Characterization of new Muscodor padawan and Muscodor sarawak, isolated from Sarawak, Malaysia: evaluation of their potential as a biological control agent for Ganoderma boninense, a pathogenic fungus of Elaeis guineensis

Dr. Mahidi’s did her research on fungi that produce gaseous compounds that could kill the Ganoderma boninense, a mushroom that causes the stems of oil palms to rot. Two new species of fungi that grow inside the tissues of the leaves of the cinnamon tree, were discovered from this research. These two fungi produce anti-Ganoderma compounds that could kill the Ganoderma boninense. The fungi show potential as biological control agent as they did not cause destructive impact to the growth rate of oil palm seedlings and were also able to kill Ganoderma boninense.