Ganoderma diseases of oil palm - an interpretation from Bah Lias Research Station.

Ganoderma diseases remain the most signifcant constraint to sustainable oil palm production in South East Asia. This paper seeks to review our current knowledge of Ganoderma in oil palm, highlighting the gaps in our knowledge of the disease and giving possible hypotheses to explain the situation. A working Basal Stem Rot (BSR) in first plantings and in replantings, is presented. A pu-tative life cycle for Ganoderma boninense is also produced. The exploitation of the weaknesses in this life cycle should allow more sustainable management practices to be identified