> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://badixth-dc85e378.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Red Root Disease in Rubber

> Ganoderma philippii: the second most damaging root disease in Malaysian rubber, especially on wet soils and old estate replantings. Recognition and destroy protocol.

**Red root disease** (*Ganoderma philippii*) is the second most damaging root disease after white root in Malaysian rubber. It is common on wet clay soils, coastal lowland blocks, and blocks planted after long rubber rotations. Spread is slower than white root but symptoms are similar: expanding foci of dead trees, root-to-root contact spread, primary reservoir in old stumps.

## Cause

* **Old stumps** from previous rubber (or oil palm) rotation
* **Wet clay soils** especially coastal lowland (Bagan Datuk, coastal Kedah)
* **Blocked drainage** and prolonged waterlogging
* **Root contact** with infected neighbors

## Effect

| Stage    | Above-ground symptom                                        | Below-ground symptom                               |
| -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Early    | No visible symptom                                          | Red-brown crust on root surface, foul earthy smell |
| Mid      | Yellowing canopy, delayed refoliation                       | Root rot, crust thickens                           |
| Late     | Wilting, defoliation, latex drop                            | Root system decayed                                |
| Terminal | Tree dead, bracket fungi (dark red-brown) sometimes at base | Complete root destruction                          |

Spreads at 0.5 to 1 m per year (slower than white root).

## Satellite signals

Same as white root: expanding NDVI cluster, best seen in Anomaly view against block history.

## Action

<Steps>
  <Step title="Confirm at the collar">
    Scrape topsoil at the collar. Red-brown crust with foul smell confirms *Ganoderma philippii*. The red color and smell distinguish it from white root and brown root.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Cordon and destroy protocol">
    Follow the same protocol as [white root](/guides/Crop/Rubber/biotic/diseases/white-root): isolation trench, inspect neighbors within 5 m, fell and uproot infected trees, burn on site.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fungicide drench">
    Same materials as white root (tridemorph, triadimefon). MRB provides updated recommendations.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Address drainage">
    Red root incidence correlates strongly with waterlogging. On chronic blocks, improve drainage before replanting.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Follow up">
    3-month cadence for 2 years.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Recommended alert settings

Same as [white root](/guides/Crop/Rubber/biotic/diseases/white-root); expanding cluster + scout confirmation triggers.

## Related

* [White root disease](/guides/Crop/Rubber/biotic/diseases/white-root)
* [Brown root disease](/guides/Crop/Rubber/biotic/diseases/brown-root)
* [Waterlogging](/guides/Crop/Rubber/abiotic/waterlogging)
* [Field Walk Protocol](/guides/Crop/Rubber/field-walk-protocol)