Monday 18 June 2018

Going Bananas!

The world's banana crop is apparently under imminent threat from a fungal epidemic, Panama disease, that is sweeping plantations in many areas of the globe (https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2018/jun/18/scientists-scramble-to-stop-bananas-being-killed-off). A similar thing happened in the 1950's leading to the then dominant variety being largely replaced (almost 100%) by the single Cavendish strain. It is always a bad idea to have a single strain as there will be no variation in resistance to disease and pathogens can spread rapidly in such circumstances. It is reported that scientists are working hard to genetically engineer a resistant strain of the Cavendish. Perhaps using a variety of strains would be more beneficial?

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