''Ganoderma zonatum'' is a

plant pathogen Plant pathology (also phytopathology) is the scientific study of diseases in plants caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungi, oomyc ...

that infects the palm species causing

butt rot Butt rot is a disease of plants, mostly trees, caused by fungi. The fungus attacks the moist, poorly protected undersurface of tree trunk's thickest part (the "butt" above the root, as opposed to "top"), where the end of the stem makes contact wi ...

. It is a fungus that infects the bottom of the plant also rotting the

root In vascular plants, the roots are the organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often below the sur ...

s. It has been known to be in both natural and planted environments and in the majority of cases only in palms.

Symptoms and diagnosis

Symptoms of ''Ganoderma zonatum'' are general decline in the health of the plant, wilting and discoloration of the

leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...

and slow growth. However, this is noticeable in many different plant diseases and can not be used as a diagnosis tool. There are only two ways to fully identify ''G. zonatum''. One is the

basidiocarp In fungi, a basidiocarp, basidiome, or basidioma () is the sporocarp of a basidiomycete, the multicellular structure on which the spore-producing hymenium is borne. Basidiocarps are characteristic of the hymenomycetes; rusts and smuts do not ...

(or conk) forming on the plant with the other viewing the internal rotting of the palm on the inside once it has been cut down.

Life cycle

The fungus is spread between the plants due to the

spore In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, f ...

s produced in the basidiocarp. The spores land on the soil and germinate. The

hyphae A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium. Structure A hypha consists of one or ...

then grow over the plant roots and up into the woody

trunk Trunk may refer to: Biology * Trunk (anatomy), synonym for torso * Trunk (botany), a tree's central superstructure * Trunk of corpus callosum, in neuroanatomy * Elephant trunk, the proboscis of an elephant Computing * Trunk (software), in rev ...

. The fungus damages the palm trunk closest to the soil first, expands in diameter and moves up the center of the trunk causing a cone like shape of infected trunk. When the basidiocarp emerges it is at the highest point when the fungus will internally grow.

Protection and control

There is currently no method for the control of ''G. zonatum'' once it has been identified. However minimizing the amount of moisture can decrease the risk of a palm becoming infected by the fungus. In places where a palm has been infected with ''G. zonatum'', no other palm should be planted as the spores can survive in the soil. Some other prevention methods are * Avoid injury to the trunks of palm trees. * Be careful when using lawnmowers and other gardening equipment. * Consult forestry officers after infestation and seek their advice.

Disposing of the wood

After fungal infection, the wood above the butt area can be easily mulched with caution, but for the lower extreme care should be taken to prevent the fungus from spreading. Dispose of the wood by wrapping it in plastic. Use sterile tools and gloves. Sterilize your tools before using them on other healthy palms.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5521457 Fungal plant pathogens and diseases Palm diseases Ganodermataceae Fungi described in 1902 Fungi of North America Taxa named by William Alphonso Murrill