Latest updates
Latest news and events
Putting banana freckle in the conversation
Having a conversation with your staff about the importance of reporting anything unusual in your banana plants is just as important as it’s ever been. The risk of exotic pests and diseases is ever present, and early detection is critical to limit the impact.
Banana freckle poses a significant threat to Australia’s banana industry. The fungus Phyllosticta cavendishii causes banana freckle disease in Cavendish and non-Cavendish varieties and is found in the Northern Territory.
Click here for more information to help guide a conversation on banana freckle, including what you and your staff need to look out for.
Drop your spot, it’s the only chance you’ve got!
Have you scheduled regular deleafing into your work program? The warm weather is ramping up and this is your chance to remove the spot from your canopy before the wet season kicks in. This year has certainly been challenging for growers on Queensland’s wet tropical coast, with the first half of 2025 recording 3451 mm of rain at Innisfail aerodrome.
DPI’s Banana Extension Team and plant pathologist, David East have worked together to produce yellow Sigatoka information resources that includes a summary of best management practices.
Dave’s top tips include:
- Regularly deleaf your canopy. This is critical, as you can’t spray your way out of a problem.
- Use fungicides appropriately and always follow label directions.
- Deleaf before you apply systemic fungicides, otherwise you are wasting your money and promoting resistance.
- Use the winter-spring period to clean up your canopy prior to going into the wet season.
David also shares information on block hygiene and management that can also assist with reducing disease pressure.
If you are a commercial banana grower and would like to have a chat about your yellow Sigatoka management, feel free to contact DPI’s Banana Extension Team on 13 25 23 or email betterbananas@dpi.qld.gov.au.
Have you changed your bunch protection practices recently?
New information on bunch pest and disease management trials using alternative (to chlorpyrifos) registered chemicals and cultural practices is now available.
If you are a commercial banana grower and would like further assistance on bunch pest and disease management, contact DPI’s 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 (BA19004). 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).
