Cyclone link in Panama Disease hunt Details Discovered at: http://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/cyclone-link-in-panama-disease-hun… Sites: IBIS PH Publish date: Mon 2015-Apr-13 Author: Kimberley Vlasic Channel: Search engines Text (summary): Biosecurity Queensland is pursuing several “interesting” leads that link planting material and equipment transported between the Tablelands and Cassowary Coast. The investigations form part of a wider surveillance and tracing program being conducted in the Far North after a second case of Panama disease Tropical Race 4 was found near Mareeba last week. Affected grower Mark Reppel’s two quarantined properties are 120km from the Tully property where the soil-borne fungus was first detected in March. The state’s principal Biosecurity officer Russell Gilmour yesterday said farmers moving inland after cyclones Larry and Yasi may have unknowingly spread TR4. “It’s possible that by bringing their equipment or planting material up to Mareeba from the coast, they may have brought the disease with them,” he said. “There’s nothing at the moment that connects the two properties but there are leads we’re following that connect Tully and Mareeba.” Locations Discovery Original language: English Original title: Cyclone link in Panama Disease hunt | Cairns Post Original text (summary): Biosecurity Queensland is pursuing several “interesting” leads that link planting material and equipment transported between the Tablelands and Cassowary Coast. The investigations form part of a wider surveillance and tracing program being conducted in the Far North after a second case of Panama disease Tropical Race 4 was found near Mareeba last week. Affected grower Mark Reppel’s two quarantined properties are 120km from the Tully property where the soil-borne fungus was first detected in March. The state’s principal Biosecurity officer Russell Gilmour yesterday said farmers moving inland after cyclones Larry and Yasi may have unknowingly spread TR4. “It’s possible that by bringing their equipment or planting material up to Mareeba from the coast, they may have brought the disease with them,” he said. “There’s nothing at the moment that connects the two properties but there are leads we’re following that connect Tully and Mareeba.” Biosecurity officers surveyed the Reppels’ entire 80ha farm over two days last week, with samples from three banana plants sent for testing. Issues Issue(s) that this article relates to, if applicable. Issue Status Start Panama disease incursion in North Queensland 2015 emerging Workflow Status: Promoted
