News – Better Bananas

Drones and beneficial mites

Posted on 2026-09-30 by Ingrid Jenkins

Drones and beneficial mites: Trialling new options for spider mite control.

By: Daniel Farrell, Richard Piper (Department of Primary Industries)

DPI researchers have recently been exploring a new approach to managing spider mites by using drones to release beneficial predatory mites directly and efficiently into banana production systems.

Spider mites can build rapidly in bananas during hot, dry conditions, causing leaf bronzing and reduced plant performance. Management can also be challenging where repeated chemical use increases the risk of resistance, prompting interest in alternative approaches. With growers increasingly looking toward integrated pest and disease management (IPDM), this trial investigated whether aerial releases of the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus (Californicus) could provide a practical new tool for banana production systems.

The idea is simple: instead of relying solely on ground-based applications of chemicals, drones can distribute beneficial insects quickly and evenly across a block, potentially improving coverage while reducing labour requirements and crop disturbance.

Conditions leading into the trial were favourable for spider mite development; however, rainfall increased significantly following predator release. This rise in rainfall suppressed spider mite populations across the site, meaning predator performance could not be fully assessed under outbreak conditions. The combination of predators and rain contributed to a ~60% reduction in the abundance of spider mite eggs and nymphs, and 40% reduction of adults. Despite this, the drone releases proved efficient and well-suited to banana production systems, providing valuable operational insights into aerial deployment within a commercial system.

Encouragingly, the trial demonstrated that drone delivery is a feasible way to introduce beneficial mites into bananas, opening the door for future biological control programs within IPDM systems. As technology continues to develop, aerial release may become a practical option for large-scale deployment, particularly where access is difficult or rapid response is needed.

Additional trials are planned to better understand how predatory mites establish and suppress populations in commercial banana systems. Although still in the early days, this work highlights ongoing efforts to investigate new tools that support sustainable pest management and provide growers with more options in the future.

Thanks to Cassowary Coast Drones, for providing drone application services and Bugs for Bugs® for supplying predatory mites for this trial.

Drone releasing predatory mites (Californicus) in a banana production system

This research was undertaken as part of the Banana Integrated Pest and Disease Management Program (BA21004), 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 cutting edge of disease management: a multi-ratoon comparison of deleafing strategies.

Posted on 2026-09-30 by Ingrid Jenkins

The cutting edge of disease management: a multi-ratoon comparison of deleafing strategies.

By: Kathy Grice, David East, Daniel Farrell and Carole Wright (Department of Primary Industries)

Most banana growers are familiar with the chemical strategies and cultural practices required to keep yellow Sigatoka in check. However, prolonged wet conditions and warmer winters on the Wet Tropical Coast and Tablelands in the last few years have sustained disease levels year-round.

Trials conducted by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) from November 2022 to March 2025 compared deleafing intervals on a conventional farm on the Atherton Tablelands and a low input production system on the coastal wet tropics. The DPI’s recommended deleafing regime was evaluated against grower practice. Disease assessments and harvest data were collected in three successive ratoons which were harvested at different times of the year. The results collected over the 28 month period are summarised in the table below.

Across three successive ratoons and two contrasting production systems, the DPI deleafing practice consistently reduced leaf spot. In the coastal low‑input system, more frequent deleafing alone delivered substantial disease reductions without compromising yield. In the Tablelands conventional system, the benefits were strongest when frequent deleafing was paired with strategic use of protectant and systemic fungicides, and grower adoption of improved practices during the trial further enhanced outcomes. Importantly, increased deleafing did not negatively affect bunch weight, demonstrating that the DPI approach is an effective, yield‑neutral strategy for improving leaf spot management across different production environments.

Grower co-operator Andrew Serra was supportive of the trial work and made some significant changes to their leaf spot management. ‘Having the DPI team onsite on a regular basis allowed us to have frequent discussions and made us think more about our disease management practices. We conduct a minimum of 6 deleafing rounds per year, but this can vary depending on weather conditions and disease levels. Changing to the mancozeb program has also allowed us to increase the rate of oil, making the systemic fungicides more effective.’

This research was undertaken as part of the Banana Integrated Pest and Disease Management Program (BA21004), 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.

Panama disease Race 1 assessment results – plant and first ratoon

Posted on 2026-09-28 by Ingrid Jenkins

Panama disease Race 1 assessments - Lady Finger-like varieties
Plant and first ratoon results - Atherton Tablelands

(Trial established 2023)

New Lady Finger-like varieties identified with resistance to Fusarium wilt Race 1

By Kathy Grice, Jeff Daniells, Sharan Muthukumar, Massimo Bianco, Carole Wright and Katelyn Robertson (August 2026)

Background

At two trial sites located near Mareeba researchers have assessed eight Lady Finger-like banana varieties for their resistance to Fusarium wilt Race 1 (Foc R1), comparing them against four reference varieties across both the plant crop and first ratoon cycle. The new varieties assessed were two Silk hybrids (Princesa and Tropical), one Lady Finger hybrid (Pacovan Ken) and a semi-dwarf Lady Finger (SCS451 ‘Catarina’), all from Brazil, plus the four best tasting Goldfinger selections from Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI)’s mutagenesis program (GMS 144, GMS 521, GMS 544 and GMS 903). Previous articles about the varieties were published in Australian Bananas August 2021 pp 18-19 and December 2025 pp 20-21, and the background to these Race 1 trials in April 2024 pp 26-27, which should be referred to for further information.

Initial plant crop findings were presented to industry delegates at last year’s 2025 Australian Banana Industry Congress. To recap, only three of the new varieties had Fusarium wilt symptoms at that time. They were SCS451 with 58% of plants affected, Tropical with 20% and Pacovan Ken with 5%. Of the reference varieties, 100% of Dwarf Ducasse plants were affected and 70% of Lady Finger.

In addition to the disease incidence noted above, the internal disease symptoms were assessed at harvest by examining pseudostem vascular discoloration. Severity was rated using a 0–3 scale: 0 = No disease (Figure 1); 1 = less than 30% of leaf sheaths infected; 2 = 31–65% infection and 3 = greater than 66% infection (Figure 2).

Results

By March 2026, all first ratoon plants at both trial sites had reached harvest and disease assessments were completed. The results of disease incidence (Figure 3) is an average across both trial sites (20 plants in total of each variety) in the plant crop and first ratoon cycle. These results provide valuable insight into the field performance of the Lady Finger-like bananas grown under Atherton Tableland conditions.

Several varieties emerged as clear standouts throughout the trial. These included the four Goldfinger selections which had no disease symptoms, neither external nor internal, across both crop cycles. The mutagenesis approach used by DPI for crop improvement has not degraded the Fusarium wilt resistance of the Goldfinger parent while improving its’ eating quality which is very encouraging. Princesa was also without disease for the two crop cycles. It has good tasting fruit, which combines sweetness and a pleasantly distinctive flavour (more resembling its Silk/Sugar parentage). So, together with its disease resistance, this makes it a suitable candidate for further industry evaluation. These findings are encouraging for ongoing breeding and selection programs aimed at delivering improved Lady Finger-like bananas with disease resistance and acceptable commercial characteristics for Australian growers (Figure 4).

The semi-dwarf SCS451which tastes like Lady Finger, if not better, was imported to Australia because of its purported resistance to Fusarium wilt Race 1 in Brazil. In these trials it has exhibited slightly less symptoms of R1 disease than the industry standard, Lady Finger. The proportion of diseased plants across both the plant crop and first ratoon cycles ranged between 35-40% compared to Lady Finger which averaged 70% in both crop cycles. The performance was not as good as was hoped for, but perhaps the prospects for SCS451 may improve if combined with appropriate fallows and other crop management strategies which minimise disease severity.

Pacovan Ken was disease-free except for one plant, however, it does not have market prospects because of its inferior taste compared to Lady Finger.

Why include reference varieties?

These are included to provide a range of known levels of disease reaction and are key to the correct interpretation of results. It is not so much the absolute level of severity of disease present in the new varieties but how their level of disease severity compares with that of the reference varieties. We have included Dwarf Ducasse (very susceptible), Lady Finger (susceptible), High Noon (intermediate) and Goldfinger (resistant).”

What's next?

The best tasting varieties of those identified with Race 1 resistance are in pre-commercialisation trials in north Queensland and New South Wales. Pre-commercialisation trials help obtain grower opinions and perspectives of the performance of new varieties under commercial production conditions (see April 2026 Australian Bananas pp 24-25 for more information). In our trials these varieties have demonstrated resistance to Fusarium wilt Race 1 on the Atherton Tablelands, but the colder winters experienced in NSW may compromise some of this resistance. Additionally, subtropical Race 4 (SR4) is present in some parts of the NSW industry and the resistance of the varieties to SR4 has not been determined. So, growers evaluating the varieties need to be aware of these possible limitations. The better tasting Goldfinger selections are now being screened for resistance to tropical Race 4 (TR4) in the Northern Territory.

More information

These trials have been part of the project – New varieties for Australian banana growers (BA21002). 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.

Is your yellow Sigatoka management on track for the season ahead?

Posted on 2026-09-11 by Ingrid Jenkins

Is your yellow Sigatoka management on track for the season ahead?

As temperatures rise and conditions become more favourable for disease development, now is an ideal time to assess your yellow Sigatoka management program. The winter and spring period provides a valuable opportunity to remove infected leaf material and improve canopy health before the onset of the wet season.
Recent seasons have presented plenty of challenges for banana growers across Queensland’s wet tropics. Persistent rainfall and high humidity have created ideal conditions for disease pressure, making proactive management more important than ever.

To support growers, DPI’s Banana Extension Team has collaborated with plant pathologist David East to develop a range of yellow Sigatoka resources that highlight practical management strategies and best-practice recommendations.
David’s key recommendations include:

Make deleafing a routine part of your farm management program. Removing infected leaves is essential, as fungicide applications alone will not provide effective control.
Apply fungicides correctly and always follow label directions.
Remove diseased leaf material before applying systemic fungicides to maximise effectiveness and help reduce the risk of fungicide resistance.
Take advantage of the cooler, drier winter-spring period to clean up blocks before disease pressure increases during the wet season.

Good block hygiene and sound crop management can also play an important role in lowering disease pressure and supporting an effective yellow Sigatoka control program.

Resource links

The yellow Sigatoka information resources have been curated as part of the previous National Banana Development and Extension Program (BA19004) which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana industry research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture. The Queensland Government has also co-funded the project through the Department of Primary Industries.

FNQ 2026 Banana Roadshow Series

Posted on 2026-09-01 by Ingrid Jenkins

2026 FNQ Banana Roadshow Series Wrap-Up!

New development and extension program hits the ground running with successful roadshow series.

The new five-year National Banana Development and Extension Program, which commenced in May this year, has already hit the ground running, delivering the first events in its Banana Roadshow Series across Far North Queensland.

Held in Atherton, Tully and Innisfail in early August, the roadshows provided growers and industry stakeholders with the opportunity to hear the latest updates on a wide range of research and development initiatives impacting the Australian banana industry.

The program featured presentations on recent research findings covering biological bunch pest control, yellow Sigatoka, Sooty Blotch Flyspeck, Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4), biosecurity, exotic pests and diseases, reef water quality, nitrogen rate trials, and variety development. Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) board members also provided an industry update.

One of the highlights of the series was the popular ‘Speed Date a Researcher’ session, where participants engaged in small group discussions with researchers. Feedback indicated this format was highly beneficial, allowing growers to ask questions and discuss issues directly with industry experts.

In a new addition to the program, attendees also participated in a one-hour ‘fundamentals’ session. This back-to-basics workshop covered the life cycles and key management principles of parasitic nematodes, yellow Sigatoka and bunch pests. Participants reported finding the session particularly valuable.

Interactive displays were also featured throughout the events, encouraging further discussion and knowledge sharing between researchers and participants.

The roadshows were attended by 185 growers and industry stakeholders across the three locations, with all participants who provided feedback indicating they had learned something new that would benefit their business. Attendees also provided overwhelmingly positive feedback on both the content and format of the events. Nearly 90% of attendees who provided feedback rated the events 7 or higher out of 9!

One banana grower commented, ‘Great format. Short, punchy talks and topics. Very informative, on time and kept the interest of attendees. Thanks for the day.’

Another grower described the roadshow as a ‘great learning experience.’

Industry stakeholders also valued the opportunity to engage directly with researchers and growers, with one participant noting it was a ‘great opportunity to learn more about the issues that matter to the industry and speak to some growers.’

The DPI Banana Extension Team would like to thank all growers and industry stakeholders who participated in the roadshows. Special thanks are extended to DPI banana researchers Jeff Daniells, Richard Piper, Daniel Farrell, Kathy Grice, David East, Alex Lindsay, Dr Tony Pattison and Dr Hazel Gaza for their valuable contributions. Appreciation is also extended to Leon Collins, Tayla Mackay and Andrew Serra (ABGC), Dr Lilia Carvalhais (QAAFI), Dr Anthony James (QUT), and Alicia Buckle (Terrain NRM).

The team would also like to acknowledge the support of the Banana Industry Communications Program team, Amy Spear and Skye Orsmond, for their assistance in promoting the events and capturing images and footage throughout the roadshow series.

View the roadshow highlights video below!

The Banana Roadshow Series is delivered by the National Banana Development and Extension Program (BA25001). This program 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.

Strengthen your farm’s biosecurity this winter: Shed talks and key resources

Posted on 2026-06-22 by Ingrid Jenkins

Strengthen your farm’s biosecurity this winter: Shed talks and key resources

As the cooler months settle in and the pace of daily work eases slightly, now is the ideal time to bring the team together for some shed talks. This is a great opportunity to strengthen your farm’s biosecurity by focusing on staff training and raising awareness of potential threats. A small investment of time now could make a significant difference in safeguarding your livelihood.

Let’s work together to keep your farm safe and thriving. Are you ready to take action? Do your staff know what to watch for and how to respond if they notice anything unusual?

To get started, here are a few key pests to keep on your radar: Black Sigatoka, Banana freckle, Panama disease tropical race 4, Moko, Banana bunchy top virus.

To support your efforts, a variety of helpful resources are available. Here are a few key ones to explore:

If you’d like to discuss biosecurity on your farm or need assistance with training and information resources, please contact the DPI Banana Extension Team via betterbananas@dpi.qld.gov.au. Alternatively, you can reach out to ABGC’s Grower Support team via growersupport@abgc.org.au.

Remember: If you or your staff spot any unusual symptoms, please phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

This seasonal update was developed by the National Banana Development and Extension Program (BA25001) which is 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.

Monitoring to improve supply chain handling

Posted on 2026-06-19 by Ingrid Jenkins

Monitoring to improve supply chain handling

Monitoring data suggests there are opportunities to enhance post harvest handling of bananas to deliver more consistent fruit quality.

Consignment monitoring data

Banana consignments risk market rejection if they arrive over-ripe or with chilling injury, often caused by dispatching, consolidating and/or transporting fruit at unsuitable temperatures. Monitoring of 51 Cavendish consignments using real-time autonomous data loggers across domestic and export supply chains revealed several areas for improvement. Here is a snapshot of the findings:

80% of consignments were dispatched at temperatures exceeding 20°C. Fruit should be pre-cooled to 13-14°C before being dispatched.

Warmer handling temperatures were linked to consignment rejection due to fruit arriving in the domestic market with advanced peel colour.

Export fruit underwent inconsistent ethylene gas-ripening, ranging from 1-3 days at 15-17°C.

Approximately 25% of domestic road freight loads and nearly 70% of airfreight export shipments experienced temperatures below 13°C for periods ranging from 6 hours to 9 days.
Export consignments were exposed to temperatures below 13°C when transported with mixed commodity loads requiring lower storage temperatures (e.g. 5°C).

Supply chain simulation trials

While monitoring the consignments, controlled supply chain simulation trials were conducted to assess the effects of various handling scenarios on fruit quality. These trials provided a clearer understanding of the impact of postharvest handling. Here is a snapshot of the findings:

Pre-cooling of fruit from an ambient 31°C to 14°C in 6 hours reduced rates of peel colour development by 22% compared to bananas that were gradually cooled to 14°C during 4 days of simulated road transport.
A standard ethylene treatment with 100 parts per million of ethylene for 2 days at 16°C was optimal for coordinating rapid uniform fruit ripening.
Exposure of summer produced fruit to temperatures of 10-12°C for 24-48 hours was sufficient to cause visible chilling injury, which could lead to consignment rejection.
Insulated packaging was identified as an option to reduce the risk of fruit developing chilling injury.
Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) was found to extend the fruit storage life by 1-2 days and reduce the risk of mould development 10-fold relative to standard perforated plastic liners during simulated sea freight for 3-4 weeks.

Key takeaways

Affordable real-time temperature dataloggers provide alerts if fruit are handled too warm or cold, enabling rapid intervention to reduce losses. Monitoring consignments safeguards grower returns, strengthens logistics, and helps cut food waste. (Factsheet for more information)
Regular monitoring, communication and sharing of information between supply chain partners is critical for increasing trust and collaboration and improving fruit quality outcomes.
Insulated packaging can slow rates of fruit cooling in cold storage environments, with Air-cell liners extending protection by 6-7 hours and Styrofoam boxes by up to 19 hours. Prompt transfer to 14-15°C on arrival prevents damage, reduces waste, and maintains quality. (Fact sheet for more information)
MAP, including biodegradable options, offers producers and exporters an effective solution to maintain fruit freshness and reduce waste. (Fact sheet for more information)
The Ripen Right app for predicting fruit chilling and ripening outcomes is now available (see below)

More information and resources

Ripen Right

This interactive app is designed to support informed decision making by growers and their supply chain partners to reduce banana waste by predicting chilling injury risk and fruit ripening outcomes. Developed from over five years of research, it combines real-world monitoring, laboratory trials, and fruit assessments to guide supply chain decisions. The Chilling Injury Tool estimates rejection risk from low-temperature exposure, while the Colour Development Tool predicts peel colour stage from temperature–time data for post-ripened fruit. Together, they support growers, packers, and exporters to optimise storage, transport, and ripening practices, reducing industry losses and ensuring better fruit quality at market.

Download fact sheets

If you want to get in touch with the researchers of this work, contact the DPI Banana Extension team via email: betterbananas@dpi.qld.gov.au

Grower collaboration and acknowledgement

This collaborative work was undertaken with Pacific Coast Eco Bananas growers and their Ecoganic®, organic and conventional fruit. We thank them for their collaboration and willingness to share insights with the broader industry.

This work has been supported by the End Food Waste Cooperative Research Centre, whose activities are funded by the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centre Program, plus investment from Department of Primary Industries and Pacific Coast Produce.

Biosecurity in Action: Michael’s Story

Posted on 2026-04-27 by Ingrid Jenkins

Biosecurity in Action: Michael's Story

By Ingrid Jenkins on behalf of the DPI Banana Extension Team

Safeguarding a family legacy

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.

The threat of Fusarium wilt

Michael and his family currently grow Dwarf Rossi and Ducasse banana varieties. Both are highly susceptible to Fusarium wilt race 1 and subtropical race 4, which continue to spread across New South Wales banana-growing regions, significantly impacting growers.

There is also the ever-present risk of the introduction of the virulent strain, Fusarium wilt tropical race 4, which is not currently in NSW. Biosecurity is a big focus for Michael, who said: ‘As a third-generation banana farmer, with my son now stepping in as the fourth, we have a long history of growing bananas. I want to ensure that we can continue to grow bananas in years to come. That’s why I couldn’t just sit on my hands and hope we didn’t get Panama disease. Investing in biosecurity is about protecting everything we’ve worked for and securing a future for my son and the business.’

Building stronger biosecurity practices

Over the past 12 months, Michael has significantly enhanced his biosecurity measures, building on his existing practices such as exclusion zoning – limiting non-essential entry into his farm, boot exchange with dedicated farm boots, entry footbath, signage, and a secure front gate.

Michael is also proactive in having conversations with delivery drivers and service providers about his biosecurity procedures, ensuring that they use the dedicated footbath, disinfect their floor mats and providing an overview of what’s required of them. ‘Once they get the idea it’s OK. However, people can become complacent, so you need to keep on top of who is visiting and make sure they are doing the right thing,’ Michael said.

Among his new initiatives, Michael has constructed a perimeter fence along the boundary of a neighbouring banana farm to prevent the crossover of vehicles, machinery, and people. Additionally, he has developed a gravel carpark area that doubles as a space for vehicle cleaning and disinfecting for equipment, vehicles and vehicle floor mats. To support this, Michael installed a high-pressure cleaning system, which includes a slab and purpose-built cabinet to house a high-pressure washer. Above the washer sits a 1000-litre shuttle containing the disinfectant solution, which uses gravity to prime the system—eliminating the need for a separate pump.

Other simple biosecurity measures Michael has implemented

Conversations that led to action

Michael had been considering implementing these new initiatives to strengthen his biosecurity for some time. He sought advice and exchanged ideas with several key biosecurity experts, including ABGC’s R&D Manager Rosie Godwin, Tegan Cavallaro and Stewart Lindsay from Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries (DPI), and Steven Norman from New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). However, as Michael noted, having the knowledge and engaging in regular discussions about biosecurity doesn’t always lead to action.

A key moment came for Michael late last year when Far North Queensland banana farmer and ABGC board member Andrew Serra visited his farm. Over dinner that evening, a grower-to-grower conversation with Andrew became the turning point that inspired Michael to finally put his long-considered plans for a wash-down area and disinfecting system into action. ‘Timing is everything. I was out installing a fence when Andrew visited, and we started talking about biosecurity. Andrew was able to offer advice specific to my farm and business. Every farm is different, with its own unique layout, topography, size of business and Andrew understood that what worked for him wouldn’t necessarily work for me. Instead, he helped me think through what would be the best approach for my situation. Having those earlier conversations with key experts was invaluable, and when I spoke with another grower like Andrew, it all came together, and we were able to figure out the right solution,’ Michael said.

Michael has kept his biosecurity measures as simple as possible and is confident that they are well-suited to his farm’s specific needs. While he acknowledges that some factors affecting his farm are beyond his control, he is confident that he is doing everything possible to manage the aspects within his control.

Paying it forward

When asked how he would ‘pay it forward’ and share the advice he received with other growers thinking about biosecurity, Michael said: ‘Take the first step and make a change – don’t put it in the too-hard basket. Start having conversations. There are industry experts and fellow growers who are more than willing to share their experiences and knowledge to help.’

Get in touch

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.

Acknowledgements

A heartfelt thank you to Michael Singh for generously sharing his story and taking the time to contribute to this article.

Funding acknowledgement

This story has been written as part of the National Banana Development and Extension Program (BA25001). This program is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana industry research and development levies, 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.

Agronomic evaluation of Lady Finger-like varieties – first ratoon results

Posted on 2026-01-21 by Ingrid Jenkins

First ratoon results - agronomic evaluation of Lady Finger-like varieties

(Trial established December 2022)

Exploring new options for Australia's Lady Finger growers

By Katie Robertson, Jeff Daniells, Sharan Muthukumar and Carole Wright (December 2025)

Latest update...

The agronomic performance and taste of several Lady Finger-like varieties were evaluated over a plant crop and first ratoon at the South Johnstone Research Facility. The semi-dwarf Lady Finger selection, SCS451 from Brazil, looks promising with its high yield, short stature, pendulous bunch and desirable eating characteristics. On-farm trials are currently in progress on the Atherton Tablelands, examining the Fusarium wilt Race 1 resistance of several of these varieties.

As Fusarium wilt Race 1 continues to spread across Lady Finger production areas in Queensland and New South Wales, the search is on for alternative, disease-resistant varieties which could help reinforce this small, yet important share of Australian banana production. Under the project BA21002 ‘New varieties for Australian banana growers’, the agronomic performance of several Lady Finger-like varieties (Lady Finger selections, Lady Finger hybrids, Silk hybrids) with purported resistance to Fusarium wilt Race 1, were evaluated over a plant crop and first ratoon at the South Johnstone Research Facility. In-house taste panels were also conducted to gain preliminary feedback on the fruits’ eating quality and see how they align with consumer taste preferences. Staff were asked to rate their overall eating experience of the fruit on a scale of 1 – 9 (dislike extremely – like extremely) and leave any comments to further explain their rating.

The plant crop results are summarised in the August 2024 edition of Australian Bananas (pp. 22 – 23), which highlighted and explained the offtype issues identified in the control Lady Finger plants. This problem subsequently left only one plant for comparison with the new varieties. However, earlier studies on the research station suggest the data from this plant is agronomically similar in terms of height and finger length, but cycle time was more rapid than what has previously been observed (which would be more comparable to SCS451).

Key findings

Some key findings from the completed trial are as follows:

Japira, Pacovan Ken, Pacovan and SCS451 produced the heaviest bunches, with the latter three yielding the highest across a 12-month average (cumulative yield) when cycle time was accounted for.
SCS451 was shorter in stature than the other varieties at 3.5 m, followed by Platina at 4.0 m. Princesa and Tropical were comparable to Lady Finger at 4.3 m, while the remaining varieties were taller (the tallest was Japira at 5.4 m). As was noted in the plant crop, the increased height made several aspects of crop management more challenging.
Japira had the longest fruit, measuring 24.6 cm on the third hand, while Princesa and Tropical had the shortest fruit (16.8 cm).
Despite Tropical bunches emerging in winter in the first ratoon, it had the shortest fruit filling period of 107 days. However, it took longer to reach bunch emergence, resulting in it having the slowest cycle time overall.
Bunches of the SCS451 threw well clear of the throat which contrasted with the related Santa Catarina Prata that often exhibits various degrees of choke-throat symptoms. Pacovan and Pacovan Ken also exhibited more pendulous bunches than Lady Finger.
The taste ratings improved for all varieties in the first ratoon compared to their relatively poor performance in the plant crop, except SCS451 which maintained a consistent score of ‘like moderately’. It was enjoyed for its balanced sweetness/acidity and firmer texture.
In the case of Princesa, it jumped from having a rating of 4.1 (dislike slightly) to being on par with SCS451 in the first ratoon with a ‘like moderately’ rating. One explanation for this is that fruit in the plant crop contained several mature seeds which negatively impacted the eating experience (although comments were also made on it having an unpleasant flavour). However, no seeds were present in the first ratoon fruit, and the texture was positively described with words like ‘soft’ and ‘creamy’. Several comments were made about its ‘unique’ and ‘unusual’ flavour with some describing it to have notes of passionfruit or papaya.
In the first ratoon SCS451, Princesa and Pacovan achieved comparable taste scores to Lady Finger (‘like moderately’).
Pacoua and Pacovan Ken remained the least favoured varieties out of those tasted, primarily attributed to their softer, ‘slimy’ texture.

Several of these varieties are being screened to confirm Race 1 resistance in two on-farm trials on the Atherton Tablelands. Look out for an update on plant crop results from those trials in a future issue of Australian Bananas.

Results

Table: The yield and plant characteristics along with the score of the fruit’s overall eating experience. Mature bunches from the varieties Japira and Tropical were unavailable at the correct time to include in the taste panelling for the first ratoon.

More information...

This research has been funded as part of the project New varieties for Australian banana growers (BA21002), which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana industry research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture. The Queensland Government has also co-funded the project through the Department of Primary Industries.

Keep vigilant on banana freckle

Posted on 2025-10-01 by Ingrid Jenkins

By Ingrid Jenkins – DPI Banana Extension Team

Keep vigilant on banana freckle!

Banana freckle is an exotic fungal disease of bananas that can negatively impact plant health, productivity and fruit quality. The disease is caused by the fungus Phyllosticta and different species can impact different varieties.

In 2013, the species Phyllosticta cavendishii was first detected in the Northern Territory. This race affects Cavendish and non-Cavendish bananas, posing a significant risk to the Australian banana industry, with Cavendish bananas accounting for approximately 97% of production.

Since the initial detection, P. cavendishii has been subject to eradication responses under Australia’s national emergency response arrangements. In December 2024, the National Management Group agreed that banana freckle is not technically feasible to eradicate from Australia and the response in the Northern Territory will transition to the next phase being long-term management of the disease supported by official control requirements.¹

Movement restrictions are in place to stop the movement of plants, plant material and fruit from infected or suspect premises. Further, Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia prohibit the entry of banana fruit and plant material from the Northern Territory, with quarantine checkpoints at some state borders.

Symptoms of banana freckle on a leaf of a cultivar in the Cavendish subgroup © Department of Primary Industries

Banana freckle symptoms on Cavendish fruit © Department of Primary Industries

Symptoms and how it spreads.

Symptoms include small dark raised spots, 1 – 4mm in diameter on banana fruit and leaves. The raised texture is a result of the fungal structures protruding through the plant surface and have a sandpapery feel when you touch them. The spots may join to form streaks.²

Banana freckle is considered a ‘wet-spore’ organism and moves short distances by water droplet splash and wind-driven rain. The fungus is spread over larger distances by people moving infected fruit, leaves and suckers used for planting.²

Also present in Australia is Phyllostica maculata that causes similar symptoms on bananas. Banana freckle caused by P. maculata is very uncommon in Queensland and affects Lady Finger and Bluggoe varieties but not Cavendish.²

Phyllosticta musarum is another species that can cause banana freckle overseas, however it has not been detected in Australia.²

Putting banana freckle in the conversation!

Symptoms of banana freckle on fruit of a cultivar in the Cavendish subgroup © Department of Primary Industries

Symptoms of banana freckle on a leaf of a cultivar in the Cavendish subgroup. Aggregates of spots are often associated with leaf veins as illustrated in this image. © Department of Primary Industries

Banana plants with severe banana freckle symptoms in Indonesian plantation © Department of Primary Industries

Vigilance is key. If you see something, say something.

To keep the Australian banana industry safe, it’s important that banana growers and anyone who grows backyard bananas of any variety, regularly check plants and report anything unusual by calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

Australian Government – Outbreak Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases. Banana freckle (Phyllostica cavendishii) [Internet]. Australia; 2023 Sept 7 [cited 2025 Sept 23]. Available from: https://www.outbreak.gov.au/current-outbreaks/banana-freckle
Queensland Government – Business Queensland. Banana Freckle [Internet]. Queensland; 2025 Aug 5 [cited 2025 Sept 23]. Available from: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/biosecurity/plants/priority-pest-disease/banana-freckle

This information has been curated as part of the National Banana Development and Extension Program, funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana research and development levies and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture. The Queensland Government has also co-funded the project through the Department of Primary Industries.

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Keep vigilant on banana freckle!

Banana freckle is an exotic fungal disease of bananas that can negatively impact plant health, productivity and fruit quality. The disease is caused by the fungus Phyllosticta and different species can impact different varieties.

In 2013, the species Phyllosticta cavendishii was first detected in the Northern Territory. This race affects Cavendish and non-Cavendish bananas, posing a significant risk to the Australian banana industry, with Cavendish bananas accounting for approximately 97% of production.

Symptoms and how it spreads.

Symptoms include small dark raised spots, 1 – 4mm in diameter on banana fruit and leaves. The raised texture is a result of the fungal structures protruding through the plant surface and have a sandpapery feel when you touch them. The spots may join to form streaks.²

Banana freckle is considered a ‘wet-spore’ organism and moves short distances by water droplet splash and wind-driven rain. The fungus is spread over larger distances by people moving infected fruit, leaves and suckers used for planting.²

Also present in Australia is Phyllostica maculata that causes similar symptoms on bananas. Banana freckle caused by P. maculata is very uncommon in Queensland and affects Lady Finger and Bluggoe varieties but not Cavendish.²

Phyllosticta musarum is another species that can cause banana freckle overseas, however it has not been detected in Australia.²

Vigilance is key. If you see something, say something.

To keep the Australian banana industry safe, it’s important that banana growers and anyone who grows backyard bananas of any variety, regularly check plants and report anything unusual by calling the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

More information:

Panama disease Race 1 assessments - Lady Finger-like varieties
Plant and first ratoon results - Atherton Tablelands