The situation with bananas is concerning. This beloved fruit is facing a threat from a fungal disease known as Fusarium wilt (FUB), which hinders the uptake of nutrients in plants, leading to their wilting. In the 1950s, this disease nearly wiped out the Gros Michel banana variety.
However, there is no need to panic, as scientists are actively working on a solution to this problem. In 2024, researchers analyzed the molecular mechanisms associated with the microbe threatening bananas. Recent studies conducted by a team from the University of Queensland in Australia identified a region in the banana genome responsible for protection against the Fusarium wilt strain known as subtropical race 4 (STR4), which affects plants in subtropical climates. The results of this work were published in the journal Horticulture Research and may lead to the development of new banana varieties with improved disease resistance.
Dr. Andrew Chen, a co-author of the study and a geneticist, noted: "Fusarium wilt, or Panama disease, is a devastating disease affecting Cavendish bananas worldwide due to its virulent race 4 strains. The search for and implementation of natural resistance from wild bananas represents a viable and long-term solution to combat this disease, which leads to plant death and leaves the pathogen in the soil, threatening future harvests."
The research team crossed the wild Calcutta 4 variety with susceptible banana subtypes. After exposing the resulting hybrids to STR4, they compared their DNA with that of plants that died from the pathogen and those that survived. The results showed that the Calcutta 4 banana exhibits resistance to STR4 due to chromosome 5.
The scientists dedicated five years to this complex project, aiming to prevent the disappearance of bananas. Each new hybrid had to grow for at least 12 months before being studied and further selected after flowering.
According to the researchers, this discovery will serve as a foundation for creating banana varieties with high resistance to Fusarium wilt. Although the Calcutta 4 banana possesses critically important genetic resistance, it is not suitable for commercial use, as "its fruits are inedible."
"The next step is to develop molecular markers for effectively tracking resistance traits, which will allow breeders to conduct early and accurate screening of seedlings even before the first symptoms of the disease appear," added Chen. "This will accelerate the selection process, reduce costs, and hopefully lead to the creation of an edible banana variety that is easy to grow and naturally protected from Fusarium wilt due to its genetics."
Banana suppliers worldwide are working to protect this sector, which is valued at $140 billion. Bananas are the fourth most important food crop in the world, surpassed only by wheat, rice, and corn. About 80% of bananas are consumed in local markets, and over 400 million people derive 15 to 27% of their daily calories from this fruit.
"The banana seems like something familiar and mundane, but behind its simplicity lies one of the most complex and interdependent supply chains in agriculture," said Mohammad Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman and CEO of Fresh Del Monte Produce, during a conference call following the fiscal year in July 2025. "Protecting bananas is a collective task, and if we do not act together to support producers and stabilize this supply chain, we risk losing not only this fruit but also the livelihoods of many people. This prospect deeply concerns me and is one of our main focuses today."
