Altered lignin and lignin enzynte inhibitors to control Ganoderma rot of oil palm

Palm oil (PO) is used in the production of foods, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and biodiesel. The palm is of crucial economic importance in'Southeast Asia where it is grown extensively in Malaysia and Indonesia. However, oil palm (OP) is susceptible to a "white rot" disease caused by Ganoderma. In addition, there appears to be an error when symptoms are described as a "dry rot", and this term persists. Dry rot is caused by Serpula lacrymans in houses and is quite different. It is important to control disease especially where vulnerable monocultures are involved and to reduce demand for growing OP in cleared forests. The existing literature is concerned with the mode of spread and molecular biology of Ganoderma. WRF are capable exclusively of degrading lignin to carbon dioxide and water: celluloses become available as nutrients for the fungus. However, this fundamental process has been ignored by academia and industry. The perception reveals novel tools for control, (i) breeding/selecting for resistant cultivars with high lignin content, (ii) ensuring that the conditions for lignin decomposition are reduced, and (iii) sealing damage to stop decay. Furthermore, OP rot by Ganoderma may be controlled by inhibitors of the ligninolytic enzymes. There are few data on the lignin composition of OP and none on how it is degraded by OP Ganoderma. Ligninolytic enzymes can be inhibited by (i) temperature, pH and aeration, (ii) high carbon and nitrogen and (iii) halides, metal chelators, heavy metals, and reducing agents. These require being tested against the lignin enzymes of Ganoderma from OP. Such compounds could be injected, sprayed and/or added to the soil. The environment in which OP is grown could be important in terms of aeration and temperature. In addition, altering the lignin fraction of OP may reduce losses which could be achieved by breeding or transformations. Progress in transforming OP is described OP have been produced using Bt genes which require to be tested for lignin concentration/structure and resistance to Ganoderma. The knowledge gained can be employed in the rapid degradation of OP waste on the plantation floor as an additional benefit. The control of Ganoderma on OP would benefit greatly from further consideration of the process as one of white rot.