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Scientists are trying to save bananas from a tropical disease that threatens crops around the world.
According to Fox News, Panama disease, a type of fungal infection that invades the soil, is currently spreading in Africa, Asia. and the Middle East. If she travels to South America – the largest supplier of a type of commercial banana known as Cavendish – scientists fear it could spell the end for tasty fruit.
But the hope lies deep in the jungles of Madagascar, where the wild banana that can save the species
The Malagasy banana, a non-edible fruit with large seeds in the middle, is in some way so immune to the deadly plant disease.
"There is no Panama." Richard Allen, chief conservation evaluator at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew in the UK, said in a recent press report.
"We do not know not until we do research on the banana itself, but we can not do the research before it is saved. "
However, it is there that lies the problem .. trees in Madagascar
Allen said the island's climate played a role in creating a banana tolerant to diseases and drought.
The banana of Madagascar is different from Cavendish bananas because it produces seeds and is unpleasant, but if the two strains are combined, it could create an edible and sustainable hybrid, he said.
Hélène Ralimanana, head chef team at the Kew Madagascar Conservation Center, told the BBC last week that it is esse Ntiel to search the composition of the Malagasy banana to determine which genes protect it from the disease of Panama,
"It is very important to conserve wild banana because it has large seeds that can offer the best. opportunity to find a gene to improve the cultivated banana, "she said. you will probably still see bananas at your local grocery store. But if the disease spreads before the researchers manage to cross the fruit, then the popular Cavendish banana can be hard to find – and finally, the fruit could disappear completely.
Panama disease, which began in the 1950s is a fungal disease the roots of banana. The disease began in Panama and spread to Central America
Panama disease can not be chemically controlled and a particular strain is considered a threat to Cavendish bananas that grow in extreme North Queensland Australia.
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