Ganoderma australe
Ganoderma australe is a fungal plant pathogen in the genus Ganoderma. It is a species of basidiomycete fungi in the family Polyporaceae. Members are also known as bracket fungi, or polypores.
Description
Like other polypores, its physical characteristics include a rigid and tough texture and a shelf-like appearance. Most specimens of G. australe have a dark brown upper surface, though the ones found in the northwest of India and Pakistan have a lighter appearance. G. australe also have thin, shiny horn-like layers, distinguishing them from G. applanatum. It does not have a long and thin stipe like G. cochlear.Physiologically, their mode of transmission is likely primarily through air-borne spores, as no rhizomorphs have been found. While temperature increases decrease their spore size its spore size was found to be 7.5–9.5 x 5–7 micrometers in one sample. In addition to parasitizing oil palms, G. australe has a variety of hosts, in comparison to other Ganoderma species.