Banana industry urged to respond on TR4

Meetings of banana growers and banana industry representatives are being held in North Queensland as part of the response to a suspected case of the soil-borne fungal disease Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4) in Tully. The meetings will discuss details of the find of the suspected TR4 case on one Tully banana plantation and the response which includes follow-up testing and quarantining of the property. Further tests of the suspect sample are expected in one to two weeks.

Banana growers are being urged to review, and where necessary upgrade, their on- farm biosecurity measures. Australian Banana Growers' Council (ABGC) Chairman Doug Phillips will address the meetings and said the industry needed to work together to respond to the TR4 threat.

"Given that initial testing has proved positive for TR4, we are urgently responding to the possibility that the disease has arrived in north Queensland, Australia's major banana-growing region," Mr Phillips said. "I urge all North Queensland growers and industry representatives to attend the meetings so we can continue with an informed and comprehensive response to address this issue. As the pathways for the spread of TR4 include the movement of infested soil carried on equipment, vehicles, planting material and people, we need to ensure everyone in our industry works together."

Panama wilt, also known as Fusarium wilt is one of the world's worst banana plant diseases. Tropical Race 4 is the worst strain of the disease and affects all banana plant varieties, including Australia's major banana variety, Cavendish. The disease kills banana plants by destroying the plants' vascular tissue. It does not affect banana fruit and is not a human health issue and bananas remain safe to handle and eat.

In Australia, TR4 is in the Northern Territory where it has significantly impacted the commercial banana growing industry.

For more information:
Rhyll Cronin
Australian Banana Growers' Council (ABGC)
Tel: 07 3278 4786
Mob: 0428 038 330