IN response to the suspected case of the soil-borne fungal disease Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4) in Tully, meetings have been organised by banana growers and banana industry representatives in North Queensland to discuss the threat the disease poses .
The first meeting will be held in Tully this afternoon (Thursday) at 5.30pm at the Tully Bowling Club and another meeting will be held in Innisfail tomorrow (Friday) from 10am at the Russ Hinze building, Innisfail Showgrounds.
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. Information is available on the ABGC website www.abgc.org.au
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,” he said.
"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 and is cause by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense. 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 the Northern Territory, TR4 has significantly impacted the commercial banana growing industry.