Is your crop protected from Panama TR4?

Queensland banana growers are threatened by Panama disease Tropical race 4 (Panama TR4). Panama TR4 is a soil pathogen that attacks the root systems of plants growing in infected soil, according to Panama Disease

The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) recently quarantined a banana plantation located near Mareeba, believing the farm to be afflicted by Panama TR4. It's a warning sign that may prompt farmers in suspected contaminated areas to reassess their coverage under crop insurance schemes.

Panama TR4's history

Panama Disease, a website committed to raising awareness about the issue, noted the pathogen has existed since approximately 8,000 BC, and has evolved into new strains over time. In the 1950s, Latin American banana plantations were devastated by the ailment, and a lack of knowledge pertaining to the disease exacerbated the problem.

Now, a new strain is plaguing banana farms across the globe - Panama TR4. A prevalent problem since the 1990s, the disease has permeated Southeast Asia and Australia. Globalisation is expected to unintentionally transport the pathogen to continents that have, so far, been unaffected by it.

What Australia's agriculturalists need to know

The Queensland DAF answered a number of frequently asked questions, one of which inquired about the impact Panama TR4 has had on the state's banana industry. It's not an airborne disease, and can only be transported by soil, so it's relatively easy to contain, provided the proper quarantine measures are in place.

As of April 13, 2015, only a particular section of a single banana farm has been isolated by Biosecurity Queensland. As the state has approximately 280 banana farms , Australia's total supply of bananas will be negligibly affected. A farm insurance provider can inform farmers whether or not they'll be protected if their plantations should be impacted.

However, that doesn't mean farmers shouldn't err on the side of caution. The DAF advised these parties to refrain from sharing equipment with other agriculturists, follow biosecurity best practices and remove soil from all assets before transporting them from their properties.