• What is a Study Group
• Objective
• Experienced and Benefit

• Accommodation
• Transportation
• Attraction

• Registration Fee
• Registration

• Problem 1
• Problem 2
• Problem 3
• Problem 4
• Problem 5
• Problem 6

• Problem 1
• Problem 2
• Problem 3
• Problem 4
• Problem 5
• Problem 6
• Problem 7

AGRI DIAGNOSTICS SDN. BHD. (AGRI-D)

Company Background

AGRI-D is providing a testing service for the early detection of Ganoderma infection in oil palms. The oil palm industry in Malaysia and Indonesia is severely impacted by basal stem rot (BSR) caused by Ganoderma Boninense. The fungus is reported to infect the palms through the roots, resulting in lower productivity of fresh fruit bunch (FFB) and eventually causing the palm to topple. Although estimates varies, it is generally accepted that Ganoderma infection can reduce the productive life of the palm from 30 to 20 years, with earlier symptoms and effect detected in more recent 2nd and 3rd generation re-plantings. It is estimated that BSR is costing the industry more than USD 500 million per year.

Background of the problem

Currently, there is no acceptable method for detecting the disease in an effective and expedient manner for widespread adoption. Certain laboratory techniques, suitable for smallscale sample testing, are used. The more widely accepted methods are DNA analysis and GSM (Ganoderma Specific Media) culture. Some other systems/technologies that are being evaluated for real-time disease monitoring include (i) e-nose (ii) spectroscopic imaging (iii) egosteral testing and even (iii) trained dogs.

Problem Statement

There is a positive correlation between the levels of Thiophene and Pyran-4-ONE and the quantity of Ganoderma fungi and the level of infection. However, for the purpose of “early” detection, where there are no visible symptoms of infection on the oil palm, the sample for zNOSE testing can only be taken at random locations. Therefore, although we may be able to determine that the palm may be infected, we cannot define the degree of infection because we do not know whether for example, a low reading is because the sample is taken at a site far from the point of infection, or whether the level of infection is low/mild; and we cannot locate the exact sites of infection in a palm.