Biological control of basal stem rot of oil palm can be achieved through the use of a highly effective biocontrol strain of Trichoderma spp. The strain must not only have the appropriate mechanisms for biocontrol, such as antibiosis and mycoparasitism, but also a strong competitive ability to displace Ganoderma so as to minimize the pathogen’s oppurtunity for colonization. It must be able to compete and persist in the environment in which it will operate, and be able to colonize and proliferate on existing and newly formed roots well after application