The discovery of the pest disease Banana Freckle on plants in the Northern Territory last year sent shudders through the Australian industry.

It was the first time the damaging fungal disease had been found on the popular Cavendish variety.

What followed has been the systematic destruction of banana plants around the Darwin region, with multiple eradication zones established as more properties tested positive.

The NT Department of Primary Industry led the charge in running the program with around 30,000 properties inspected. About banana freckle A disease cause by a fungus called Phyllosticta cavendishii which infects the leaves and fruit of bananas

Symptoms include a sandpaper feel to the infected, spotted leaves and fruit when rubbed between your fingers

Spread by the movement of fungal spores in water on the leaf or fruit surface, or via water droplets either through splash to adjoining plant parts or a short distance via wind assisted droplet movement

Dwarf Cavendish, Williams Hybrid, Grand Naine and the Mons Mari varieties of Cavandish bananas can be affected If you see any freckle-like symptoms on any Cavendish bananas report it immediately to 1800 771 163. Source: NT Department of Primary Industry

But after many months of hard work and millions of dollars spent, it became clear the fight to eradicate the disease was being lost.

In recent days the NT Government, along with an increasingly desperate Australian banana sector, announced a $26 million plan which will mean the end of the NT banana industry for at least two years.

Six new eradication zones have been established, including all of Darwin suburbia.

It's in one of these zones at Lambells Lagoon where the NT's largest banana farm is based.

ABC Rural has prepared a timeline exploring the discovery, the surveillance and the eradication efforts over the past 12 months.

April 24, 2015

Clowns and Cambodians protest against NT banana freckle eradication as removal deadline looms

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March 17, 2015

Research trial to find bananas tolerant to Panama TR4 destroyed by Banana Freckle

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March 17, 2015

Man charged with trying to hide banana freckle affected plants in bushland

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March 10, 2015

Guns drawn as Banana Freckle deadline looms in the Northern Territory

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January 29, 2015

Katherine farm plants bananas while majority of the NT's crop continues to be destroyed

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December 2, 2014

Banana Freckle headquarters in Darwin supports massive eradication team

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November 24, 2014

Banana Freckle 'secret' eradication program irks Darwin residents

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October 16, 2014

NT Minister for Primary Industry answers biosecurity concerns as melon and banana growers consider legal action

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October 13, 2014

Northern Territory banana industry 'sacrificed to prevent imports from Philippines'

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October 13, 2014

Australian Banana Growers Council defends $26 million Banana Freckle eradication plan

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October 10, 2014

Northern Territory banana industry to be wiped out with largest farm included in new Banana Freckle eradication zones

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Six zones have been declared under a new plan to eradicate the disease Banana Freckle. ( NT Department of Primary Industry )

September 8, 2014

Surveillance with bite: 30,000 properties in the Northern Territory checked for banana disease

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June 13, 2014

Banana Freckle surveillance moves to Darwin

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May 9, 2014

Banana disease hits Palmerston

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A large quarantine pit has been dug in Darwin's rural area to bury the banana plants. ( Carl Curtain )

March 11, 2014

Freckle eradication team expands disease effort

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February 24, 2014

Banana research extends from lab to farm

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February 17, 2014

Banana disease found on Tiwi Islands

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February 4, 2014

Hobby farmer denied banana freckle compensation

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Pensioner Ross Pearce with his banana plants before they were cut down in November. ( Carl Curtain )

January 20, 2014

Banana compensation call for small landholders

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January 9, 2014

Banana disease eradication budget doubles

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November 14, 2013

Police called in over NT banana plant fight

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Carolyn Wilkinson says her banana plants should not be destroyed. ( Carl Curtain )

November 13, 2013

NT banana disease spreads further

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November 7, 2013

Pensioner forced to forfeit banana plants

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October 24, 2013

NT politician loses his bananas

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NT MP Gerry Wood inspects the remains of his banana plants. ( Carl Curtain )

October 16, 2013

Top End town loses its bananas

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October 11, 2013

NSW concerned about banana disease



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October 7, 2013

NT banana trees destroyed to protect Queensland from Banana Freckle disease

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October 7, 2013

Banana Freckle eradication hits organic farm hard

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Banana Freckle has been found on Alan Petersen's organic farm near Batchelor. ( Carl Curtain )

October 4, 2013

Millions to be spent eradicating NT banana disease

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September 2, 2013

Testing for Banana Freckle continues in the Top End

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August 28, 2013

Quarantine debate over Banana Freckle

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Many banana plants around the Top End are being destroyed. ( Carl Curtain )

August 27, 2013

Banana disease found in the NT

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