Month: September 2020

By Richard Dinnen, Biosecurity Queensland When Panama disease tropical race four (Panama TR4) was first detected in Queensland in 2015, industry and government asked the international community for guidance. Now, overseas growers are turning to Queensland for help. The success of Queensland’s Panama TR4 Program has drawn…

The future of the banana industry relies heavily on the next generation. For banana research, this requires having energetic, innovative, early career scientists gain their qualifications working alongside current banana research teams and with banana growers.The Hort Innovation and Queensland Government, Fusarium wilt TR4 research…

The National Banana Development and Extension Program has been renewed for a further five years, with a clear focus on re-engaging with growers at a farm level. Now in its third iteration, the project (BA19004) isbfunded by Horticulture Innovation via the banana research and development levy,…

Garradunga banana grower Ricky Sahota and his family: wife Parveen, daughter Ojal, 5, and son Ansh, 18 months. By Lea CoghlanA run-down, rusted Nissan Pulsar sits in the yard of Innisfail banana grower Ricky (Randeep) Sahota.It’s not mechanically sound, nor is it used anymore on…

By Professor Andre Drenth Bananas are susceptible to three important bacterial wilt diseases that reduce productivity and quality.These diseases are Moko, blood disease and banana Xanthomonas wilt and they all cause similar symptoms of leaf wilting, vascular discoloration and fruits that remain green on the outside…

By Tony Pattison, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), South JohnstoneBACKGROUNDPanama disease Tropical Race 4 (TR4) was first found in the Tully valley in March 2015.The unknowns surrounding this discovery left banana growers and the future of the Australian banana industry in a precarious position.…

ABGC director and 2013 Nuffield Scholar Paul Inderbitzin For Lakeland banana grower Paul Inderbitzin winning a Nuffield Scholarship was life-changing. The current Australian Banana Growers’ Council director used the scholarship, supported by Horticulture Innovation Australia and the Banana Levy, to study fruit quality, biosecurity and waste…