International Bananas on verge of EXTINCTION: Deadly disease threatens to WIPE OUT crops worldwide

[Lord Coke]

Can anyone concern this story. It seems outlandish but man can you imagine a world without bananas?
https://www.express.co.uk/news/worl...-shortage-Panama-disease-Madagascar-Cavendish

Panama disease – a fungal infection – has already spread through Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and Central America.

If the outbreak reaches South America, the Cavendish banana – the species most commonly sold and eaten worldwide – could be wiped out.

Around five billion Cavendish bananas are eaten every year in the UK.

Because Cavendish bananas are genetically identical, the disease is able to rapidly spread from one to another.

Scientists are now racing to save the fruit by developing new banana varieties strong enough to withstand the infection.

They believe a wild species of banana found in Madagascar, an island off Africa's south-eastern coast, could hold the key to keeping them alive.

 

[PlayswellwithLawnDarts]

Time to segway from Cavendish.

 

[Madmick]

Can anyone concern this story. It seems outlandish but man can you imagine a world without bananas?
https://www.express.co.uk/news/worl...-shortage-Panama-disease-Madagascar-Cavendish

Panama disease – a fungal infection – has already spread through Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and Central America.

If the outbreak reaches South America, the Cavendish banana – the species most commonly sold and eaten worldwide – could be wiped out.

Around five billion Cavendish bananas are eaten every year in the UK.

Because Cavendish bananas are genetically identical, the disease is able to rapidly spread from one to another.

Scientists are now racing to save the fruit by developing new banana varieties strong enough to withstand the infection.

They believe a wild species of banana found in Madagascar, an island off Africa's south-eastern coast, could hold the key to keeping them alive.

I read about this a few months ago. It's our own fault for not learning from the potato famines.

Diversity is important, and it does provide strength.

 

[Lord Coke]

I read about this a few months ago. It's our own fault for not learning from the potato famines.

Diversity is important, and it does provide strength.

So I've got this banana plant in my backyard. Its not the type that you buy at the store. I prefer the taste of it to store bought bananas. I don't know the name of the strain but it is wider and shorter than the store ones. Its taste is much more tart. Why can't we make hybrids with that strain?

 

[cincymma79]

What will Gwen Stefani sing about

We’ll see how this plays out

 

[Coconut Joe]

Are the watermelons safe? @Pineapple Randy , get the fuck in here kid! This effects you directly.

 

[ElKarlo]

What will Gwen Stefani sing about

We’ll see how this plays out

How will Raffi call anyone?
Big Mikes went extinct or were wiped out basically, because they were all splices and not diverse. Stupid

 

[woodguyatl]

Can anyone concern this story. It seems outlandish but man can you imagine a world without bananas?
https://www.express.co.uk/news/worl...-shortage-Panama-disease-Madagascar-Cavendish

Panama disease – a fungal infection – has already spread through Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and Central America.

If the outbreak reaches South America, the Cavendish banana – the species most commonly sold and eaten worldwide – could be wiped out.

Around five billion Cavendish bananas are eaten every year in the UK.

Because Cavendish bananas are genetically identical, the disease is able to rapidly spread from one to another.

Scientists are now racing to save the fruit by developing new banana varieties strong enough to withstand the infection.

They believe a wild species of banana found in Madagascar, an island off Africa's south-eastern coast, could hold the key to keeping them alive.

I saw stories about this as long as 10 years ago. Oranges are going the same way. It is the long-term price we pay for short term satisfaction and profits. Maybe we can fix it. If not, our children can go see pictures of bananas at the museum next to all the other shit we humans have made extinct.

 

[woodguyatl]

So I've got this banana plant in my backyard. Its not the type that you buy at the store. I prefer the taste of it to store bought bananas. I don't know the name of the strain but it is wider and shorter than the store ones. Its taste is much more tart. Why can't we make hybrids with that strain?

We can try. The Cavedish became popular in the 50’s because the previous Gros Michel (?) variety was devastated by the Panama disease. Folks the Cavendish would be disease resistant and it was for a while. The problem is that many of the other varieties are less productive and a traits that make them less amenable to international trade. Cocoa is under threat right now as well.

 

[Madmick]

So I've got this banana plant in my backyard. Its not the type that you buy at the store. I prefer the taste of it to store bought bananas. I don't know the name of the strain but it is wider and shorter than the store ones. Its taste is much more tart. Why can't we make hybrids with that strain?

We could have. We didn't. Apparently Cavendish are the filet mignon of the banana world.

The thing is, when even the poorest person who walks through the door of the supermarket can afford the filet mignon, that's all you're going to sell.

 

[cincymma79]

We could have. We didn't. Apparently Cavendish are the filet mignon of the banana world.

The thing is, when even the poorest person who walks through the door of the supermarket can afford the filet mignon, that's all you're going to sell.

Goddamn poor people
This is why we should only sell grass fed happy life beef

Sarcasm emoji

 

[Farmer Br0wn]

I read about this a few months ago. It's our own fault for not learning from the potato famines.

Diversity is important, and it does provide strength.

As a seed farmer, creating genetic diversity is basically my job description.

 

[Farmer Br0wn]

So I've got this banana plant in my backyard. Its not the type that you buy at the store. I prefer the taste of it to store bought bananas. I don't know the name of the strain but it is wider and shorter than the store ones. Its taste is much more tart. Why can't we make hybrids with that strain?

That wouldn't be hard, it's just a matter of demand.

 

[HunterSdVa29]

already happened once w/ the Gross Michel or whatever, that's why we use the Cavendish now

one of the problems w/ using almost exclusively clones to reproduce your plants; I believe most US apples are produced this way well, if something starts effecting them we could have problems there too

 

[Amerikuracana]

Im ready for a slightly different banana.

 

[Roaming East]

So how is a Madagascan banana species, a banana that has developed in TOTAL ISOLATION and faces zero disease threat, gonna help the domesticated banana? if anything, the isolated banana species would be MORE susceptible to foreign diseases as pretty much ALL of recorded history has shown.

 

[jefferz]

I read about this a few months ago. It's our own fault for not learning from the potato famines.

Diversity is important, and it does provide strength.

You'd think they would have learned from the last time the Panama disease wiped out the Gros Michel banana in the 50's.

 

[essie]

Nooooooooo

 

[BudKing8806]

Damn! No more nanner puddin?

 

[Deleted member 409801]

What will Gwen Stefani sing about

We’ll see how this plays out

W is for watermelon....W..A..T..E..R..M..E..L..O..N