Category: Magazine Articles

By Dr Rosie Godwin Since the initial detection of TR4 in the Tully Valley in March 2015, alerting growers and the community in general of any new farms with TR4 has been a priority of Biosecurity Queensland (BQ) and the ABGC. As most would know, there…

Tully grower Warwick Flegler (pictured right) receiving his Interstate Certification Assurance (ICA) Accreditation allowing him to certify his own fruit consignments. He is pictured with BQ Compliance Officer Jess Portsch and BQ Compliance Manager Paul Garland. Panama disease tropical race 4 is a devastating disease,…

The TR4 varietal screening trial planted in December 2018 is evaluating the disease reaction of 32 varieties over a plant and ratoon crop. By Sharl Mintoff, Maxine Piggott, Lucy Tran-Nguyen and Chris Kelly, NT DPIR, Jeff Daniells and Stewart Lindsay, Queensland DAF TR4 screening trials…

Figure 1: Right, external symptoms of TR4 in an infected Cavendish plant. Note the leaf yellowing and leaf death. Left, internal symptoms caused by TR4. Note the reddish brown discoloration of water – conducting tissues. Figure 2: Cavendish varieties showing resistance to TR4. From left, ratoon plants of CJ19, GCTCV…

A golden location to celebrate the nation’s favourite golden fruit  After almost two years of planning, the Australian Banana Industry Congress was successfully held in May, marking three days of celebrations, knowledge-sharing, inspiration and more. View galleries – including social snaps – from the 2019…

The Australian Banana Packing Championship was back after a year’s hiatus, putting professionals and willing backpackers to the test. Amy Spear was at the Innisfail Showgrounds to check out the action. For many growers and farm workers, packing box-upon-box of quality bananas is part of…

Top-notch fruit and plenty of grower support were the hallmarks of this year’s banana exhibit at the Innisfail Show, 11-12 July. Most Outstanding Exhibit and Most Successful Exhibition on Aggregate Points went to JR & V Dickinson. “I’m really happy with the support that growers…