Bananas almost went extinct 70 years ago – Now a deadly fungus is trying again(studyfinds.org)
studyfinds.org
Bananas almost went extinct 70 years ago – Now a deadly fungus is trying again
https://studyfinds.org/bananas-extinct-deadly-fungus/
14 comments
Not extinct just vastly reduced their commercial viability
As long as the industry try that there is only one kind of banana both journalists and fungus can be successful.
Not bananas, just the Cavendish bananas. In tropical countries across the world, different varieties of non Cavendish bananas are still freely available and consumed. The reason why Cavendish bananas are susceptible to such dangers is because genetically they are all one plant, but these other varieties are not.
Bananas are a canonical example of why monocultures are bad. And yet here we are again.
Monoculture and lack of genetic diversity are related but not the same thing. If banana farms were mixed up with other varieties or species, the cloned Cavendish plants would still be at risk, because they have no genetic diversity, though the spread would be slowed somewhat.
Even natural genetic diversity isn't a guarantee against disease. For example, the American chestnut, driven to the edge of extinction in its native range by an imported blight.
Even natural genetic diversity isn't a guarantee against disease. For example, the American chestnut, driven to the edge of extinction in its native range by an imported blight.
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I hope they do go extinct. They go bad really fast, and have become too sweet, harming dental health. They're good only in their soon-to-ripe green state, for only a day or two.
In fact I hope that all fruits that have been made oversweet go extinct, to be replaced by their heirloom varieties going back a couple of centuries. As it is, I avoid the oversweet fruits that require me to brush my teeth after eating them.
In fact I hope that all fruits that have been made oversweet go extinct, to be replaced by their heirloom varieties going back a couple of centuries. As it is, I avoid the oversweet fruits that require me to brush my teeth after eating them.
I get what you're saying, but wishing modern sweet apples, grapes etc. to go away because of tooth decay is a bit over the top.
Can we keep Granny Smith apples? They're less than 200 years old. But they're not sweet :)
Can we keep Granny Smith apples? They're less than 200 years old. But they're not sweet :)
Apples actually do not cause dental issues, so they're completely fine by me. I believe this is due to the specific combination of sugars that apples have. Life without apples would not be a happy life.
Modern grapes do however cause dental issues.
Try papayas. They are not too sweet, and have beta-cryptoxantin.
Modern grapes do however cause dental issues.
Try papayas. They are not too sweet, and have beta-cryptoxantin.
These articles seem to come up very frequently but the resulting extinction doesn't happen. Also, can't we just go propagate a new variety if this occurs, sure there would be some disruption but its not the end of bananas. Just in my little local fruit market I can see a few varieties (mostly the mini ones) and there are probably 100s more in India/South East Asia.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banana_cultivars
> These articles seem to come up very frequently but the resulting extinction doesn't happen
That is how propaganda works. Some peoplle will pay more for a product if they hear it will not be available anymore.
That is how propaganda works. Some peoplle will pay more for a product if they hear it will not be available anymore.
Beats me why do journalists insist there's a single kind of banana.