Research Ongoing for Disease Resistant Banana

The ongoing effort to develop a commercially viable banana variant immune to the deadly Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4) has received funding. The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Hort Innovation have invested $9.8 million in a study to produce two new TR4-resistant cultivars. Most banana-growing regions have been affected by the soil-borne fungus, including North Queensland; Asia, especially the Philippines, China, and Indonesia; the Middle East; Africa, and, most recently, South America. It was discovered six years ago in Australia’s main growing region. The disease, which is now incurable, can inhabit the soil for decades and infect practically all banana cultivars.

With a field study that lasted from 2012 to 2015 on a commercial banana plantation located in the outskirts of Humpty Doo in the Northern Territory, Australian-led research has been going on for nearly a decade. It has been discovered that the first Cavendish cultivars appeared over a thousand years ago. Although the variant is stable, it is prone to a number of diseases, notably Panama Disease TR4. There’s also worry that the global banana industry is overly reliant on a single variety and that more variety variation is very desirable.

Professor Dale stated that the Goldfinger banana was resistant to a multitude of illnesses, including TR4, and that researchers hope to modify this variety to appeal to the Australian taste using recent advances in gene editing. Alok Kumar, Hort Frontiers’ business development manager, said the research, which is being carried out in collaboration with Australian banana growers will help the industry develop new TR4 disease-resistant cultivars that fulfil consumer quality standards. TR4 is usually regarded as the world’s most fatal banana disease,” he explained. This new project will provide Australian growers with the skills they need to produce Australia’s number one selling supermarket item in a sustainable and effective manner for years to come. According to Jim Pekin, chief executive officer of the Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC), having access to a TR4-resistant cultivar that is economically acceptable would offer banana growers confidence in the future.  

Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech)