In the endless green rows of an oil palm plantation, an invisible battle rages beneath the soil—a confrontation that could determine the future of the world's most productive oil crop.
Walk through any supermarket today and you'll encounter palm oil in nearly half the products on shelves, from snacks to cosmetics. This versatile oil comes from the oil palm, a tree that produces more oil per hectare than any other vegetable oil crop. But these vital plants face a formidable enemy—Ganoderma, a destructive fungus that causes Basal Stem Rot (BSR), potentially wiping out entire plantations and threatening global food security.
Ganoderma infections cause an estimated $500 million in annual losses to the oil palm industry, with yield reductions reaching 50-80% in severely affected plantations.
Scientists are turning to a natural ally—a humble soil fungus called Trichoderma—that might just hold the key to winning this underground war.
To understand why Ganoderma is such a formidable opponent, we need to look at its biology. Ganoderma is a genus of wood-decaying fungi that includes both saprophytic species (feeding on dead organic matter) and parasitic species that attack living trees. In oil palms, the species Ganoderma boninense is the primary culprit behind BSR disease 3 5 .
These resilient forms allow the fungus to withstand unfavorable conditions and quickly rebound when conditions improve 7 .
While Ganoderma plays the villain in our story, Trichoderma emerges as the potential hero. Trichoderma is a genus of fungi found naturally in soils worldwide, with particular abundance in the rhizosphere—the narrow region of soil directly influenced by plant roots. These fungi have evolved sophisticated mechanisms to combat other fungi, making them excellent biocontrol agents 1 2 .
Directly parasitizes other fungi through chemotrophic growth and enzymatic degradation
Produces bioactive metabolites that inhibit competing microorganisms
Efficiently scavenges nutrients and occupies space in the rhizosphere
Primes the plant's own defense systems for faster, stronger responses
Recent research has provided exciting evidence for Trichoderma's potential against Ganoderma. A comprehensive 2025 study led by Indian oil palm researchers set out to bioprospect and evaluate Trichoderma species specifically for suppressing Ganoderma-induced basal stem rot in oil palm 7 .
Disease Suppression
Reduction in Foliar Severity
Reduction in Bole Severity
| Trichoderma Species | Inhibition (PIRG) | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| T. afroharzianum | 76.3% | Excellent |
| T. atroviride | 49.2% | Good |
| T. harzianum | 42.7% | Moderate |
| T. longibrachiatum | 38.5% | Moderate |
| T. asperellum | 35.1% | Moderate |
Source: Adapted from ICAR-Indian Institute of Oil Palm Research (2025) 7
| Trichoderma Strain | Inhibition by Volatiles | Key Compounds |
|---|---|---|
| T. afroharzianum | 68.5% | 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one, pyrones, koninginins |
| T. atroviride | 52.3% | Viridins, gliotoxin |
| T. harzianum | 47.8% | Peptaibols, anthraquinones |
Research on antagonistic mechanisms of Trichoderma strains 2 7
What does it take to study these microscopic battles? Here are the key tools and methods that scientists use to evaluate Trichoderma's potential against Ganoderma:
Growing both fungi on the same Petri plate
Direct assessment of mycoparasitism and growth inhibitionSeparating fungi with a physical barrier while sharing airspace
Evaluation of volatile organic compound effectsApplying filtered Trichoderma culture extracts to pathogens
Assessment of non-volatile secondary metabolitesUsing bioinformatics to identify biosynthetic gene clusters
Discovery of potential new bioactive compoundsCombining genomics and metabolomics data
Linking genes to metabolic outputs and antifungal activityMeasuring activity of key biocontrol genes
Understanding molecular mechanisms of antagonismThe transition from laboratory promise to field application represents the next frontier in Trichoderma research. Current studies focus on developing effective formulations that maintain fungal viability and activity under diverse field conditions. The goal is to create products that can be applied as soil treatments, root dips, or trunk injections to protect oil palms throughout their 25-30 year productive lifespan 7 .
Combinations of multiple Trichoderma strains with complementary mechanisms of action for more robust biocontrol solutions.
Identifying biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for antifungal compounds to enhance Trichoderma's natural abilities.
Leveraging Trichoderma strains that also function as plant growth promoters through IAA production and phosphate solubilization.
"Trichoderma species are talented producers of specialised metabolites... The vast majority of these specialised metabolites are synthesised by biosynthetic gene clusters" 1 .
This genetic insight opens possibilities for enhancing Trichoderma's natural abilities through careful selection or genetic engineering.
The battle against Ganoderma in oil palm plantations represents a microcosm of a larger challenge in agriculture: how to manage destructive pathogens in an effective, economical, and environmentally sustainable way. The research on Trichoderma's antagonistic potential offers hope that we can work with nature rather than against it—harnessing the power of one microbe to control another.
While questions remain about how to best implement Trichoderma-based solutions across diverse growing regions and conditions, the scientific foundation is robust. From the meticulous laboratory experiments demonstrating mycoparasitism and antibiosis to the promising field trials showing significant disease suppression, the evidence points to Trichoderma as a key component of integrated Ganoderma management.
This shift toward biological control aligns with broader goals of sustainable agriculture—reducing environmental impact, maintaining soil health, and ensuring the long-term productivity of one of the world's most important oil crops.
The invisible warfare between Trichoderma and Ganoderma beneath the soil surface may ultimately determine whether we can protect the oil palm plantations that millions of farmers depend on and that supply a significant portion of the world's vegetable oil.