Report on Basal Stem Rot (BSR) disease on oil palm in Ghana

One factor limiting the attainment of food security in Africa is high crop loss through insect pests and diseases. These biological factors thus threaten the oil palm industry. Among oil palm diseases that occur in oil palm plantations, is Basal Stem Rot (BSR) disease suspected to be caused by <i>Ganoderma </i>spp. <i>Ganoderma </i>is a white rot fungus which causes a disease known as Basal Stem Rot(BSR). It is characterized by basidiocarps, large perennial woody brackets which grow in a fan or hoof-like form on the trunks of trees. BSR is a disease is the most devastating and destructive disease of oil palm in tropical regions. It causes loss of yield and most often causes death of the trees.