Panama tropical race 4 (TR4) is a deadly soil disease, which kills banana plants on Mackays Queensland banana farm. This largest Australia’s grower confirmed the signs of the devastating disease, Biosecurity Queensland reports.
Banana plants are in danger, the soil disease tropical race 4 was identified on the commercial banana farm in the Tully Valley in far north Queensland. About 20 biosecurity officers and contractors are now focused on securing the block, along with the considerable resources being contributed by the operator.
It is not the first confirmed case of dangerous TR4 in the Tully area, in January 2015, there were reports on this soil disease. Of course, such a news didn’t make happy the owner of the banana farm, which was bought back by industry and shut down.
Mr Mackay, the owner of the banana farm, said that discovering TR4 on his own farm had been challenging but had not shaken his belief in the future of banana farming itself. According to him, the stopping TR4 from its spreading will able to save other plants and keep the farm alive.
The scientists believe that the research the best chance of beating the tropical disease. It can be useful for the Australian industry’s biosecurity preparedness that was improved dramatically over last years.
