Australia's $600m banana industry to benefit from new quarantine facility
4 years, 7 months ago

Australia's $600m banana industry to benefit from new quarantine facility

ABC  

A new state-of-the art quarantine facility is fast-tracking imports of improved banana varieties in the race to save Australia's $600 million industry. Key points: Queensland's new banana quarantine facility could result in a 10-fold increase in imports of disease-resistant varieties Scientists are seeking banana varieties resistant to Panama disease Tropical Race 4 The soil borne pathogen has been found in the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland Queensland produces 95 per cent of the nation's bananas, but a devastating wilting disease in the heart of the biggest growing region is threatening its future. Panama disease Tropical Race 4, which decimated the Northern Territory's banana industry, is a soil borne pathogen which cannot be eradicated. "Safely importing banana tissue culture plantlets to find a variety that is resistant to Panama disease Tropical Race 4, is vital to the ongoing and long-term sustainability of Australia's $600 million industry," Mr Furner said.

Industry Race Panama Banana Quarantine Facility Tropical Race Disease Tropical  quarantine  facility  benefit  disease  tropical  territory  banana  australias  industry  600m  cultivars  race

History of this topic

Carnarvon banana growers using freeze-dried facility to save fruit rejected by Australian supermarkets
11 months ago

Carnarvon banana growers using freeze-dried facility to save fruit rejected by Australian supermarkets

ABC  

In short: West Australian banana growers are finding additional ways to use fruit that cannot be sold in supermarkets. West Australian banana growers are finding additional ways to use fruit that cannot be sold in supermarkets. End Food Waste Australia horticulture lead Melissa Smith said 22 per cent of all food waste happened at the on-farm stage. "We're not making …

Banana disease Panama TR4 spreads in Qld with eighth confirmed case on Tully Valley farm
1 year, 7 months ago

Banana disease Panama TR4 spreads in Qld with eighth confirmed case on Tully Valley farm

ABC  

A devastating banana disease has spread further in Queensland, with the industry confirming the eighth case of Panama tropical race 4. Key points: The fungal disease makes an infected area unsuitable for growing bananas The banana industry says the spread is sad but expected Research to combat TR4 is looking at developing commercially viable banana varieties that are resistant to …

Alert for suburban gardeners amid outbreaks of hugely damaging bunchy top banana disease
4 years, 2 months ago

Alert for suburban gardeners amid outbreaks of hugely damaging bunchy top banana disease

ABC  

Backyard banana growers in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales have been urged to stay alert for one of the world's most damaging banana diseases after dozens of outbreaks. Key points: Bunchy top virus is considered the world's most deadly disease for banana crops The disease is spread by banana aphids or infected plants Call 1800 068 371 for …

Banana industry on alert after disease arrives in Colombia
5 years, 4 months ago

Banana industry on alert after disease arrives in Colombia

Associated Press  

LA GUAJIRA, Colombia — It might not be obvious at the supermarket, but the banana industry is fighting to protect the most popular variety of the fruit from a destructive fungus. For years, scientists have said big banana companies like Chiquita and Dole would eventually need to find new banana varieties as the disease spread in countries in Asia and …

Bananas Are Facing Extinction – And It's All Our Fault
5 years, 7 months ago

Bananas Are Facing Extinction – And It's All Our Fault

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING There’s a reason why bananas are the world’s favorite fruit. Two damaging diseases are destroying our favorite yellow food and threatening to wipe out the bananas eaten by consumers in the U.S. “Banana production as it stands is facing an existential crisis,” said Dan Bebber, a plant and disease specialist at the University of Exeter. “The banana …

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