Scientists warn bananas could go extinct as disease ravages fruit

Bad news for banana lovers – scientists have warned that the fruit could face extinction, after a fungal disease outbreak.

Crops of the Cavendish banana have been hit by an infection called Panama disease, with those in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and central America particularly badly affected.

The disease, which is also known as banana wilt, starts in the roots of the banana tree and then spreads through its vascular system.

Ultimately, it stops the plant from absorbing water or carrying out photosynthesis, eventually killing the tree.

For Cavendish banana growers, it could spell disaster. While there are more than 1,000 varieties of bananas, about 47 per cent that humans eat are Cavendish.

Cavendish has historically dominated the global banana market since the 1950s, partly because of its resistance to the main banana-killing diseases.

It also has a long shelf life, making it more attractive for international import and export, and the plant also produces more bananas than other varieties on the same amount of land.

Part of the reason scientists think it could be endangered is because of what happened to another popular banana variety called the Gros Michel.

Gros Michel was the main export banana in the early 20th century, but was practically wiped out by a predecessor disease to the one hitting Cavendishes now.

The first infections of Gros Michel farms began in the late 19th century and took several decades to affect production to the point where growers were looking for a new variety to sell.

Cavendish, meanwhile, was first hit by the current strain of Panama disease in 1997, and it has now spread across several continents.

However, scientists are working on a genetically modified version of the banana to fight to infection.

James Dale, a professor and leader of the banana biotechnology program at Queensland University of Technology, is working on the project.

He told Insider: “The disease moves slowly, so we have at least a decade before the impact is drastic.”

“I would say with certainty that there will be a solution before the export market for Cavendish is severely affected.”

Let’s hope he’s right.

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