Palm tree yields threatened by fungal infestation

The fungal disease Ganoderma, which was previously limited to older palm trees, is spreading across plantations and is already showing up in second-generation plantings, whereas previously its appearance was noticeable only after three planting cycles. This threatens yields in newly planted areas, Reuters reports.

The spread of the fungus in Malaysia, the second-largest palm oil exporter, as well as in Indonesia, the largest producer, has become another headache for the industry, which is struggling with stagnant production of the world’s most popular vegetable oil due to ageing plantations.

Ganoderma spreads slowly and is difficult to detect. By the time symptoms appear, the disease is already well developed and the infection can spread, scientists say. Plantations used to burn old trees to make way for new plantings and stop the spread of existing infection, but burning was banned because it contributes to haze in Southeast Asia.

Chong Kim Phin, a professor of plant pathology at the University of Malaysia in Sabah, said some studies estimate that a 1% increase in Ganoderma infestation could reduce plantation yields by 0.5% to 0.8%, depending on factors such as tree age and infestation density. Over a 25-year cropping cycle, this could mean a cumulative yield loss of 15% to 20% in heavily affected areas.

According to the Palm Oil Council of Malaysia, of the 1.46 million hectares of oil palm crops surveyed last year, 199,644 hectares, or 13.7%, were infested with Ganoderma.

Karl Beck-Nielsen, chairman of the Palm Oil Council of Malaysia, says Ganoderma is “like a death sentence” as there is no cure or treatment once a tree is infected.

Tags: Malaysia, palm oil