WA banana growers urged to be vigilant after banana freckle disease detected in the Northern Territory

WA’s banana industry is on high alert after the devastating banana freckle disease was discovered in the Northern Territory, the first detection since Australia was declared free of the disease in 2019. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is working with banana growers in Kununurra and Carnarvon to confirm WA remains free of the disease. The extra surveillance follows the recent detection of the disease in the Batchelor-Rum Jungle region of the Northern Territory, 109km south of Darwin on June 2. At least two more cases have been detected since. The banana plants have only been grown on the infected property for the past three years, after the eradication of banana freckle in the Northern Territory in 2019. DPIRD chief plant biosecurity officer Sonya Broughton said general surveillance for a range of pests and diseases was routinely carried out on plantations in WA. “While there has been no sign of banana freckle as part of general surveillance, we are checking properties with bananas in Kununurra and Carnarvon as a precaution,” she said. “We will incorporate future banana freckle checks into our routine surveillance program because early detection enables us to respond effectively for our industry. “We encourage commercial growers and home gardeners with banana plants to check them for signs of banana freckle and report any unusual symptoms.” The Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests met on June 3 consider the national response activities. The committee agreed that at this stage the disease is technically feasible to eradicate. A response plan will be developed for consideration by the National Management Group that takes a phased approach based on removing infected plants; tracing and surveillance; compliance; and community engagement. The NT Government is working closely with key industries and farming groups, as well as Commonwealth, state and territory governments through the national response arrangements. Banana freckle is caused by the fungus Phyllosticta cavendishii, which is exotic to Australia. The fungus decreases plant productivity by reducing the amount of healthy leaf area and affects fruit quality and appearance. This makes the fruit less marketable, even though it is still safe to eat. Banana freckle makes leaves and fruit spotty and has a sandpaper feel due to the fungus sticking through the surface of the leaf or skin. Dr Broughton also reminded interstate travellers coming into WA that strict quarantine measures applied to a range of plants and produce, including bananas. “Travellers cannot bring in bananas or banana plants with them, so they must declare them to a Quarantine Inspector upon arrival at a road or airport checkpoint, or dispose of them prior,” she said. Any suspected reports should be made to DPIRD by contacting its Pest and Disease Information Service on (08) 9368 3080, emailing padis@dpird.wa.gov.au or MYPestGuidTM Reporter app. To find out more on banana freckle and what to look out for, view Plant Health Australia website Banana-freckle-FS.pdf (planthealthaustralia.com.au).