ASSESSMENT OF INDIGENOUS BENEFICIAL MICROORGANISMS FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF GREY LEAF SPOT DISEASE IN COCONUT TREES

Azizi Muhamad Nor Mahadi; Arif Abdullah

Authors

Azizi Muhamad Nor Mahadi Soil, Water and Fertilizer Research Centre, Mardi Cameron Highlands, P.O. Box 19, 39000, Cameron Highland, Pahang, Malaysia
Arif Abdullah Industrial Crop Research Centre, Mardi Jerangau, 21820, Terengganu, Malaysia

Keywords:

Grey leaf spot disease, coconut trees, biological control

Abstract

Grey leaf spot disease poses a significant threat to coconut trees, and the use of chemical control methods has limitations in terms of sustainability and environmental impact. This study aims to assess the efficacy of indigenous beneficial microorganisms as biological control agents against grey leaf spot disease in coconut trees. Indigenous microorganisms were collected from the local environment, including soil and plant samples, and were screened for their antagonistic properties against the grey leaf spot pathogen. Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of these microorganisms in suppressing disease development. The results indicate that certain indigenous microorganisms have the potential to effectively control grey leaf spot disease in coconut trees. These findings highlight the importance of harnessing the natural beneficial microorganisms present in the local ecosystem for sustainable disease management in coconut plantations.

References

Azlan, A.M.N., Ahmad, Z.A.M., Idris, A.S., Vadamalai, G. 2018. Assessment of Leaf Spot and Anthracnose Diseases in Nurseries and It Relationship with Oil Palm Seedling Ages. Int. J. Adv. Multidiscip. Res 5 (1), 19-26.

Anderson AS, Wellington EMH. 2001. The taxonomy of Streptomyces and related genera. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 3:797–814.

Chowdhury, M.S.M. 2009. Seed and seedling diseases of some selected fruits of Bangladesh. Ph. D. Thesis. Department of Plant Pathology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. pp. 97-124.

Department of Agriculture (DOA). 2015. Industrial crops statistics; pp: 9, 150-151.

Goodfellow M. 1988. Numerical Taxonomy and selective isolation of industrially important actinomycetes. Actinomycetologica. 1:13–29.

Khan, M.A.H and Hossain, I. 2013. Leaf spot disease of coconut seedling and its eco-friendly management. J. Bangladesh Agril.Univ. 11(2):199-208.

Nair, R.V., Jerard, B. A., Samsudeen, K. and Niral, V. 2008. Coconut nursery management. Central plantation crops research institute, Kerala, India.

Nimnoi P, Pongsilp N. 2009. Genetic diversity and plant-growth promoting ability of the Indole-3- acetic Acid (IAA) synthetic bacteria isolated from agricultural soil as well as rhizosphere, rhizoplane and root tissue of Ficus religiosa L., Leucaena leucocephala and Piper sarmentosum Roxb. Res J Agr Biol Sci. 1:29–41.

Pornsuriya, C., Sunpapao, A., Srihanant, N., Worapattamasri, K., Kittimorakul, J., Phithakkit, S. and Petcharat, V. 2013. A survey of diseases and disorders in oil palms of Southern Thailand. Plant Pathology journal 12(4): 169-175.

Palomar, M.K. and Betonio, P.A. 1982. Control of gray leaf spot disease of coconut with fungicide and potassium chloride. Crop Science Society of the Philippines, 7(3): 166-169.