Bananas Are Losing the War on Fungus

The video discusses the genetic uniformity of Cavendish bananas, which makes them vulnerable to diseases like the Panama Disease. Historically, the Gros Michel banana was wiped out by this disease, leading to the adoption of the Cavendish. However, a new strain, TR4, threatens the Cavendish, spreading from Australia to Africa and the Middle East. TR4 is highly infectious, spreading through soil and posing a significant threat to banana crops worldwide. The video highlights the challenges in developing a new resistant banana variety and the potential impact on global banana production.

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