No reported disease (TR4) of bananas in Latin America

bloomberg.com reported TR4 (Panama disease Tropical Race 4) enters the plant’s roots and spreads, invading vascular tissue. The first symptom is irregular yellowing of older leaves, which later turn brown and dry out. The disease poses no threat to humans.

Growers from across Latin America met in March to create a regional defense effort and will gather again in September or October, said Eduardo Ledesma, director of the Banana Exporters’ Association in Ecuador. No specific regional measures are in place, though Ecuador growers have asked the government to fumigate all containers, he said.

“If we carry out these controls at a regional level, then it will be very difficult for it to spread,” Ledesma said from Guayaquil, Ecuador. “Not impossible, because nothing is impossible in life, but very difficult.” Read Article