Banana freckle has been detected at 13 sites in the Northern Territory’s Top End.
There are now 12 infected premises (IPs) in the Batchelor-Rum Jungle region.
On Friday afternoon, banana freckle was confirmed on a single leaf on a single plant in a secure area of a government research facility in the Middle Point area. Additional testing is underway on banana trees surrounding the plant with the initial infection. All banana trees at the site will be destroyed and disposed of on the property.
Banana freckle is a fungal disease of banana leaves and fruit. There is no risk to human health from eating affected bananas.
Landowners of IPs have been notified that they are not allowed to move plant products, material or equipment from the property to help stop the spread of the disease.
Additional testing of samples from 4 further properties in the Batchelor-Rum Jungle region are underway.
Surveillance is continuing to determine the extent of the outbreak, with more than 130 properties examined so far. The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (the department) would like to thank growers and landowners for their assistance in helping determine where this disease is and is not located.
Plant biosecurity officers are undertaking surveillance across the Top End. They are following strict biosecurity decontamination protocols when entering and exiting any premises to prevent the risk of spreading the disease.
Banana freckle is a ‘wet spore’ organism. It generally moves short distances by water droplet splashes and wind-driven rain. The pest is spread over larger distances by people moving infected fruit, leaves and suckers used for planting.
