Tuesday, 10/07/2007
Authorities say the surprise discovery of an exotic banana variety on the New South Wales' north coast is a major threat to the Australian industry.
An established stand of seed bananas has been found in remote bushland near the town of Nimbin.
Banana growers have offered to pay for the chemical control of the inedible banana, and have contacted the 40 private landowners involved to get their permission.
Arthur Akehurst from the Department of Primary Industries says the nine kilometre square stand of plants could be a host for diseases.
"If by any chance an exotic disease was to get into these bananas, that would be a major problem for the industry because it is very hard to control because the area is so remote and we've got a bank of seed there, because over I don't know how many years there, but they've been growing for quite a few years."
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/con...7/s1974764.htm