RESEARCH ARTICLE

Journal of Oil Palm Research Vol. 6 No. 1 1994 June, p. 1-5

A LABORATORY METHOD FOR INDUCING SPOROPHORE FORMATION AND PATHOGENICITY IN GANODERMA ZONATUM MURILL

ORUADE-DIMARO, E A*; RAJAGOPALAN, K+ ; NWOSU, S O++

Received: 3 October 1992   Accepted: 27 January 1993  
ABSTRACT

A technique is reported for the production of sporophores of Ganoderma zonatum Murill, in Kilner jars in four weeks, by inoculating stem dust medium (SDM) with 1 mm3 of the fungal mycelium. Basidiomycetes agar medium (BAM) was found effective for the isolation of the fungus from sporophores and infected materials. Root inoculations of fifteen-year old palms, using inoculum produced by the technique, resulted in Ganoderma disease development within three years. Two out of three seedlings planted 1 m from the base of a palm killed by Ganoderma disease were also killed by the disease within two and three years respectively.

KEYWORDS:

FIGURES & TABLES:

* Formerly Head of Plant Pathology Division, NIFOR

+ Asst. Chief Research Officer

++ Asst. Chief Technologist
Plant Pathology Division, NIFOR, P.M.B. 1030, Benin City