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.
Sometimes they can be changed genetically to different colour patterns...:^)
They’re high in carbs, so no big loss for most people.
I used to gig at bar where every Thursday was Wear Your Underwear on the outside. The bar did well on what was usually a dead night at other bars.
Aw. Can’t find my picture of Panic Monkey.
Genetically, all bananas are genetically similar...to grow trees you plant shoots, because they don't have seeds.
They are worried about pests destroying all bananas. Finding strains with resistance is a big deal.
And they are working on GM plants too.
How will democrats be rewarded in the future for completing a step when there are no more bananas to eat?
Humans share 50% DNA with bananas
Eat a banana of the variety typically sold in American markets, then a plantain, then one of the short, fat, thin-skinned deliciously sweet kinds seldom sold here. Then tell me they are all the same.
Kinda like saying that iguana, rattlesnake and capybaras "all taste like chicken".
So its “Yes, we have no bananas...”
That was one of my favorite TV shows growing up in the 70s!
Monkeys to follow shortly thereafter.....
I’ll give you my banana when you pry it from my cold, dead hands...
And yes, there are many variations, but the example would be like Great Danes, Pekingese, and beagles...very different but still the same species.
So its “Yes, we have no bananas...”
...
This disease is decades old and that song supposedly was inspired by a shortage about 100 years ago.
The article is a bit dramatic. According to Wiki, using tissue cultures to make clones is having success:
Unfortunately, the clonal reproduction of banana has led to a consequential lack of other varieties. Efforts are being made to produce resistant varieties, but with bananas being triploids which do not produce seeds, this is not an easy task. Creating clones from tissue cultures, rather than suckers, has proven somewhat successful in breeding resistant varieties, however, these tend to have decreased success in stress-tolerance, yield, or other beneficial traits necessary for commercial varieties. Nevertheless, these efforts are leading to the best control measure for Panama disease of banana.
How about “I Like Bananas Because They Have No Bones”, or “30,000 Pounds of Bananas”?
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