The effects of using raised benches compared with the conventional practice of keeping pots
on the ground as well as using sterilised soil with non-sterile soil were tested for the development of disease
due to Phytophthora palmivora in a durian nursery.
After 235 days, the highest disease incidence (24%)
was observed in seedlings grown in sterile soil in pots maintained on soil on the ground, followed by the
conventional practice of using non-sterile soils in pots maintained on the ground (19%).
The lowest disease incidence was obtained in seedlings grown in a sterile soil medium on raised benches (3%), followed by seedlings grown in non-sterile media on raised benches (6%).
These results indicate that using sterile soil medium and benches in raising durian seedlings reduces the incidence of root rot and seedling die back.