A preliminary study on the effects of salicylic and jasmonic acids on Ganoderma boninense growth, mycelial hydrophobicity, and media pH under in vitro assays

Abstract

Potato dextrose agar amended with salicylic acid (SA) suppressed growth of all Ganoderma boninense isolates. However, mycelial growth inhibitory effects varied with times, SA concentrations and G. boninense isolates. At 150 ppm of SA or higher, growth suppression diminished with time and mycelial growth recovery was observed. In contrast, jasmonic acid (JA) unexpectedly improved growth of G. boninense. At 21 day-after-inoculation, pH changes and hydrophobicity for the melanised mycelia were lower compared to non-melanised mycelia. The degree of inhibitory or promotional effects on the growth of G. boninense and the level of G. boninense mycelial hydrophobicity by SA and JA were isolate-dependent.

Keywords:

• Alcohol percentage test
• Elaeis guineensis
• melanin
• white rot disease

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the invaluable technical assistances from Nurul Fadhilah Marzuki, Tuan Nur Fatihah Tuan Pa and Nur Syazwani Othman. We would also like to thank our principals, Boustead Plantation Berhad and Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad for their permission to publish these data and for their financial backing given to the research activities leading to this article.