Thursday, April 28, 2011

Asia-Australia Banana Farms Battling Bacteria


By ONE Liners Agency

AUSTRALIA NEWS - Banana plantations in Australia are facing a major threat due to bacteria traveled from Indonesia, Philippines and Africa. Discussions recently in the Northern Territory's capital Darwin at a scientific conference revealed that three very similar types of bacterias from the three region have spread quickly.

The bacterias are Indonesia's blood disease bacterium, Philippines' bugtok bacterium and Africa's xanthomonas bacterium, said Australian plant pathologist at the conference hosted jointly by Australian and Asian Plant Pathology Societies.

The bacterias are one of the biggest threats to the bananas there and for the first time scientists from Asia and Australia have come together to gain some research findings from the discussions.

Richard Davis, Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service plant pathologist, said the bacteria have been very devastating in these countries and have spread too quickly, crossing hundreds of kilometres in a year.

About 400 scientists attended the event from Australia, Indonesia, Solomon Islands, Philippines, Fiji, East Timor, Africa and Papua New Guinea.

Meanwhile, the prices of bananas in Australia have soared after the devastation caused by Cyclone Yasi in February this year.

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