This pandemic could spell farm-ageddon for the global banana market. While there are over 1,000 species of the crescent-shaped fruit, 47% of all bananas consumed by people are of the Cavendish strain.

Whenever you go to buy a banana, especially if it’s in a supermarket, it’s most likely a Cavendish banana. It’s not the first dominant cultivar, either.

The gas is toxic to the Cavendish banana. "This sudden burst of toxic gases facilitates infection by disarming the plant's defense system," Ma said in a piece for The Conversation.

Fusarium wilt of banana (FWB) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cubense (Foc) tropical race 4 (TR4) with external symptoms of FWB in Cavendish banana. Credit: Zhang et al.

Once present in a banana field, the fungus cannot be eradicated, making future production of Cavendish bananas almost impossible. CREDIT: A. Viljoen ...

Fusarium wilt of banana is caused by Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense (Foc) tropical race 4 (TR4). While the outbreak is concerning for banana lovers around the world, there is some good news. “We now ...

Fajri Ramadhan / 500px / Getty Images Panama disease is a serial banana killer What's happening to Cavendish bananas has happened before to another popular banana variety called Gros Michel.

How Cloning Saved The Banana Industry After The Decline Of Big Mike Before an unexpected fungal disease known as Fusarium wilt ravaged plantations around the world, the most popular kind of banana ...

Once present in a banana field, the fungus cannot be eradicated, making future production of Cavendish bananas almost impossible. view more Credit: A. Viljoen August 16, 2024 ...

They’ve now submitted their modified Cavendish banana variety, known as QCAV-4, to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) for regulatory approval.