14 DAY TRIAL // One of the main challenges to farmers growing bananas today is the large number of diseases running around, threatening to destroy plantations at any time. But researchers in Australia now believe they may have found a solution to all of this, by introducing genetically-enhanced bananas into plantation.
In the new research, scientists sought to deal away with a condition known as Tropical Race Four, which severely affects banana yields in places ranging from Australia to equatorial nations.
What the team behind the study did was create a trial crop of banana plants that are able to survive infections with a soil-borne fungus, famous for having wiped out banana trees across the globe.
According to the director of the Center for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), it would seem that only genetically-modified banana are strong enough to withstand the effects of such an infection.
Professor James Dale explains that GM bananas also have the added advantage of being available at all times. The importance of this has been made quite clear recently, as Tropical Cyclone Yasi made its way through Queensland, destroying everything in its path.
The expert goes on to say that GM plants resistant to Tropical Race Four could, in fact, act like an insurance policy of sorts, in the sense that they could help build back stock in the event that the fungus moves further north in Australia.
This disease has captured the attention of specialists because it affects the Cavendish, the preferred type of banana in Australia, and the most popular one in the world. Professor Dale says that his research effort is being supported by a $750,000 grant from the Australian Research Council.
“It is caused by a fungus in the soil called Fusarium and causes the leaves to wilt and rots the inside of the plant. The disease has swept through much of Asia and is also found in the Northern Territory,” the lead investigator announces.
“From Australia's perspective the biggest concern is that the disease will find its way from the Northern Territory to North Queensland and if that occurs it would severely impact the nation's Cavendish banana industry,” Dale adds.
“This project has significance on an international scale. If we can prove genetically modified bananas can be resistant to this disease, we can make a huge contribution to the future of banana production worldwide,” he adds.