PARADIGMS AND KNOWLEDGE GAPS IN OIL PALM STEM ROTS CAUSED BY Ganoderma

Stem rots of oil palms caused by Ganoderma boninense (basal stem rot and upper stem rot) were first reported in Southeast Asia some 90 years ago.Despite considerable observation and research since that date and the construction of various paradigms, they remain the biggest threat to sustainable oil palm production in SE Asia and Oceania.In this article, we discuss some of the paradigms developed in Ganoderma research over many decades and identify some "knowledge gaps" that may be significant for developing improved disease control.Fourteen, specific recommendations on several different aspects of the disease, its control, and palm husbandry are provided and we believe, these should be considered by researchers who continue to study these economically important diseases.