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Shanara Veivers

Posted on by Better Bananas

Shanara Veivers

Diversity and hard work paves the path for a rewarding career in horticulture.

It’s not every day you find a job that sees you out and about doing field work, running lab experiments, organising and facilitating events, and visiting banana growers on farm. This is all in a day’s work for Research Horticulturist Shanara Veivers, who has gained a diverse range of experience since starting with the Department approximately four years ago.

As an integral member of the banana extension team, Shanara has been responsible for managing an innovation trial based at the South Johnstone Research Facility. This has involved investigating a number of ‘out of the box’ concepts focused on increasing agronomic and environmental performance of banana farming systems. Some of her research areas have included the effects of different de-suckering methods, ground covers, ‘softer’ chemical options, and more recently the use of entomopathogenic nematodes for the control of banana weevil borer and bunch pests.

Meet a researcher

Shanara Veivers
Research Horticulturist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Ecosciences Precinct 
Brisbane 

When she isn’t working in the trial, Shanara’s time is spent undertaking farm visits, conducting small demonstration trials as well as planning and organising extension events for industry, including the National Banana Roadshows.

Growing up in Queensland’s beautiful Far North, Shanara has always felt an affinity with the environment and agriculture. It’s not surprising that this interest led her to complete a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Environmental Science, at James Cook University in Townsville. Shanara says, ‘Growing up in the local region, where agriculture, particularly banana production is so important for our community, the most exciting part of my role is being a part of the banana farming community. Working with leading scientists and industry stakeholders and being able to provide growers with the latest R&D as well as practical solutions for their farming operations gives me the greatest satisfaction.’

In recognition of Shanara’s contribution to banana research, development and extension activities, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has nominated her for the 2020 Queensland Women in STEM Prize.
Away from work, Shanara enjoys being outdoors and keeping active. She said without a doubt bananas are a staple fruit at home, with banana pancakes topping the list as her favourite banana recipe.

Kathy Grice

Posted on by Better Bananas

Kathy Grice

Horticulture's jewel in the north!

For horticultural producers, plant diseases can be the bane of your existence. That’s why many turn to Kathy Grice for assistance. Working in plant pathology for the past 33 years, Kathy offers a wealth of knowledge and experience to help diagnose plant diseases as well as providing management options. With her career based in Far North Queensland a large portion of Kathy’s time has been working on solutions for Australian banana growers.

Kathy’s work is primarily in diagnostics. Banana samples sent to her lab in Mareeba vary from leaf and fruit disorders to corm and root diseases. The primary objective of Kathy’s work in diagnostics is to ensure exotic plant pathogens are not present in our local banana industry. The importance of her diagnostic work is best exemplified by her key role in the black Sigatoka response that resulted in the successful eradication of the disease in Far North Queensland in the early-mid 2000s. 

More recently, Kathy and colleague Peter Trevorrow have focussed their research on the post-harvest quality issue of Crown end rot. As part of this work they have  looked into ‘softer’ control options as an alternative to registered fungicides, with some biological products showing promising results. 

Kathy Grice
Senior Experimentalist (Plant Pathology)
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Mareeba Research Station, Mareeba, Qld

Recently Kathy was awarded the prestigious ‘Lester Burgess Diagnostics and Extension Award’ for her contribution to her field of plant pathology and service to horticultural industries.

When asked what she enjoyed most about her work, Kathy responded, ‘The most exciting or rewarding part of any research is being able to provide a grower/s or an industry with a solution to a particular problem or issue.  I think I enjoy the variety in the work (a mix of laboratory and field work) and learning new ways of tackling research.’

Kathy is a Mareeba resident and an amateur twitcher, so you may find her bird watching in her free time. She also enjoys yoga and travelling overseas to experience different cultures and food. 

Panama disease TR4 variety screening trial

Posted on by Better Bananas

Contributions by:
Sharl Mintoff1, Samantha Cullen1, Chris Kelly1, Maxine Piggott1 and Jeff Daniells2
1Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade, Darwin, NT
2Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, South Johnstone, QLD

Latest update...

Main trial
Eight varieties have demonstrated better resistance to TR4 than Formosana, which include two Cavendish selections being considered for the next phase of pre-commercialisation trials. Three of the hybrids from the CIRAD breeding program in the French West Indies displayed better resistance than Goldfinger. Click here for results!

Sub-trial
Four parents with stellar TR4 resistance have been identified. This will assist international banana breeding programs to incorporate TR4 resistance into new varieties. Click here for results! 

Coastal Plains trial site
Plant crop of the 2018 screening trial taken in August 2019, 8 months after planting.

Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4) continues to be a major threat to the Australian banana industry. Finding varieties that are resistant to Panama disease TR4 is a key component for continuing to produce bananas in the presence of the disease.

Over recent years variety screening trials have been running in the Northern Territory where the disease was declared endemic after its detection in the late 1990s. 

About the trial

Conducted at the Coastal Plains Research Farm the trial was established on a site infested with Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4).  This trial is part of the project ‘Improved plant protection for the banana industry’ (BA16001). The overall trial screened 31 varieties (including three reference varieties) and assessed their resistance to Panama disease tropical race 4 (TR4). In summary the trial includes:

Main trial

  • 17 varieties, planted in December 2018

  • plants artificially inoculated with Panama disease TR4

  • 24 plants of each variety (6 plants per replicate over 4 replicates)

  • randomised complete block design

  • three varieties with known response to Panama disease TR4 are included in the trial; Goldfinger                   
    (resistant), Formosana/GCTCV218 (intermediate) and Williams Cavendish (susceptible)

  • fortnightly assessments.

Tissue culture plants received in mid-September 2018 (Image courtesy of Northern Territory DITT).
Planting and inoculation occured in mid-December 2018 (Image courtesy of Northern Territory DITT).

List of varieties

Sub-trial

The sub-trial consists mainly of parental lines from the CIRAD breeding program. This is a smaller trial in number due to difficulty replicating the lines using tissue culture. Results from this trial will provide useful information back to the breeding program on the level of resistance that parent material and hybrids have to Panama disease TR4. The trial includes:

• 17 varieties, planted in December 2018

• plants artificially inoculated with Panama disease TR4

• 10 plants of each variety (1 plant per replicate over 10 replicates)

• randomised complete block design

• fortnightly assessments.

List of varieties

Trial progress

Williams Cavendish was the first variety to show disease symptoms in April 2019, approximately five months after planting. Disease assessments were carried out fortnightly once external symptoms became apparent in a susceptible variety. Assessments included noting the appearance of external disease symptoms and internal symptoms at plant death or harvest. The trial ran for 20 months with most of the surviving varieties completing their first ratoon crop cycle. The final disease assessments were completed in August 2020. Click here for the plant and first ratoon results for the main trial. 

Image of Williams Cavendish taken in late May 2019, approximately 6 months after planting. The plant crop showing external symptoms of Panama disease TR4.
Cut pseudostem of Williams Cavendish. Image shows severe internal symptoms of the disease, with discolouration and blockage of vascular tissue. (Image courtesy of Northern Territory DITT).
Goldfinger variety showing good disease resistance (August 2019).

More information...

This research has been funded as part of the project Improved Plant Protection for the Banana Industry (BA16001), which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana research and development levy, co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Northern Territory Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade 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 variety screening trial (Duranbah, NSW)

Posted on by Better Bananas

Why screen for disease resistance to Panama disease race 1

If you are a non-Cavendish grower, then you are likely to already know the answer. Panama disease is caused by a soil borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense. The disease initially infects the banana plant through the roots, then moves through the plant into the vascular system inside the pseudostem.  It eventually blocks the vascular tissue causing plant death. Different strains of the disease are known as races. Panama disease R1 is present in many production regions in Australia and infects varieties such as Lady Finger, Ducasse and some cooking bananas, but not Cavendish. Finding banana varieties with resistance to Panama disease R1 is the focus of the subtropical variety evaluations underway at Duranbah, NSW. Results from the Duranbah trial should be relevant to all subtropical growing areas with Panama disease R1.

Dwarf Ducasse at trial site showing external symptoms of Panama disease race 1.
Cut pseudostem of Dwarf Ducasse showing internal symptoms of Panama disease race 1.

History of the Duranbah trial site

Panama disease R1 wiped out a Lady Finger plantation on the current Duranbah site over 30 years ago. The land was then used to grow other crops, including avocados, and was fallow for several years before the trial began. Now the site is used for variety screening evaluations, with the initial trial planted in February 2012 as part of the Banana Plant Protection Project (BA10020).

The variety Lady Finger is very susceptible to Panama disease R1 and tissue cultured plants of this variety were grown on the site initially to confirm the continued presence of the disease. To guarantee the disease was evenly distributed when the trials were conducted, infected millet seed was incorporated into each planting hole, ensuring each plant in the trial is being assessed under the same disease pressure. 

The initial trials included three phases: 

Phase 1 – plants were grown with the sole purpose of determining if they survived Panama disease R1.

Phase 2 – varieties that showed Panama disease R1 resistance were grown to collect growth data including plant height, girth, cycling time and bunch data.

Phase 3 – standout varieties, called ‘best bets’, are being grown in semi-commercial plantings to determine ripening and handling conditions and to undertake consumer acceptance. Phase 3 is happening in the current project,  the Improved Plant Protection Program for the Banana Industry BA16001.

Twenty-nine different varieties have been or are currently being screened for resistance to Panama disease R1. In BA10020, 13 varieties were tested and 16 are in the current trial which is part of BA16001. 

Current trial

Sixteen local and imported varieties are currently being screened in the Panama disease R1 high pressure site. Varieties are rated according to their resistance or susceptibility to the disease by rating both the development of external and internal symptoms. External symptoms include yellowing of leaves and splitting of pseudostem, while vascular discolouration is rated internally at harvest or when plants die. Samples from plants suspected to be infected with Panama disease R1 are sent for laboratory diagnostics to confirm the presence of the disease.

The plants in this evaluation were deleafed and desuckered as per commercial practice and growth data, including cycle time, bunch weight, number of fingers and finger size are being collected.

Varieties that are showing good disease resistance at the plant crop stage in the latest screening trial include: 

   • Brier – a Dwarf Cavendish selection from the Canary Islands

   • D5 – a Cavendish clone from South Africa 

   • JV 42.41 – a Lady Finger hybrid from Brazil.

The three ‘best bets’ varieties, PKZ, FHIA-17 and FHIA-25 were established in a semi-commercial planting in February 2018, in a separate block from the disease resistance evaluation trial. These varieties are managed in accordance with commercial practices to evaluate their agronomic performance under typical subtropical growing conditions. The first bunches were harvested in August 2019. Agronomic data is being collected from these plantings and the fruit is being used to develop growing, ripening and handling recommendations, and to undertake consumer acceptance testing. PKZ and FHIA-17 are dessert cultivars and FHIA-25 is a cooking banana.

And finally, due to interest from local markets the trial is also looking at some niche varieties such as Pacific Plantain and Santa Catarina Prata. Unfortunately, early observations indicate that these varieties are susceptible to Panama disease R1.

'Best bet' block in May 2019, established to evaluate the agronomic performance of banana vareities PKZ, FHIA-17 and FHIA-25.
JV 42.41 a hybrid Lady Finger type from Brazil. This variety has shown good disease resistance, bunch and finger size in the plant crop and the fruit looks and tastes like a traditional Lady Finger. (Photo courtesy of NSW DPI)
JV 42.41 a hybrid Lady Finger type from Brazil. This variety has shown good disease resistance, bunch and finger size in the plant crop and the fruit looks and tastes like a traditional Lady Finger. (Photo courtesy of NSW DPI)
JV 42.41 a hybrid Lady Finger type from Brazil. This variety has shown good disease resistance, bunch and finger size in the plant crop and the fruit looks and tastes like a traditional Lady Finger. (Photo courtesy of NSW DPI)
JV 42.41 a hybrid Lady Finger type from Brazil. This variety has shown good disease resistance, bunch and finger size in the plant crop and the fruit looks and tastes like a traditional Lady Finger. (Photo courtesy of NSW DPI)
Brier bunch. Brier is a Dwarf Cavendish selection from the Canary Islands growing well in the presence of Panama disease R1.

List of varieties

This research has been funded as part of the Improved Plant Protection for the Banana Industry Program (BA16001), which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana research and development levy, co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and the New South Wales 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.

New test helps product screening for Chalara management

Posted on by Better Bananas

New test helps product screening for Chalara management

Multiple fungal organisms are known to cause Crown end rot (CER) in bananas. The following research is focused on the more serious form of CER commonly known as Chalara where the rot extends into the fruit (caused by Thielaviopsis musarum). Disease symptoms are typically observed in the supply chain during cooler periods of the year (winter). Chalara is sporadic in occurrence, making it difficult to conduct research trials with the disease. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries researchers have now developed an inoculation technique that mimics the development of Chalara in the supply chain, enabling researchers to screen and evaluate alternative management options.

There are two post-harvest fungicides currently registered for use in Australia to help manage CER. Although these treatments are effective against the fungi that cause CER, growers have expressed a need for non-chemical options for managing the disease, particularly those with organic status.

The inoculation technique has now been used to determine efficacy of the currently registered fungicides, alternative fungicides and biological products.

Results

Overall, the inoculation technique developed is rapid and reliable and the results are reproducible. Even though the technique was specific for Chalara (T. musarum), crown mould assessments were also obtained. Ideally a successful test product should have efficacy against T. musarum and the range of fungi that cause crown mould.

Prior to conducting this research there was only anecdotal evidence that the current registered projects had efficacy against T. musarum, but this has now been confirmed, with both Tecto® and Protak® effective in halting the development of Chalara. Results also showed that some biological products are capable of managing Chalara and reducing levels of crown mould.

Participating companies have been supplied the results for their products. They can use the results to support registration applications and/or determine which products are worth investing in further trials. It is hoped this work will lead to product registration adding alternative management options for growers.

Crown end rot
Fruit inoculated in suspension of T. musarum (concentration is 1 million spores per ml).
Crown end rot
Fruit artificially inoculated with T. musarum. This photo was taken one week after inoculation, following storage and ripening under near commercial conditions.
Crown end rot
One alternative fungicide and one biological product provided excellent management of T. musarum. Photo taken of alternative fungicide.

Remember...

Before using any chemicals, always check the current registration status and read the product label. Label and permit details can be accessed via APVMA website: www.apvma.gov.au
This work was undertaken as part of the ‘Enhancing the outcomes of BA13011-Crown end rot investigations’ funded as part of Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Horticulture and Forestry Science development funding. 

Meet a researcher – David East

Posted on by Better Bananas

David East

Unravelling the mysteries of plant diseases

Agriculture has always been a big part of David’s life. Growing up on a mixed grazing property just north of Orange in the Central Tablelands of NSW, he went on to study Systems Agriculture at The University of Western Sydney. After finishing Uni, David worked in the cotton industry in Western NSW before taking an opportunity to manage a large forestry nursery. It was David’s career in the forestry sector that led him to move to Tully with his young family, managing propagation for a large forestry company. In 2014, David decided on a different career path, taking on a technical laboratory position with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries based at South Johnstone.

Since joining the Department David has forged a successful career in plant pathology.  His current research work involves a yellow Sigatoka leaf spot trial, evaluating the effectiveness of new chemistry and ‘softer options’ for control. In addition to this work, he is also busy providing general diagnostics for the banana industry.

David East
Plant Pathologist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture, South Johnstone, Qld

We asked David what is the most exciting part of his research. ‘The most exciting part of my current research is exploring new solutions to perennial problems within the banana industry. The most enjoyable part of my job is diagnostics. Each sample is its own little mystery. It is incredibly satisfying to identify the problem, explore the factors that led up to issue, and to advise ways to avoid it happening again’. 

 

Outside of the lab David enjoys gardening, spending time with his family, playing guitar and fishing. His favourite banana recipe is banana bread, which he often enjoys for smoko. 

Banana bunch cover trial

Posted on by Better Bananas

The colour of your bunch covers may help control banana rust thrips

Banana rust thrips continue to be a significant pest for banana growers with levels of damage increasing in recent years. The thrips cause damage by feeding on the skin of immature banana fruit which causes reddish-brown marks. Growers are reporting that even fruit with low levels of damage are not meeting market specifications.

So what role does the colour of bunch covers play in rust thrips damage? Interest amongst researchers was sparked after previous work had shown that rust thrips respond differently to different coloured sticky traps. This prompted researchers to have a look into the effect that different coloured bunch covers have on thrips damage. The aim is to find non-chemical control methods as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy.

Bunch cover trial at South Johnstone Research Station. Orange and purple bunch covers seen in the photo had higher levels of thrips damage in the initial trial.
Severe damage caused by Banana rust thrips. In some cases splitting of the fruit skin can occur. This fruit would be rejected by the market place.
Banana rust thrips adult and nymph. Thrips cause damage to the skin of banana fruit but do not impact the eating quality of the fruit.

Initial trial results are encouraging and do show a difference in the level of damage caused by thrips depending on the colour of the bunch covers used. In this trial no chemical treatment was applied to the bunch after bell injection and the bunch cover was applied as per commercial timing. Orange, yellow and purple bunch covers showed damage above commercially acceptable levels in this scenario. The best performer was a paper bunch cover with a polyethylene ‘cloth’ liner. Light blue and white also produced similar low levels of damage compared with some other colours. 

Finger length, colour and bloom were also assessed with results indicating that bag colour has no significant effect on these fruit quality attributes. 

Based on the initial trial results growers should consider using bunch cover colours that have a low thrips damage rating. This coupled with standard insecticide treatments applied at bunch covering should provide the best level of control. Further work is underway to expand these results by testing new colour and liner combinations. Recommendations of the latest trial will be available to growers in the coming months. 

More information

More information on trial and initial results

This research is funded as part of the Improved Plant Protection for the Banana Industry Program (BA16001), which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana research and development levy, co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

Banana bunch cover trial information

Posted on by Better Bananas

Effects of using different coloured bunch covers on banana rust thrips damage

About the trial

The trial looked into the effect that different coloured bunch covers have on Banana rust thrips damage. The aim is to find non-chemical control methods as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy.

The only chemical treatment applied in the trial was omethoate injected at bell emergence to ensure researchers were only measuring the influence that bunch covers had on rust thrips damage. This meant that there was no damage to the fruit before the bunch covers were put on.

As per commercial practice, bunch covers were placed on bunches when all the bracts had fallen off, approximately a fortnight after bunch emergence. At the time of bagging, the bell and the false hand plus one were removed.

Rust thrips damage was assessed at harvest by examining the surface of 5 central fingers from the top, middle and bottom hands of the bunch.

The presence and extent of damage on the fingers assessed was recorded using a scale of 0 to 4. Rating 1 is defined by a faint halo and is considered the maximum rating for a commercially acceptable level of damage.

Black arrows show the position of fingers that were assessed from the inner whorl of fruit. These fingers were taken from the top, middle and bottom hands of the bunch.
Rating scale used to assess level of rust thrips damage. Rating 1 is regarded as the maximum damage level that would be commercially accepted.

Measuring the effect that bunch cover colours had on other fruit quality characteristics was also important to ensure they didn’t have a negative impact. The following fruit quality attributes were therefore assessed at harvest.

  • Finger length and diameter
  • Colour (Hue, chroma and lightness) of the peel at fruit colour stage 1 and 6
  • Bloom (the ‘lustre’ or ‘shine’ of the fruit) was assessed photographically to assess peel reflectance 

* Note – Omethoate was registered at the time the trial was conducted and has since been deregistered. Before using any chemicals always check the current registration status and read the product label. Label and permit details can be accessed via the APVMA website, www.apvma.gov.au. 

Results from the initial trial indicate that colours do play a role in level of rust thrips damage

The initial trial results showed a lot of variation in the damage caused by banana rust thrips with respect to different bunch cover colours.  

Orange, yellow and purple bunch covers had levels of damage above commercially acceptable levels. Statistically, orange had a significantly higher level of damage compared to all other covers. 

The best performer was a paper bunch cover with a polyethylene ‘cloth’ liner. This was the only bunch cover that had a liner in the initial trial. Therefore a new trial is looking at the impact of liners in combination with different bunch cover colours. Light blue and white produced similar low levels of damage as the paper bag.

Results also indicate that bunch cover colours have no statistically significant effect on finger length, diameter, colour and bloom.

Results from initial trial work. Orange and yellow bunch covers had the highest rust thrips damage rating, while paper bunch covers had the lowest rating.

Growers should consider using bunch cover colours with low thrips damage rating

Based on the initial trial results, growers should consider using bunch cover colours that scored a low thrips damage rating. Further work is underway to expand these results by testing new colour and liner combinations. Results of the latest trial will be available to growers in the coming months. 

Bunch cover colours being assessed in the new trial. The 'Kraft' colour on the far right of the photo is the paper bunch cover.

If you would like further information on this trial, contact the Better Bananas team.

This research is funded as part of the Improved Plant Protection for the Banana Industry Program (BA16001), which is funded by Hort Innovation, using the banana research and development levy, co-investment from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and contributions from the Australian Government. Hort Innovation is the grower-owned, not-for-profit research and development corporation for Australian horticulture.

Katelyn Ferro

Posted on by Better Bananas

Katelyn Robertson

After finishing an Ag Science degree at the University of Queensland’s Gatton campus, Katie made the move to Far North Queensland, accepting a research horticulturist role at South Johnstone with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Over the past three years, working with the banana research and development team, Katie’s main focus has been research into Panama disease. 

Katie is currently working in banana variety research, assessing the post-harvest characteristics of fruit from the Goldfinger mutagenesis trial. This work is aimed at finding a commercially viable banana variety that has resistance to Panama disease tropical race 4.

We asked Katie what is the most exciting part of her research and what she enjoys the most. “I’ve come to realise how unique banana plants are compared to most other crops and, although often frustrating, I like the challenge this presents and the problem solving required to develop research methods tailored to its individuality. I really enjoy working on impactful projects where the outcome of the research could benefit Australian banana growers.”

Katie’s childhood was spent in Delaneys Creek in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, but lived in Brisbane for all her schooling years. Her love for the outdoors sees her hiking North Queensland’s beautiful national parks. Katie is also keen to learn new skills and is currently learning how to play electric guitar. Her favourite banana recipe is Banana ice-cream, made from frozen banana that is blended until creamy.  

Meet a reseachers

Research Horticulturist
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture, South Johnstone, Qld