One of the world's leading banana disease experts has called for calm after News.com.au reported Sigatoka could wipe out the crop within a decade.

The article was citing New York-based Digg, which based its headline 'Fungi Could Wipe Out Bananas In 5 To 10 Years' on an interview with University of California, Davis plant pathologist Ioannis Stergiopoulos and a study published in PLOS Genetics.

Professor Andre Drenth from the Centre for Plant Science at the University of Queensland claims Stergiopoulos' comments were blown out of proportion by the story.

"We currently do not have black Sigatoka in Australia.  But we are fully aware of the threat that it poses to the industry and we are continuously monitoring this," he says.

"A high level of awareness among our banana growers, ongoing monitoring of leaf spot samples from production areas, effective diagnostic tests to distinguish it from the endemic yellow Sigatoka pathogen, restrictions on imports of banana plants and quarantine inspections at sea and airports are part of the extensive measures to safeguard the industry from this important disease.

"The last outbreak of black Sigatoka in Australia was in 2001 and we eradicated it."

Drenth says while the pathogen is very adaptable to fungicides - as the PLOS Genetics article demonstrates - the Australian industry has a very good handle on this disease.

"We have systems in place and we keep plugging away to ensure that it does not become a problem," he says

Professor Drenth says Australia’s diverse geographical growing areas and tight disease management can ensure the security of the banana industry.

"Neither growers nor consumers need be concerned by reports that the industry is facing its end," he says.

"The Australian industry is progressive in comparison to other countries, which have not have had the measures that we have, to prevent the establishment of this disease."

Professor Drenth highlights Black Sigatoka in many banana exporting countries overseas is controlled through the weekly application of fungicides, which emphasizes just how much new controls are needed to combat the development of resistance.

He says the increasing cost of management and control of diseases such as Black Sigatoka will at some stage lead to the end of the cheap bananas for importing countries.

Australian Banana Grower’s Council (ABGC) chairman Doug Phillips backs Drenth's comments.

"We’re certainly aware of the damage done in other countries by black Sigatoka, but the controls, the monitoring and the systems we have in place in Australia will mean that we will never experience the same widespread damage from this disease," he says.

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