World's most popular banana on brink of extinction, study shows

Attention fruit enthusiasts, there's concerning news on the horizon. The globally favoured fruit Cavendish banana faces potential extinction due to an onslaught from the Panama disease.

This particular banana variant, enjoyed by nearly half of the world's population, is under siege from a fungus known as Panama disease. This infection starts in the tree's roots and spreads to other parts, hindering the fruit's access to nourishment and ultimately leading to its demise.

Interestingly, the predecessor of TR4, known as Tropical Race 1, was responsible for the extinction of another beloved banana variety, the Gros Michel, in the early 20th century. However, thanks to ongoing advancements in the field of agriculture, experts believe there is still hope before the complete disappearance of the Cavendish variety.

In Taiwan, scientists have initiated efforts to combat this issue, subjecting Cavendish seedlings to TR4 in a bid to render the fruit resistant to the fungus.

The TR4 fungus was initially identified in 1989 in Taiwan and has since spread to major banana-producing nations including China, parts of Africa, and the Middle East.

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