The Cavendish banana, the world's most popular and widely marketed variety, faces a serious threat from two highly virulent fungi. Black Sigatoka damages leaves and roots, while TR4 (Tropical Race 4) is even deadlier—bananas lack genetic resistance, putting global supplies at risk.
This isn't the first such crisis. In the 1940s, the then-dominant Gros Michel variety succumbed to TR4, leading to its complete disappearance. While Cavendish dominates markets today, nearly 1,000 other varieties remain. Experts are working tirelessly to protect it, but history suggests another variety could step in, ensuring bananas stay on our plates.
