Panama disease has affected bananas in Queensland in 2015. It is caused by the highly contagious fungus Fusarium oxysporum causes it. The disease is spread through root-to-root contact and contaminated soil from machinery and shoes. It causes yellowing and wilting of leaves and splitting of stems. The conducting tissues are damaged and so the plant is starved of water and food. Farming operations ceased as the fungus permanently contaminates the soil. Quarantine measures were put in place and the outbreak was contained to one farm. All bananas there were destroyed to prevent the spread to other properties. The price of bananas increased greatly.
