New case of Panama suspected

A THIRD suspected case of Panama disease tropical race 4 has been found on a commercial banana farm near Tully in north Queensland.

Department of Agriculture and Fisheries general manager and chief plant protection officer Mike Ashton said a sample from a banana plant had returned a positive result.

But he said further testing was required before a positive result could be confirmed.

“The sample now needs to undergo further diagnostic testing for a final and conclusive result, which can take up to six weeks to complete,” he said.

“If the diagnostic tests return a positive result, this will be the third banana farm in the Tully Valley to be infested with the disease.”

The disease was first found in Queensland on Cavendish banana plants on a farm in the Tully Valley on March 3, 2015.

The disease was found on a second Tully Valley property last July 26.

Mr Ashton said the latest suspect detection emphasised the challenge of managing and containing the disease.

“Panama disease can survive in the soil for decades without banana plants and is easily transported in contaminated soil, water and on tools, farming machinery and vehicles,” he said.

❝ The sample now needs to undergo further diagnostic testing for a final result. — Mike Ashton