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Quarantine measures to contain the epidemic
Australia
Monday 17 July 2017
FJ
Panama disease affects banana plants but not fruits. Affected plants eventually die and do not grow.
Panama disease, affecting banana plants, has just been detected in a plantation in the north of the state of Queensland whose authorities have triggered strict quarantine measures.
Biosecurity Queensland reported that samples taken from a Tully Valley property were positive for Panama TR4 (Tropical Race 4). Deciding on strict quarantine measures to control and contain any further spread of the disease.
Due to a fungus, Panama disease causes the plants to wilt. This fungus can live in soil up to 30 years and infect newly planted banana plants. There is no effective cure for Panama disease, except preventive measures (destroying diseased plants, not spreading diseased banana residues, quarantine and isolation of plots, etc.) and the planting of resistant varieties.
This rapid action confirms the importance of the issue. Approximately 85% of Australian bananas are produced within a 100 km radius of Tully Valley between Cairns and Townsville.
source : abc.net.au
