What makes bananas the most popular fruit in the world?
Bananas are the world’s most popular fruit - they’re super-healthy and taste great. They come in a cover (the famous banana peel), and can be used to make some yummy desserts (even healthy ice cream!). What’s not to love!
For many years now, farmers who grow bananas have been fighting a fungus known as the Panama Disease. Recently, this disease made its way to Latin America - the world’s largest seller of bananas.
What is the Panama Disease?
The Panama Disease has been called the COVID-19 of bananas. It spreads through infected bananas, banana plants, and even contaminated soil, water, tools, etc.
A plant that has been infected can look healthy for up to a year before the disease starts showing its effects. By that time, the plant is already dead and the soil is already contaminated, also killing nearby banana plants.
What is the history of the Panama Disease?
The Panama Disease was first discovered in the 1950s. Before that, the only type of bananas consumed in America were called Gros Michel or ‘Big Mike’ bananas. The Panama Disease led to their extinction. After their extinction, people started eating Cavendish bananas which were unaffected by the Panama Disease.
In 1989, a new type of Panama Disease called Tropical Race 4 (TR4) was discovered. Unfortunately, Cavendish bananas are not safe from TR4. However, TR4 only affects banana plants and not all plants.
So why is TR4 in the news now?
Recently, TR4 has been found in Columbia, a country in Latin America and the fifth-largest seller of bananas in the world. The concern is that TR4 could spread all over the world from Latin America. This could lead to the extinction of bananas.
What are we doing to save bananas?
Farmers in Columbia are trying to control TR4 best they can. They are doing this by cleaning their tools and clothing, ensuring infected plants are not sent to other farms, etc. This is like the banana version of washing hands and social distancing. Many scientists across the world are also trying their best to save Cavendish bananas.
Let’s cheer for our hardworking farmers and scientists to beat the evil TR4 and save our bananas from extinction because we’re not ready to say goodbye to bananas yet!
