2 Banana Diseases - Bacterial Wilt & Bunchy Top Viral - Spreading Rapidly In Sub-Saharan Africa

DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Two banana diseases spreading in Africa could hurt food supply for 30 million people on the continent who largely rely on the crop, an international agricultural research body said on Wednesday. The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) said the banana bunchy top viral disease has infected 45,000 hectares of bananas in Malawi alone and a survey done last year found it in 11 other countries.

"We found the disease to be well-established in Gabon, DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), Northern Angola and central Malawi," CGIAR quoted Lava Kumar, a researcher at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the survey's leader, saying in a statement. A serious attack of banana bunchy top causes all leaves to sprout from a plant's top, stunting its growth. The affected countries are in eastern, central and southern Africa.

CGIAR said another study earlier this year found banana bacterial wilt disease in Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, western Kenya, northwest Tanzania and north and South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

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"All but the traditional varieties of bananas in sub-Saharan Africa lack tolerance to the two diseases, which necessitates more research into the continent's local ... varieties," it said.

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http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE57P1OL20090826?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews

That's the big yellow banana you find in the supermarkets.

If you've ever had any other varieties, you know they're generally pretty small but pack a real flavor powerhouse.

My favorite is the ruby banana, a little bigger than my thumb, pink fruit, and an absolutely amazing flavor.

The traditional varieties make you realize just how tasteless the Cavendish is. The tradeoff in bananas seems to be size versus flavor.

I'm now on a mission to try as many different types of bananas I can get my hands on. :)

Yes, I agree, the Cavendish is on it's way out. It will be interesting to see what replaces it. If something can replace it.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/1/224614/2656">Potatoes, Bananas and Natural Habitats.