Scientists have developed a banana variety resistant to two of the most devastating diseases threatening the crop.

Researchers from the Netherlands have successfully developed a banana variety that is resistant to the TR4 fungal infections (Panama disease or fusarium wilt) and black Sigatoka for the first time. These are regarded as the most devastating diseases affecting banana plants (Musa). The losses incurred by those in the banana industry due to these two diseases amount to hundreds of millions of dollars.

2024-10-08 07:29:25https://naked-science.ru/article/biology/sort-bananov

The emergence of a new variety named Yelloway One was made possible through the collaboration of a large group of specialists from several Dutch and international companies. Among them are the banana producer and distributor Chiquita, the startup MusaRadix, which develops disease-resistant banana varieties, and the agro-biotechnology firm KeyGene, specializing in research and development in molecular genetics.

Additionally, researchers from the Wageningen University research center in the Netherlands participated in the collaborative effort, which released a press statement about the innovation.

In creating Yelloway One, traditional breeding methods were combined with modern DNA analysis technologies. This integration has expedited the development of a new variety with the desired characteristics.

As a result, scientists have been the first to produce a variety that is resistant to two major threats to bananas: Panama disease (Tropical Race 4), caused by fungi of the genus Fusarium, and black Sigatoka—another widespread disease that damages and dries out the leaves of plants. Both infections pose a serious threat to banana plantations, including the widely exported 'Cavendish' variety, whose fruits are best suited for long-distance transport.

However, the Yelloway One variety currently exists only as experimental samples in a greenhouse in the Netherlands. The plants are planned to be sent soon to the Philippines and Indonesia, where TR4 and black Sigatoka have caused significant damage to local banana farms. Upcoming field trials are expected to demonstrate the resilience of the new variety in a natural environment and whether it can help prevent a "banana apocalypse" due to fungal infections.

The creators of Yelloway One have promised that the new variety will be available not only to the participating company Chiquita but also to other banana producers. In the future, researchers hope to streamline the development of resistant banana varieties and ensure their genetic diversity. This will help make the banana industry less vulnerable to issues related to diseases and environmental threats, stated Gert Kema, a professor of phytopathology at Wageningen University, who was brought on as a consultant for the project.

Furthermore, it should be noted that previously, scientists used genetic engineering methods to create a variant of the 'Cavendish' variety called QCAV-4, which is also resistant to Panama disease. This resistance was achieved by borrowing a gene from the wild banana Musa acuminata ssp malaccensis, which is almost immune to this infection. In early 2024, Australian authorities approved a genetically modified variant for cultivation in the country and for human consumption for the first time.