Q&AS FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS
Q. What products can growers use to kill the Panama TR4 spores? Can DAF accredit
any other than Farmcleanse®, Sterimax®, Sporekill® and the like? Is there a soil
drench that can be feasibly applied to kill Panama TR4?
A. There are currently no known soil treatments that can be feasibly applied to kill all
Panama TR4 spores in soil.
Chemical products such as Farmcleanse®, SteriMax® and Sporekill® should be used to
decontaminate machinery, equipment and clothing to prevent the spread of the disease. It is
imperative that a thorough washdown of equipment or machinery is conducted prior to the
use of any disinfectants
There are a range of chemicals other than those listed; however, their effectiveness is
unknown and would require efficacy testing before recommendations can be made.
In work on Panama TR4 in the Northern Territory, FarmCleanse® inhibited 40% of spores,
whilst Sporekill® inhibited 100% of spores, as did bleach; however, this does not mean that
all spores will be killed in all situations but reflects the fact that no viable spores could be
recovered after the treatment was used.
For further advice please refer to the department’s factsheet – Panama disease (tropical
race 4): Equipment, vehicle and machinery clean down and decontamination, available from
https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/panama-disease-tropical-race-4.
Q. How often do footbaths and vehicle troughs need to be changed to ensure cleaning
products such as FarmCleanse® remain effective?
A. Footbaths and vehicle troughs should be changed at least daily to ensure that they
remain effective. However, the amount of soil/organic material in the system will have an
effect on the ability of the product to work, so this should be monitored with more frequent
changes if necessary.
Footbaths are an easy and effective way of removing pathogens present on shoes and soil
adhered to shoes. Footbaths should always be wet, have active sterilising disinfectant
solution in the mat and be relatively clean. If the footbath mat is dry or coated in mud then it
is not effective. Care should be taken to rinse off footbaths on a regular basis to ensure that
they do not get clogged up with plant debris and soil. The chemical solution should be
changed on a regular basis depending on the product used.
Q. Can people do anything about Panama TR4 dispersion by wild animals (e.g.
cassowaries and pigs) or domestic animals/stock (e.g. cattle)?
A. Any known infected area should be securely fenced to reduce the movement of feral and
wild animals. Property fencing is also likely to be a useful mechanism to inhibit people as
well as feral animal movement.
Compiled by Biosecurity Queensland & Australian Banana Growers’ Council.
Q. Are barriers a good idea – e.g. dirty boots on one side, clean boots on the other?
A. Segregated zones with barriers and decontamination points are recommended as
standard practice to mitigate the risk of spreading the disease both on and between farms,
as well as through supply chain facilities.
Q. Can other fruit or crops such as sugar cane be grown on infected properties in the
future? Does Panama TR4 reside in crops or plants other than bananas? Does
Panama TR4 have pathogenic effects on any crops other than bananas? Is it likely to
evolve to infect other plant species in the future?
A. Other crops can be grown successfully on blocks known to be infected with Panama TR4
without any adverse effects. However, the issue remains that the organism is still in the soil
(for decades) and movement of infected soil by machinery and/or people would still present
a risk for remaining banana producers.
Panama TR4 is known to live in a small number of weed species without being pathogenic.
At least four weed species have been identified as alternate hosts of Panama TR4 in
Australia and other weed species are likely to occur as symptomless hosts.
The identified alternate hosts include Chloris inflata (purpletop Rhodes grass), Euphorbia
heterophylla (milkweed or wild poinsettia), Tridax procumbens (Mexican daisy or coat
buttons) and Cyanthilium cinereum (ironweed).
Q. In fallow blocks: Are there sentinel plants that will work?
A. Other plants including a number of weeds can host Panama TR4. However, these
alternate hosts do not normally display symptoms and would be of limited use as sentinels.
Q. How much movement of soil, water or plant material is required to spread Panama
TR4? How can the likelihood of spread via these materials be reduced?
A. Any movement of contaminated soil, contaminated water, or infected plant material could
theoretically spread Panama TR4. The pathogen that causes Panama TR4 can survive in
the soil environment for long time periods (decades). Disease is the result of a complex
interaction between the host, the pathogen and the environment.
A number of steps can help reduce the risk of movement of soil, water and plant materials:
• Any movement of soil from an infected area risks spreading the organism. Strict protocols
will be required to reduce the risk of transmission, including the decontamination of workers
boots and clothing, farm equipment, machinery and vehicles between properties.
• Maintenance of ground cover vegetation to reduce soil movement by rain or winds. Drift
fences may also provide an additional barrier.
• Any known infected area should be securely fenced to prevent the movement of feral and
wild animals, and unauthorised people.
Compiled by Biosecurity Queensland & Australian Banana Growers’ Council.
The banana industry’s Farm Biosecurity Manual also contains important information for
establishing and maintaining good on-farm biosecurity practices.
Q. We should have more signage around the district regarding this disease. Can we
get appropriate Keep Out signs designed or made for growers?
A. BQ and ABGC have worked together to develop a template for on-farm signs that can be
reproduced by a printer or sign writer to meet your requirements. The template is available
for download from: (http://abgc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/3993_Panama-Respectbiosecurity-signs_v5.pdf.)
Q. Can we have a picture and descriptions of Panama TR4 symptoms to see what it
looks like? Symptoms that differentiate Panama TR4 from other diseases (e.g.
Erwinia)? Is there a quick detection technique to identify presence of Panama TR4, if
not, can one be developed?
A. Photos and information to help identify Panama TR4 are available on the ABGC website
(http://abgc.org.au/biosecurity/panama-tr4/) and the information is being updated regularly.
Unfortunately, there is no truly quick diagnostic test for Panama TR4 available at this time,
and the current definitive test takes a couple of weeks between sampling and diagnosis.
However, scientists are working on techniques for more rapid diagnosis.
ABGC has a webpage where information on Panama TR4 can be found, including
information on on-farm biosecurity practices, photos of symptoms, fact sheets, and all of the
latest press releases with updates on the control program
(http://abgc.org.au/biosecurity/panama-tr4/).
In addition, BQ has a webpage dedicated to Panama TR4 with detailed information about
the disease, how to prevent its spread, and links to additional information sources
(https://www.daff.qld.gov.au/plants/health-pests-diseases/a-z-significant/panama-disease2).
Growers are encouraged to report any plants of concern to Biosecurity Queensland through
the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline (1800 084 881).
Q. Is there a plan to tighten regulation about moving planting material (bits) from
elsewhere?
A. The current regulation prohibits the movement of banana planting material from one
parcel of land to another in Queensland. Growers need to get an inspector’s approvals for all
movement of banana planting material (https://www.daff.qld.gov.au/plants/fruit-andvegetables/fruit-and-nuts/bananas/legislation-and-movement-restrictions).
A summary of the new Biosecurity Act, including the GBO, can be found at
https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/biosecurity/about-biosecurity/Biosecurity-Act-2014/summary-ofthe-biosecurity-bill-provisions /
Compiled by Biosecurity Queensland & Australian Banana Growers’ Council.