10/06/2011 (Bernama) - Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre Bhd (MGRC) and Felda Agricultural Services Sdn Bhd (FAS) have succeeded in the sequencing and assembly of the Ganoderma boninense fungus genome.

In a joint statement here Thursday, the companies said the success of the joint effort would enable scientists and research groups to obtain vital information on the Ganoderma Basal Stem-Rot (BSR) fungal disease.

Ganoderma fungal invasion is one of the most serious biological threats to the oil palm industry as it causes basal stem rot in oil palm trees, impacting the life-span of affected trees and in turn affects both the fruit quality and yield.

The statement said the sequence data from the Ganoderma genome would be made available to the public at MGRC website, www.mgrc.com.my, making it the first company in the world, together with Felda, to offer this information for free to the global scientific community.

"By sharing the Ganoderma genome with the scientific community, we hope to accelerate research and development towards a solution for the oil palm industry," said MGRC chief scientific officer, Dr Stephen Rudd.

FAS chief executive officer, S. Palaniappan, said the threat of Ganoderma BSR to the oil palm industry was serious and real and that Felda was proud to collaborate with MGRC in the hope of accelerating effective solutions for the industry to benefit from.

The statement said that with total oil palm area of 4.85 million hectares in Malaysia, a potential 30 to 70 per cent loss of oil palm due to BSR has substantial implications to planting resources and revenue.