Videos

Spray gun bunch spray system with Mark McAvoy

For banana producers, good spray coverage is an essential component for achieving fruit quality standards that meet market specifications. Banana grower, Mark McAvoy speaks with Tegan Cavallaro from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries about the spray gun system used on his farm. He provides an overview of the major components of the system as well as a demonstration of his bunch spraying technique.

Tour of the Lady Finger-like variety trial currently underway at South Johnstone

Discover the new Lady Finger-like selections and Sugar banana hybrids, planted at the Centre for Wet Tropics Agriculture, South Johnstone in December 2022.

 Horticulturalist, Jeff Daniells explains the differences between varieties, and disease resistance. The trial will compare the agronomics of these varieties over a plant crop and first ratoon.

Major leaf spot diseases of banana

This video provides an overview of major leaf spot diseases that impact banana production throughout the world. If left unmanaged, they can have a significant impact on both yield and production costs. Yellow Sigatoka leaf spot is endemic to Australia’s banana-producing regions and is managed by commercial farms to limit its impact. However, two more virulent leaf spot diseases pose a significant risk if introduced to Australia. To reduce the impact of a future incursion, it’s important for anyone working in the Australian banana industry to be aware of the different leaf spot diseases, be vigilant in surveillance, and immediately report any suspect diseased plants to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23. 

Yellow Sigatoka - life cycle and how it spreads

This short video explains the different stages of yellow Sigatoka symptom development, the types of fungal spores the pathogen produces, how the spores spread and the environmental conditions conducive to disease development.

Yellow Sigatoka - management tips for growers

This video advises on the current best practice for managing yellow Sigatoka. Managing the disease requires a combination of timely deleafing and appropriate fungicide application. Tegan Cavallaro and David East from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries discuss what’s involved.

Bagging technique improves fruit quality for Sellars Bananas

Experienced premium Cavendish grower Naomi Brownrigg is confident that their bagging technique which leaves a ‘flue’, has improved fruit quality by reducing fungal and mould issues.

Naomi is passionate about helping other growers improve their fruit quality and is willing to share her knowledge and experience of lessons learnt.

Panama disease race 1
(Recorded presentation)

This presentation was prepared by NSW DPI in response to a request for further information about Panama disease race 1 from banana growers in the Coffs Harbour region in NSW.

The presentation provides a summary of Panama disease, it’s history in the NSW growing region, how the disease affects banana plants, factors that contribute to its spread and biosecurity practices that growers can implement to help protect their properties from the disease.

It's more than just bananas for our banana NextGen group

Getting together, having a chat, and visiting and learning from other industries is what motivates our NextGen banana growers. If you’re a young, or young at heart banana grower wanting to connect and share new experiences, contact our Better bananas team at betterbananas.com.au or on 13 25 23.

Making biosecurity work for your farm

Mackay’s experience of farming with Panama disease tropical race 4.

Containment of Panama disease tropical race 4 remains a key priority for the Australian banana industry. Detected in the largest production region of Far North Queensland in March 2015, effective biosecurity remains key to limiting its spread.

Gavin and Stephen Mackay from Mackays Bananas share their experience of farming with the disease and how they have made biosecurity work for their farm. 

 

Controlling burrowing nematodes in banana production

Nematodes play an important role in the function of soils. Most of them are beneficial to soil health, but some are significant pests in banana production and can cause severe economic losses. This short video provides an overview of the best way to manage burrowing nematodes in banana crops.

NextGen Report: Variety screening trials in the Northern Territory

On a trip to Coastal Plains Research Farm in the Northern Territory in 2017, the banana industry’s NextGen growers were able to see for themselves the performance of varieties currently being trialled for resistance to panama disease tropical race 4. 

Watch the video to see their thoughts on the trial.

Grower Update: On-farm biosecurity - managing footwear

A single dirty shoe is enough to introduce Panama disease tropical race 4 onto your property. Managing the movement of people on and off your properties is an integral part of keeping the disease off your farm.


Watch the video to see how growers are managing the risk footwear poses to their properties.

Panama disease tropical race 4: Identifying and reporting suspect plants

Panama disease tropical race 4 is arguably the most devastating of all known banana diseases. There is currently no effective treatment for infected plants, so early detection and containment is critical to limit its spread. Infected plants must be reported immediately so it is important that all staff and contractors who regularly enter banana paddocks know how to detect and report suspect plants.  


Watch the video to see see what the typical symptoms of this disease look like and how to report suspect plants. You can even use this video as part of your farm staff inductions. 

Panama disease tropical race 4: Identifying the disease and protecting your farm

Panama disease tropical race 4 is arguably the most devastating of all known banana diseases. Since there is currently no effective treatment for infected plants, on-farm biosecurity, early detection and containment is critical to limit its spread. 


This video provides an introduction to the disease and the essential principals of on-farm biosecurity. 

Importing banana material and accessing new varieties

In this video Sharon Hamill from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, provides an overview of the process and procedures for the importation of banana material and accessibility of new varieties.

Diagnostic testing: safeguarding the Australian banana industry

Dr Juliane Henderson is a research scientist working on diagnostic testing of exotic fungal and bacterial diseases of banana. 


This video provides an overview of the work undertaken by Juliane’s team at the Ecosciences Precinct in Brisbane.
 

Keeping Australian bananas free from virus diseases

Dr Kathy Crew and Dr John Thomas are virologists working on banana industry projects.

This video provides an overview of their work. This includes diagnostics, research of the banana bunchy top virus and the establishment of a quarantine glasshouse at the Ecosciences Precinct in Brisbane.

International insights with banana Nuffield Scholar Paul Inderbitzin

Paul Inderbitzin is a banana grower from Lakeland in Far North Queensland. Paul was successful in obtaining a Nuffield scholarship in 2013. As part of the scholarship, Paul had the opportunity of international travel, visiting countries around the world and studying banana production systems. 

This video is a summary of Paul’s key findings.

Introducing Nuffield Scholar Matt Abbott

Matt Abbott is a banana grower from Innisfail in Far North Queensland. Matt was successful in obtaining a Nuffield scholarship in 2015. 


This video introduces Matt, some of his travels and what he hopes to achieve from the scholarship.

Recommendations for the 15kg 1-piece carton

In this video Tristan Kitchener of Kitchener Partners discusses the outcomes of an industry project which led to the development of minimum and optimum carton standards for each of the main carton configurations. 


This video focuses on the 15 kg one piece carton.

Developing a standard industry banana carton

In this video Tristan Kitchener of Kitchener Partners discusses the outcomes of an industry scoping study that investigated the potential for developing a standard industry banana carton in 2014.


This video was played at the 2014 National Banana Roadshow Series.