Banana bug ‘ here to stay’
NORTH Queensland’s banana crop valued at more than $ 600 million and covering 11,000ha remains at risk from the Panama fungal disease.
Tissue from another banana plant suspected of being infected with the disease is being tested in Brisbane. The suspect tree was located a fortnight ago on the same Tully Valley farm where other plants infected with the disease were found in July last year.
The disease, according to Australian Banana Growers’ Council chairman Stephen Lowe, is “here to stay”.
Mr Lowe said eradication of Panama TR4 was not possible. He said trying to eradicate it would involve spraying at least 11,000ha to a depth of 600mm. He said this was not possible from a logistic and cost point of view.
Initial testing of the latest suspect tree returned a positive result for Panama TR4. Conclusive testing to determine if the tree is infected could take several weeks.
Panama TR4 was first discovered in the Tully Valley in March 2015. Four rural properties in the Tully area have had Panama TR4 detections. Two of these properties were bought and shut down by the Australian Banana Growers’ Council. Two others, including the one where the suspect tree was located, continue to farm bananas under a strict biosecurity regime.
Mr Lowe said the property where the latest suspect plant was found early this month had gone 12 months without any new detections.
“This is testament to Australia’s world- class biosecurity practices, which have been adopted on this farm, and have proven to slow the spread of this disease.”
Mr Lowe said it was a timely reminder for the industry that the disease was “here to stay”. He urged all growers to review their on- farm biosecurity plans and not to become complacent. He said any suspect plants should be reported to Biosecurity Queensland.
“The critical thing is to not let it run away on us,” he said.
He said one way to coexist with the disease was to breed a plant that was resistant to the fungus and which produced a tasty fruit. He said breeding trials supported by the Queensland Government were in progress in the Northern Territory.
Mr Lowe said it was also timely to remind consumers that Panama TR4 was not harmful to humans and Australia’s favourite fruit was still safe to eat.