Day: 28 August 2017

By Noeleen Warman Panama disease, caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense, threatens Australia’s banana production. Knowing how the fungus moves through the banana plant and when and where it produces spores, is an important component in containing and managing the disease, as there…

By Tegan Kukulies, DAF Over the past year the young banana growers which form the NextGen group have been looking to other horticultural industries and manufacturing to draw inspiration and drive innovation in their businesses. While visiting these different operations it has become quickly became…

By Dr Rosie Godwin The National Banana Freckle Eradication program (NBFEP) recently entered the final phase of the eradication program:  Phase four – Assessment of proof of freedom. Banana Freckle (Phyllosticta cavendishii) was detected in Northern Territory (NT) in 2013 and the current national response…

By Paula Doran The Australian Banana Industry Congress for 2017 has come and gone, and what an incredible three days of inspiration, information and industry updates. The Sydney event was based at the Sheraton on the Park, and attracted 353 delegates who enjoyed a three-day…

By Jeff Daniells, DAF With the outbreak of Fusarium wilt TR4 in Tully there has been increasing interest in tolerant/resistant varieties. Recent studies in the Philippines have indicated that the Saba type cooking banana, Cardaba has tolerance to TR4. In the Philippines and Indonesia more…

Pests and diseases are major production constraints for the global banana industry costing significant time and money each year in control measures. There are a number of banana improvement programs occurring around the world that seek to address these constraints by developing resistant banana varieties…