Panama disease, also known as Fusarium wilt of banana (Musa spp.), is one of the most notorious of all plant diseases. Although the pathogen probably originated in Southeast Asia, the disease was first reported in Australia in 1876. By 1950, few banana-producing regions remained free of the disease. Panama disease is now found in all banana-producing regions except islands in the South Pacific, the Mediterranean, Melanesia, and Somalia. Accepted for publication 13 November 2000. Published 4 December 2000.