Thursday, 06 January 2011
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Bananas Facing Extinction
Banana lovers of the world BEWARE: Your favorite phallic yellow fruit may become extinct from what is being called the "HIV of banana plantations."
The New Yorker recently published a piece about the potential extinction of America's favorite fruit: the banana. Tropical Race Four, a fungus spread via soil, is threatening banana plantations around the world. In the late eighties, Tropical Race Four destroyed 70 percent of Taiwan's banana crop and spread to Malaysia and Indonesia. It then proceeded to spread to Australia and scientists believe it will spread to Latin America. While there are over a 1,000 types of bananas, the Cavendish banana constitutes 99 percent of the exported banana's as this particular type yields the most fruit, does not ripen too fast or bruise easily. Therefore, the extinction of the Cavendish banana can quite possible wipe out banana's off the shelves of our grocery stores and markets.
Cavendish banana's are susceptible to this fungus due to the lack of genetic diversity within the species--despite having been cultivated by humans for 15,000 years. Unfortunately, as of now, no chemicals can kill the fungus or prevent it.
Before you start binging on banana's, know that researchers are already in the works of genetically modifying banana plants to be resistant to the disease.
On that note, enjoy the much more entertaining version of this report from Stephen Colbert:
The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Yellowline International, Inc. Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog</a> March to Keep Fear Alive What do you think of the future of bananas?
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About the Author
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- From: sbaral@xanga
- About Me: I'm a Rutgers University graduate who discovered a passion for writing in college when I found myself enjoying researching for and writing papers instead of working at biology labs. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking and watching movies--I am in pursuit of learning to fluently speak French and Italian after developing an interest in these languages from watching foreign films. Apart from foreign films and cooking, my interests include photography, traveling, art history and interior design. twitter.com/sushbaral
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Comments (66)
why not GM it?
to withstand this fungus?nooo i love bananas!
The New Yorker is just now getting around to publishing something about this? This story has been out for a while now.
@JoeytheGenie@xanga - They're working on that now! But so far, no such luck
NOOOOOO!!!! I eat a banana like every day!
This isn't the first time lack of genetic diversity has posed a threat to our food supply. Between soy, corn, hell even cows and chickens, you'd have thought we'd learned by now. All those pesticides eventually create a pesticide resistant bacteria or fungus, its Darwinism.
Exactly what Nina1981 said!
Bananas, not "banana's"
NOOOO. haha it's bad enough that animals are going extinct, now fruit is too? I wonder what's next..
@PinkSplash@xanga - thank you. hahaha. :)
omg i love to eat bananas! swt thanks for the info though.
I feel bad for the bananas. No apostrophe. (!!!)
noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
@PinkSplash@xanga - OMG! You just reminded me of something from the old farmer's market I used to shop at in my old hometown.
The labels would always include the damn apostrophe. "Watermelon's," "tomatoe's," "apple's," etc.
It drove me fucking nuts....
I love bananas!!! :(
saddest news i've heard all day )':
Not my nanners!
how will i train my pet monkey???
Just the SMELL of bananas make me wanna ralph.... bleh.
BUT I LOVE BANANAS!!
they'll find a way to fix this. they always do. I'm not worried. =)
I support the banana vaccine.
great so instead of no bananas, we get a freak banana with extra limbs.
noooooooooooooo I love bananaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
@Blabsie@xanga - Ay! Thanks for pointing that out! I figured it out it's actually a glitch on my ghetto computer keyboard :(