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Seasonal spotlight! Tackling fruit fungal issues - Challenges and insights
What makes fruit fungal diseases thrive?
Warm temperatures, high humidity, wet conditions and poor air circulation are the perfect recipe for fruit fungal diseases like fruit speckle, sooty blotch, and sooty mould. These conditions make managing these diseases particularly challenging at this time of year.
More info including identification guides of these fruit fungal issues is available on the Better Bananas website:
– A guide to identifying banana fruit fungal issues.
– Grower case study. Bagging technique improves fruit quality
for Sellars Bananas.
– A growers’ guide to ant related problems and their management.
Commercial growers can contact the DPI Banana Extension Team to discuss bunch pest management on 13 25 23 or email: betterbananas@dpi.qld.gov.au.
New grower case study!
Biosecurity in Action: Michael's story
On the picturesque mid-north coast of New South Wales, third-generation banana farmer Michael Singh is taking proactive steps to safeguard his family’s 30-acre farm near Woolgoolga. With devastating diseases like Fusarium wilt already impacting and continuing to threaten banana-growing regions, Michael has embraced biosecurity as a key focus of his farming practices. Determined to protect his livelihood and secure a future for the next generation, Michael’s journey highlights the importance of planning, collaboration and taking action.
Discover how Michael Singh improved his on-farm biosecurity measures and what inspired him to make these changes in our latest case study.
If you’d like to discuss biosecurity on your farm or need assistance connecting with other growers, please contact the DPI Banana Extension Team on 13 25 23 or email betterbananas@dpi.qld.gov.au.
Better Bananas is an initiative of the National Banana Development and Extension Program (BA25001). This project has been funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana research and development levy, co-investment from the Department of Primary Industries and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.
The project is supported by the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC).
