AU: Further TR4 results released
the disease.
Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) Chief Executive Officer Jim Pekin said: “The test results showing no additional detection of Panama TR4 are encouraging but the banana industry must keep containment measures as its top priority.”
Biosecurity Queensland (BQ) released the results which included a higher-level biological laboratory test result, known as a VCG test, further confirming TR4 is present on part of the North Queensland banana farm in the Tully Valley that is under quarantine. Other PCR testing on additional samples from elsewhere on the quarantined property, and other properties, have all come back negative.
Mr Pekin said the announcement reinforced the need for banana growers and industry partners to keep up their actions to contain TR4. He also said it showed that even though plant sampling was continuing, this did not mean the disease was spreading.
Mr Pekin said the test results further confirming the presence of Panama TR4 on the quarantined banana farm had been expected. The results had also confirmed the strain of TR4 to be the most common one, a strain also found in the only other Australian location to have TR4 - the Northern Territory, as well as overseas locations including China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mozambique, Oman and Jordan.
The ABGC is continuing to support the owner of the quarantined farm and has commended him for his actions in reporting the banana plants since confirmed as having TR4.
Further updates will continue to be provided on the ABGC website www.abgc.org.au and Facebook page.
For more information:
Rhyll Cronin
Australian Banana Growers’ Council
Tel: +61 07 3278 4786
Fax: +61 07 3278 4938
Email: rhyll.cronin@abgc.org.au
www.abgc.org.au