colour with orange brown border when frond opens up , affected areas are desiccated Severity of damage : secondary infection after insect attack Control recommendation : sanitation removal

NURSERY BUD ROT

Disease symptoms : early indication is closely packed basal leaflets due to reduction in petiole growth youngest leaf rots from base upwards rotting of bud not related to spear rot Severity of damage : affected seedlings are killed Control recommendation : no known control so far sanitation removal

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DISEASES OF IMMATURE PLANTINGS

DISEASES OF IMMATURE PLANTINGS

HELMINTHOSPORIUM LEAF SPOTS CURVULARIA LEAF SPOT CROWN DISEASE CHARCOAL BASE ROT BASAL STEM ROT WITHER TIP DISEASE SOOTY MOULDS CEPHALEUROS LEAF SPOT Drechslera halodes Curvularia eragrostidis unknown Ustilina deusta Ganoderma boninense Fusarium sp many fungi Cephaleurus virescens

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MARASMIUS INFECTION
cause : Marasmius spp symptoms :
lower fronds affected first ( brown colour dry fronds ) appearance of whitish fungal growth

Placing EFB too close to the basal stem and generally wet conditions due to frequent raining

MARASMIUS INFECTION

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MARASMIUS INFECTION
severity :
Palm can be killed when fungus has grown into the shoot apex

control :
remove EFB and create a gap 15 cm cut and remove all infected fronds spraying of fungicide ( traizoles )

HELMINTHOSPORIUM LEAF SPOTS

cause : Helminthosporium spp symptoms : early symptom is tiny pin size spots later enlarged into small brown spots from far the affected fronds are yellow to brown in colour control : spray thiram at 0.16% a.i. ( Thiram 80 WP at 20 g per 10 litres water)

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HELMINTHOSPORIUM LEAF SPOTS

HELMINTHOSPORIUM LEAF SPOTS

Common leaf disease when palms suffer stress conditions Severely affected fronds turn brown and dry up control : spray thiram at 0.16% a.i. ( Thiram 80 WP at 20 g per 10 litres water)

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HELMINTHOSPORIUM LEAF DISEASE

cause : Helminthosporium spp symptoms : bright yellow discoloration appear in spear or youngest fully open fronds control : spray thiram at 0.16% a.i. ( Thiram 80 WP at 20 g per 10 litres water)

HELMINTHOSPORIUM LEAF DISEASE

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SPEAR ROT and BUD ROT

Disease symptoms :
shorter inner fronds rotting of spear at the base spear killed quickly bud rot occur and apical growing point destroyed palm split can see rotting cavity and bad smell liquid

SPEAR ROT and BUD ROT

Spear rotting at base Shorter inner fronds

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SPEAR ROT and BUD ROT

Severity of damage :
localized importance and many affected palms are killed

Control recommendation :
no known cure sanitation removal

CROWN DISEASE
cause : not known; physiological or genetic symptoms :
frond bending rotting of leaf tissue in mid rib

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CROWN DISEASE

CROWN DISEASE
control : no action required; recover on its own at 2 - 3 years of age

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CURVULARIA LEAF SPOT

cause : Curvularia eragrostidis symptoms : early symptom is small , circular translucent yellow spots; enlarged into light brown spots with distinct yellow-orange halo

CURVULARIA LEAF SPOT

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CURVULARIA LEAF SPOT

control : spray propineb at 0.21% a.i. ( Antracol 70 WP at 30 g / 10 litres water )

BASAL STEM ROT

BASAL STEM ROT CAUSED BY FUNGAL PATHOGENS, GANODERMA SPP. NO EFFECTIVE CURE TODATE IMMATURE PALMS PLANTED IN DISEASE PRONE AREAS CAN BE INFECTED AND KILLED SYMPTOMS
1 SIDE YELLOWING OF FRONDS PALM GROWTH RETARDED FRONDS SHOWING NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

CONTROL
SANITATION REMOVAL

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BASAL STEM ROT

YELLOWING AND DRYING OF FRONDS ON ONE SIDE OF PALM

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CHARCOAL BASE ROT

cause : Ustulina deusta symptoms :
oldest fronds become yellow & die; progressive all leaves affected and entire canopy die

control : sanitation removal

CHARCOAL BASE ROT

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SOOTY MOULDS
cause : many fungi symptoms : patches of black fungal growth usually associated with sucking insects Or mostly on the lower surface of the lower fronds (not associated with sucking insects )

SOOTY MOULDS

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SOOTY MOULDS
spray Rogor 40 @ 12.5 ml per 10 litres water to control the sucking insects and the sooty moulds will disappear spraying with protective fungicide to control fungi

CEPHALEURUS LEAF SPOT

cause : Cephaleurus viresxcens symptoms : reddish orange spots; reddish colour on severely infected fronds

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CEPHALEURUS LEAF SPOT

CEPHALEURUS LEAF SPOT

control :
generally no control required spraying with a copper based fungicide

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DISEASES OF MATURE PLANTINGS

DISEASES OF MATURE PLANTINGS

BASAL STEM ROT Ganoderma boninense Ganoderma boninense Phellinus noxius

UPPER STEM ROT

CHARCOAL BASE ROT BUNCH ROT

Ustilina deusta Marasmius palmivorus Botryodiplodia theobromae Ceratocystis paradoxa

BUNCH STALK ROT

WITHER TIP DISEASE SOOTY MOULDS CEPHALEUROS LEAF SPOT

Fusarium sp many fungi Cephaleurus virescens

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GANODERMA DISEASES
BASAL STEM ROT WORLDWIDE 15 SP of Ganoderma, LIKELY CAUSAL AGENTS ( Turner, 1981) PEN. MALAYSIA, G. boninense ( Ho & Nawawi, 1985) G. boninense, G. miniatocinctum, G. zonatum, G. tornatum (Khairudin, 1990; Idris & Ariffin, 2004)

Ganoderma boninense

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BASAL STEM ROT

DRY ROT LESION

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PATHOGEN ISOLATION GSM DEVELOPED BY MPOB

BASAL STEM ROT

Coastal estates 85% kill at 25 years old ( Singh, 1991) Severe yield loss of 46% from block with 67.3% BSR compared to block with 10.9% BSR (Singh, 1991) Estate in Perak, BSR increased from 5.4% to 44.1% in 14 years (Khairudin, 1990) Jawa soil series, 15 years old palm, BSR palm produced 43% (1st) and 19% (2nd) FFB yield compared to healthy palm (Khairudin, 1995)

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BSR INLAND ESTATE

BSR
Roots and part of basal stem killed Visual symptoms : frond wilting & malnutrition Several unopened new fronds: wilting of green fronds skirt Fruiting bodies ; disease lesion dry rot Trunk fracture; fallen palms

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UNOPENED NEW FRONDS

SMALL CANOPY / FROND FRACTURE SKIRT

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MALNUTRITION YELLOWING

FRUITING BODIES / SPOROPHORES

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FALLEN PALM

GANODERMA WORKSHOP

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BSR MANAGEMENT (I)

No cure is available Treatment of immature BSR palm ( Hakim et. al. 1998) : 1) remove diseased tissues & expose healthy tissues for 5 to 7 days 2) burn the diseased tissues and bury the healthy tissues except the wound 3) after 7 days, wound fully covered by green Trichoderma; completely cover with soil soil mounding in mature palm with BSR

SOIL MOUNDING

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BSR MANAGEMENT (II)

Pressure injection of fungicide developed by MPOB 10 litres of hexaconazole solution per palm Injection of Dazomet : fumigant moved systemically downwards Surgery to remove diseased tissues Biological control : Trichoderma sp Resistant planting materials : early stage of research Sanitation at replanting

Pressurized injection of fungicide

(pictures supplied by Dr Idris MPOB)

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SURGERY

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AREAS WITH REPORTED INCIDENCE (I) First reported infecting tall palms (Thompson 1931) BSR = disease of older palms (Turner, 1981) 1) high incidences in OP planted in ex coconut planting 2) low incidence in ex rubber plantings in disease prone areas % palm with BSR = 50 % or more at 20 to 25 years

COCONUT TO OIL PALM

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AREAS WITH REPORTED INCIDENCE (II) Replanting from oil palm to oil palm increases the risks of encountering BSR Serious incidences of BSR in peat areas West Johore (Rao 1990) Serious incidences of BSR in inland lateritic areas North Johore (Benjamim and Chee 1995) BSR reported in more areas in Sarawak & Sabah (Ariffin & Idris 2002, Hoong per com., Kwan per com.)

OP TO OP : UNDERPLANTING

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MODE OF SPREADING

MODE OF SPREADING BY ROOT CONTACT

Root contact with a source of inoculum (Turner 1981) Root contact is an important method of infection and spread to immature palms : results of several experiments planting indicator seedlings at close distances to diseased crop residues (Khairudin 1993, Hasan and Turner, 1998)

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INDICATOR SEEDLINGS PLANTED NEAR DISEASED STUMP

INDICATOR SEEDLINGS PLANTED NEAR DISEASED TRUNK

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FRUITING BODY ON SEEDLING KILLED

BASIDIOSPORES

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MODE OF SPREADING :
ROOT CONTACT OR BASIDIOSPORES ? BSR can spread by root contact and spore germination more research to determine their importance as major or minor factor. Root contact is acceptable major mode of spread for BSR : results of experiments Spore is responsible for spread of USR Dispersal of spores by insects associated with Ganoderma fruiting bodies.

INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH GANODERMA FRUITING BODIES

Beetles, moth, ant, termite (Chung et al. 1998) 10 out of 13 species of insect carried basidiospores ; larvae of beetle, Episcapha 4maculata feeds inside the fruiting bodies and 83% have basidiospores. (Idris and Ariffin 2004) Dispersal of spores by insects associated with Ganoderma fruiting bodies.

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INSECTS ASSOCIATED WITH GANODERMA FRUITING BODIES

BSR : INOCULUM SOURCES ( RESIDUES OF NATIVE HOSTS OR PREVIOUS CROPS)

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BOLE STILL PRESENT AFTER 14 YEARS

BSR : IMMATURE PALM

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100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 Palm age (years)

BSR %

Poor Sanitation Good Sanitation

BEFORE FELLING DURING REPLANTING

A1. 6 to 12 months before felling; carry out deboling of diseased stumps and vacant points; 2mx2mx1m A2. Cut and slice the bole & root masses, fallen diseased trunk, into small pieces; leave exposed in the interrow areas A3. Mark standing diseased palms and repeat above steps at time of felling B. Mark out sub blocks or block with high incidence, carry out ploughing up to 60 cm depth

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BOLE PRESENT AFTER 14 YEARS

SIZE OF HOLE : 2M X 2M X 1M

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2M X 2M X 1M HOLE

FELLING DURING REPLANTING

1. Sanitation includes in replanting and land preparation contract 2. Mark BSR palms; carry out deboling; dig holes 2mx2mx1m; cut & slice diseased materials; leave in the interrow areas 3. Healthy palms : dig out bole and root masses; cut & slice crop residues ; leave in the interrow areas

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CUT & SLICE / LEAVE EXPOSED IN INTERROW AREAS

LAND PREPARATION DURING REPLANTING

1. Sub blocks or blocks with high incidence of BSR : carry out ploughing up to 60 cm depth 2. Sub blocks or blocks with high incidence of BSR : consider construction of wider & deeper drains to isolate disease prone areas 3. Establish good legume cover crops to speed up decay of crop residues

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HIGH INCIDENCE OF BSR

PLANT LEGUME COVER CROPS

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AT EXISTING PLANTINGS
1. 2. 3. 4. Carry out census to identify and mark BSR palms Identified BSR by fruiting bodies & dry rot lesion Mark the first palm on the road side to indicate the need to do sanitation Fell BSR palms; carry out deboling; dig holes 2m x 2m x 1m; cut & slice diseased materials; leave in the interrow areas Frequency : 6 monthly (<10%) 4 monthly (>10%)

5.

OTHER METHODS OF CONTROL

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Screening of beneficial microbes

Prof. Sareah Meon

Resistance screening.
MPOB : Zaire x Cameroon crosses

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UPPER STEM ROT

causal agent : Phellinus noxious Ganoderma boninense

UPPER STEM ROT

cause : Ganoderma spp / Phellinus noxius symptoms :
upper stem rotting; appearing of fruiting bodies

control: usually not detected until too late

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DRY BASAL ROT

cause : Ceratocystis paradoxa symptoms : sudden and total rotting of all mature and immature fruit bunches control: no known treatment

WHITHER TIP DISEASE

cause : Fusarium spp symptoms :
rotting of spear tip; distal parts of fronds (1/3) are destroyed; erect frond appearance.

control:
sanitation removal of affected parts spraying with protective fungicide

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WITHER TIP DISEASE

STEM WET ROT

NUMBER OF POSSIBLE CAUSES NO KNOWN CONTROL SANITATION REMOVAL

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STEM WET ROT

SOOTY MOULDS
cause : many fungi symptoms : patches of black fungal growth usually associated with sucking insects control:
spray Rogor 40 @ 12.5 ml per 10 litres water to control the sucking insects and the sooty moulds will disappear spraying with protective fungicide

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SOOTY MOULDS

CEPHALEURUS LEAF SPOT

cause : Cephaleurus viresxcens symptoms : reddish orange spots; reddish colour on severely infected fronds control :
generally no control required spraying with a copper based fungicide

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ALGAL LEAF SPOT

ALGAL LEAF SPOT

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BUNCH STALK ROT

cause :
Botryodiplodia theobromae Ceratocystis paradoxa

symptoms : twisting stalk; bunches fell to ground control : no treatment required.

BUNCH STALK ROT

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MARASMIUS BUNCH ROT

cause : Marasmius palmivorus symptoms : whitish fungal growth; white mushroom grow on rotten bunches control :
improved pollination improved sanitation nutrition ( applying bunch ash ) fungicide spraying

MARASMIUS BUNCH ROT

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BUNCH FAILURE
cause :
inadequate pollination hormonal herbicide pathogenic

symptoms :
fruit bunch loss of glossy appearance fruits become desiccated & shriveled

control : no treatment

EXOTIC DISEASES OF OIL PALMS

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Exotic Oil Palm Diseases

DISEASES Cercospora leaf spot Armillariella root & stem rot Fusarium vascular wilt Sudden wither disease Fatal yellow disease Red ring disease CAUSAL AGENTS / SCIENTIFIC NAMES Cercospora spp Armillariella mellea Fusarium oxysporium probably Phytomonas Many causes Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus nematode OCCURANCE 1 3 1,2,3 2 2,3 3 SEVERITITY Africa Africa Africa Central America & South America Central America & South America Central America & South America

1 = seedlings , 2 = immature palms , 3 = mature palms

CERCOSPORA LEAF SPOT

cause : Cercospora palmicola, C. elaeidis symptoms :
1stly,pin point hyaline spot on new fully opened fronds spots enlarged, somewhat depressed, changing to dark brown colour development of brightly colour brown halo

control: improve nursery management; spraying of fungicide occurring in Africa

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CERCOSPORA LEAF SPOT

VASCULAR WILT DISEASE

cause : Fusarium oxysporium symptoms :
dead of pinnae in a frond lesion - yellow fronds necrosis of vascular strands in stem

control: no proven cure treatment occurring in Africa

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VACSULAR WILT (fronds,rachis,stem)

RED RING DISEASE

cause : nematodes - Rhadinaphelenchus cocophilus symptoms :
red ring or red circular band discolration inside the stem

red palm weevil is the vector , Rhynchophorus palmarum control:

mass trapping of weevils using pheromone traps sanitation removal

occurring in South and Central Americas

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RED RING DISEASE OF OIL PALM

Oil palm

coconut

BUD & SPEAR ROT

Occurring in Central & South America Unknown causal agent Symptoms : spear rot - rotting at spear base; rachis and leaflets affected by rotting; bud rot - apical bud tissues affected; rotting tissues at stem apex (seen after splitting the stem); ultimate death of palm Panama, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Brazil

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CONCLUSION
MANY DISEASES AFFECTING OIL PALMS ARE RECORDED BSR MOST IMPORTANT NURSERY DISEASES AND CURVULARIA LEAF DISEASE OF IMMATURE FIELDS SOMETIMES ARE PROBLEMATIC FOREIGN EXOTIC DISEASES ARE DEADLY AND MUST BE EXCLUDED BY STRICT QUARANTINE TRAINING OF PLANTATION PERSONNEL R, D & A TEAM TO WORK ON IMPORTANT DISEASES & SPECIFIC PROBLEM.

THANK YOU
FOR YOUR ATTENTION

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