seeder Posted December 2, 2015 #1 Share Posted December 2, 2015 New study confirms that bananas are being driven to extinction A massive worldwide decline is inevitable. When it comes to the world’s favourite fruit, history is repeating itself, with the most popular banana at serious risk from the Panama disease - a fungicide-resistant pathogen that’s crossed continents and breached quarantine efforts to spread across South Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Australia. According to a new study by researchers in the Netherlands, the across-ocean leap to South America is now inevitable, and that’s a huge problem. This is where 82 percent of the world’s Cavandish bananas - by far the world’s most popular banana variety - are grown, with Ecuador alone supplying over a third of the billion-dollar global export market. http://www.sciencealert.com/new-study-confirms-that-bananas-are-being-driven-to-extinction 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taun Posted December 2, 2015 #2 Share Posted December 2, 2015 How do you drive a banana?... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubblykiss Posted December 2, 2015 #3 Share Posted December 2, 2015 Soon we will only have a collective racial memory of Auntie Thompson's horrific banana nut bread? alt: What will children use to pantomime monkeys now? alt: Finally the streets will be safe to walk for silent film actors of unborn generations. alt: So hung over college students will no longer experience the joy of lasagna, ramen and brown banana sandwiches? alt: Looks like it is time to take a victory lap for the Anthropocene Extinction Event 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubblykiss Posted December 2, 2015 #4 Share Posted December 2, 2015 How do you drive a banana?... With great pride and tremendous joy. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freetoroam Posted December 2, 2015 #5 Share Posted December 2, 2015 (edited) From here, the fungus messes with the plant’s vascular system, causing it to wilt rapidly and turn a horrible yellow-brown colour due to a lack of water. The plant will then die very quickly from dehydration. http://www.scienceal...n-to-extinction This is the style of banana they are selling in some supermarkets already...or you can buy the part green variety which never seems to ripen. Strange how the banana could be wiped out when at the same time they have the GM type which could save lives.....although not yet ready to buy. You could have to wait til 2020, plenty of time for the naturally grown banana to become extinct and the new GM type to replace it. https://www.rt.com/usa/166288-banana-genetically-modified-trial/ Edited December 2, 2015 by freetoroam 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundew Posted December 2, 2015 #6 Share Posted December 2, 2015 I have heard that in this case organic farming methods and soil amendments stop the fungus. If you put lots of organic matter into the soil and inoculated it with beneficial fungi, the disease causing fungus had a tough time competing. It's not unlike taking pro-biotics like live culture yoghurt while taking antibiotics to prevent bad bacteria from overrunning your gut once you stop the medication; the beneficial bacteria colonize your gut in such numbers it's hard for bad ones like C. dif. to gain a foothold. But organic farming is expensive and likely won't produce the supply for the demand. Also, another problem is likely that most bananas are the "Chiquita" variety and it is very susceptible, there are hundreds of varieties of bananas. Some may be immune but don't give a very marketable product. With great pride and tremendous joy. Certainly has appeal. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pallidin Posted December 2, 2015 #7 Share Posted December 2, 2015 No!!!! Fruit is part of my life. How I do enjoy a basic cereal topped with sliced bananas, strawberries, blueberries, or a host of other real-fruit combinations. Then sprinkle on one's favorite nuts, add milk... Yummy! Haven't had myself a "banana split" for many years, since I was a teenager I suppose, but how delicious they are! And sometimes a banana, just by itself, "hit's the spot" For lover's of banana's, who doesn't like a good, moist chunk of banana bread. Yummmmm......... Or banana cream pie! Oh god, I just managed to start craving bananas writing this. Must go to grocery store... bye... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeastieRunner Posted December 2, 2015 #8 Share Posted December 2, 2015 What .... nooooooo! I love a good banana. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galactic Goatman Posted December 3, 2015 #9 Share Posted December 3, 2015 @bubblykiss: Its the sweetest (literally) ride you can get! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supervike Posted December 3, 2015 #10 Share Posted December 3, 2015 I remember reading about this a few years back.... It's a horrible thing, a world without bananas! I'm hoping science can save it, even with GASP SHOCK GMOs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xanthurion2 Posted December 3, 2015 #11 Share Posted December 3, 2015 Ok, I've had it. I won't live in a world without bananas. It's just not possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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