• Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is a tropical tree native to West Africa. Oil palm trees produce male and female flowers on the same tree that lead to spherical to elongated, dark purple fruit with a single kernel inside surrounded with pulp. The trees grow 60 or feet in height and have smooth trunks. Oil palm trees bear fruit about 30 months after plant and remain productive for the next two to three decades. Oil palm trees are an important agricultural crop and are susceptible to a number of diseases.
  
  

Ganoderma Basal Stem Rot

• Ganoderma basal stem rot is the most serious disease of oil palm and is caused by the fungus Ganoderma. The disease has remained incurable for the past fifty decades and is a threat to the oil palm cultivation in many regions including Malaysia. The fungus attacks the roots of the tree and slowly spread upwards causing dry rot which hinders nutrient absorption by the tender plant tissues. As the fungus becomes established, the tree loses its vigor and ability to produce fruit. The fungus thrives in the debris in the soil and easily infects other healthy trees.
  
  

Red Ring Disease

• Red ring disease in oil palm and other varieties of palm is caused by the nematodes Bursaphelenchus cocophilus. The nematodes starts to cause internal damage to the tree primarily characterized by the appearance of a red ring in the tree trunk visible when trunk is cut crosswise about 7 feet above soil line. External symptoms of the disease include deformation of established foliage with color changes to yellow brown to deep reddish brown. The leaves of infected trees eventually die and trees stop producing fruit. Red ring disease is chronic and trees rarely recover from the infection. The best management strategy is to remove and destroy infected trees, preferably by burning.
  
  

Bud Rot Disease

• Bud rot disease in oil palm is a serious disease in Latin America leading to high economic losses. The disease is characterized by the yellowing of foliage with rotting of the crown and spear leaves. Within 12 to 24 months, the infected trees reduce the production of racemes and there is a drop in the weight of the fruit as well as their oil content. The disease is managed by the administration a combination of phosphoric acid, potassium hydroxide and potassium citrate as resistance inducers to the tree either by injection into the trunk or through root absorption. (Reference 4)