Devastating outbreaks of serious diseases of banana plants overseas are a timely warning to Australian producers not to be complacent about disease prevention.
 
In recent months, the Saint Lucian banana industry in the Caribbean has faced an outbreak of black Sigatoka following a previous attack of yellow Sigatoka.
 
Meanwhile in the African nation of Uganda, growers are trying to stem the spread of Fusarium bacterial wilt disease (Panama disease race 4) affecting major production areas.
 
Biosecurity Queensland senior operations officer Kev Leutton said the outbreak of the bacterial wilt disease had been blamed on farmers taking tools used on one farm to other farms without sterilising their equipment first.
 
“It seems they were not aware that this simple act carried a high risk of spreading disease,” Mr Leutton said.
 
“Fortunately, Queensland producers are armed with updated information and advice on how to prevent banana diseases and how to respond to outbreaks.
 
“Some 80 per cent of Australia’s bananas are grown in far north Queensland and any complacency about disease threatens this $360 million industry.

Need a tradie? Check out our Trades and Services Directory.
 
“We were very fortunate that far northern producers and biosecurity authorities were able to eradicate black Sigatoka when it occurred 12 years ago, but it was costly for producers and the Queensland economy.”
 
Black Sigatoka is a leaf spot disease caused by the fungus, Mycosphaerella fijiensis. The first symptoms are narrow, rusty, reddish-brown streaks on the underside of leaves.
 
“When it comes to diseases such as Panama race 4 and black Sigatoka, we definitely don’t want to be reading the kind of reports in our local papers that Ugandans and Saint Lucians have been reading lately,” Mr Leutton said.
 
Queensland producers who suspect symptoms of black Sigatoka or wilt diseases on their properties are urged to contact Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
 
For more information on these diseases visit www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au.