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Basal stem rot (BSR) disease caused by Ganoderma boninense basidiomycetous fungus is the most economically important disease in oil palms in South East Asia. Unfortunately, there is no single most effective control measure available. Tremendous efforts have been directed in incorporation of environmentally friendly biocontrol approaches in minimizing BSR disease. This study investigated the performance of two potential biocontrol agents (BCAs), AAT0115 and AAB0114 strains recovered from oil palm on suppression of BSR in planta, and also assessed their plant-growth-promoting (PGP) performance. ITS rRNA-sequence phylogeny discriminated the two ascomycetous Talaromyces apiculatus (Ta) AT0115 and Clonostachys rosea (Cr) AAB0114 biocontrol species with PGP characteristics. In vitro studies have demonstrated both Ta and Cr are capable of reducing linear mycelial growth of G. boninense. Inoculation of individual Cr and Ta-as well as Cr+Ta consortium-induced a significant increment in leaf area and bole girth of oil-palm seedlings five months post-inoculation (MPI) under nursery conditions. At five months post-inoculation, shoot and root biomass, and nutrient contents (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and boron) were significantly higher in Ta-inoculated seedlings compared to control treated with non-Ta-inoculated maize. Chlorophyll and carotenoids contents in rapidly growing oil-palm seedlings challenged with Cr, Ta or a combination of both were not negatively affected. Cr, Ta and Cr+Ta consortium treated seedlings had 4.9-60% BSR disease reduction compared to the untreated control. Co-inoculation of Cr and Ta resulted in increased BSR control efficiencies by 18-26% (compared with Cr only) and 48-55% (compared with Ta only). Collectively, Cr and Ta, either individually or in consortium showed potential as BSR biocontrol agents while also possess PGP traits in oil palm.

The Government of Saskatchewan is evaluating whether biomass crops can be successfully used as an affordable, reliable, and environmentally sustainable bioenergy source. The objective of this study was to determine the first 3-year-rotation biomass yields of 30 willow cultivars planted in central Saskatchewan. Annual willow morphological data were collected throughout the first rotation, and stem biomass equations were developed. A willow yield map was produced for the SV1 cultivar across climates and soils of Saskatchewan. The majority of willow biomass equations were with high R 2 values (>0.90), and there was a strong agreement between equation-derived yield and harvested biomass (RMSE = 13.6 %; bias = -3.3 %). The average diameter, height, and stem count of 3-year-old stems were 14.1 (standard deviation (SD) =1.7) mm, 304.7 (SD = 45.4) cm, and 8.7 (SD = 1.8), respectively. The average first-rotation harvested yield was 10.5 (SD = 3.3) Mg ha−1, and the average survival rate was 81 %. Simulated SV1 productivity was 13.6 and 11.8 Mg ha−1 across marginal agricultural lands of the Prairies (1.7 million ha) and Boreal Plains (0.4 million ha) ecozones, respectively. Low growing degree days, heavy clay soils, low nitrogen availability, and winter stem dieback at these northern latitudes were the main factors to influence willow production at relatively lower yields observed in this study. Based on first-rotation results, the Tully Champion cultivar had the highest potential to be utilized as biomass feedstock in Saskatchewan, producing 17.4 Mg ha−1, which was 70 % greater biomass than the average yield of the other 29 cultivars. The use of willow as a bioenergy source appears promising, but further research is needed.