Bio-control based integrated disease management of basal stem rot disease of coconut

摘要

Basal stem rot, caused by Ganoderma applanatum and G. lucidum, is the most devastating disease accounting to severe yield loss in southern states of India. The pathogen first infects the root system where early detection of the disease based on morphological symptoms is impossible. Exudation of reddish brown viscous fluid from the basal portions of the stem is the first visible symptom of the disease in the affected palm followed by wilting of leaflets, production of sporophores, shrivelling of the stem and death of the tree.