Posted on 07/05/2018 7:51:06 PM PDT by EdnaMode
Experts say a special breed found in Madagascar could hold the key to keeping them alive.
But there are only five known trees in existence.
Scientists are racing to develop new banana varieties strong enough to survive Panama disease, which is a major threat to banana crops around the world.
Because bananas are clones, the disease is able to spread very quickly from one to another.
It is currently wreaking havoc with crops in Asia – but could wipe out the world’s supply if it spreads to America.
Richard Allen, senior conservation assessor at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, told the BBC: "It doesn't have Panama disease in it, so perhaps it has genetic traits against the disease.
"We don't know until we actually do research on the banana itself, but we can't do the research until it's saved."
The Madagascan variety isn’t suitable for eating – but researchers hope to create a new type of banana through cross-breeding.
But the few remaining trees are stranded on the edge of Madagascan forests, threatened by logging, fires and farming.
“Eating or drinking bananas
is going to be the very next craze.”
This article is a travesty. It’s a travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham.
Why is it panama disease if that is where it hasn’t hit?
Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn, in Sabrina
Hepburn singing “Yes we have no bananas”
ditto!
[This article is a travesty. It’s a travesty of a mockery of a sham of a mockery of a travesty of two mockeries of a sham.]
And a complete tapestry!
They have been talking about this since the 1920's when the Fusarium wilt began to wipe out the Gros Michel.
They have since bred a resistant hybrid and it is doing fine in various parts of the world although for some reason is not popular in the US the Cavendish being more popular.
Please don’t post any Audrey Hepburn links. You will get me sidetracked (;>)
Yeah it was awful.
What about pointed sticks?
Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all week. Be sure to try your waitress and tip the veal.
"Ceterum censeo Islam esse delendam."
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
Big Brother loves us.
He will provide us with Victory Bananas.
A woman old enough to be my mother.
But, Oh Mother, what a woman!
Sheesh!
The last I checked there are close to 300 species of bananas! Are they saying that ALL of them will die?
Sheesh, again!
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