Panama Disease of Banana
March 20, 2025, PHDEC conducted a webinar on “Panama Disease of Banana: Advancing Knowledge and Research for Sustainable Disease Management Solutions.” The webinar aimed to educate growers and farmers about Panama wilt disease, its symptoms, and effective management strategies.Panama disease is a highly destructive fungal disease that poses a significant threat not only to Pakistan’s banana industry but also to major banana-producing countries worldwide. Farmers require comprehensive guidelines to identify, diagnose, and manage the disease using recommended agricultural practices.To address this critical issue, PHDEC engaged experts from Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, who have conducted extensive research on Panama wilt disease. Dr. Rehana Naz Syed, Professor, Department of Plant Protection, Sindh Agriculture University, delivered a detailed presentation on banana orchard management, Panama wilt disease, its symptoms both external and internal, and its control measures.She emphasized that there is no cure for Panama disease once it infects a field, as it is a soil-borne disease. The only effective approach is to remove and destroy infected plants to prevent further spread. Therefore, she stressed to keep monitoring and be vigilant to identify the disease. Dr. Syed shared a standardized protocol for managing Panama disease, which includes:
