Chemical profiling of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) seedlings defense mechanism in response to Thielaviopsis ethectica infection

Abstract Purpose The oil palm could be prone to pest and diseases during its stages. One of the major diseases associated with the early stages of development of the oil palm is the Thielaviopsis diseases caused by the genus Thielaviopsis. This study was carried out in order to understand the mechanisms of interaction between the T. ethectica and the oil palm. Methods The plant metabolomics approach using the Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to chemotype oil palm seedlings artificially infected with T. ethacetica and treated with water and fertilizer and those not treated. Results Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses of the macerated centre spear of the treated and untreated oil palms fronds using n-hexane showed that the fatty acids, steroidal compounds and organic acids were more diverse in the untreated oil palm seedlings compared to the treated ones. Principal component analysis showed that the pathogen accounted for the diversity of the identified compounds. Conclusion The abundance of biosynthesized fatty acids and steroidal compounds in the untreated oil palms indicates their role in the oil palm defense mechanism thus also suggesting their possibilities as biomarkers for the early detection of T. ethecitica in the oil palm. Applying NPKMg for soil nutrient enhancement and water facilitated the reversal of the symptoms of T. ethecitica on the oil palm seedlings.