Full Length Research Paper

Rapid detection of Ganoderma lucidum and assessment of inhibition effect of various control measures by immunoassay and PCR

M. Karthikeyan^1*, K. Radhika², R. Bhaskaran³ S. Mathiyazhagan¹ and R. Velazhahan¹.

¹Department of Plant Pathology, Center for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore – 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India.

²Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar - 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.

³Coconut Research Station, Veppankulam – 614 906, Tamil Nadu, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: karthipath@rediffmail.com.  

Accepted 6 May, 2006

Molecular and immunological methods have been applied for detecting the Ganoderma disease of coconut. Polyclonal antibodies (PAbs) raised against basidiocarp protein of Ganoderma were used for detection. For polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, the primer generated from the internal transcribed spacer region one (ITS 1) of ribosomal DNA gene of Ganoderma, which produced a PCR product of 167 bp in size is used for early detection. Ganoderma disease in apparently healthy palms in two coconut gardens was tested by ELISA test using basidiocarp protein antiserum. Field trials were laid out in these early-diagnosed palms for the management of the disease. Based on the ELISA results, Pseudomonas fluorescens + Trichoderma viride with chitin amended treatments arrested the multiplication of the pathogen and showed below the infection level of optical density (O.D) within six months. Integrated disease management (IDM) and fungicide tridemorph treated palms showed below infection level (O.D value) within seven months and T. harzianum and P. fluorescens + T. viride treated palms showed below infection level (OD value) of the disease in eighth months.

Key words: Ganoderma, early diagnose, PCR, ELISA, integrated disease management.