A disease called Panama is threatening supplies of the worlds most popular fruit

banana.
Two years ago, the United Nations warned that the Panama disease could destroy
much of the worlds banana crop.
Since then, things have not gotten better. A newoutbreak was discovered last year
in Australia. The disease started in Asia in the 1990s, and later spread to Africa and
the Middle East.
World health officials worry the disease could travel to Latin America, one of the top
banana producers in the world.
All this is a big concern because bananas are an important source of income
and nutrients for millions of people. They are grown in 135 tropical nations.
The United Nations lists bananas as one of the most important foods, along with
rice, wheat and corn. In 2011, farmers produced 107 metric tons, the UN said.
The website ultimatesuperfoods.org says bananas also contain serotonin, which it
says makes people feel happy.
No matter who you are, youll enjoy the calming effects and positive vibes, the
website says of the banana.
Concern in the banana industry
Randy Ploetz is a professor at the Tropical Research & Educational Center at the
University of Florida. Many consider him as Americas top banana expert, or, top
banana.
As he explained, Panama disease affects the Cavendish banana. The Cavendish is
one of more than 500 kinds of bananas. But it is the most popular.
The industry is waking up to the problem, Ploetz said. They are pretty scared.
He was speaking Thursday by telephone from Miami, Florida, where he is among
1,000 people attending the International Banana Congress.
The meeting was supposed to take place in Costa Rica, but was moved at the last
minute. There were concerns banana growers could spread Panama disease from
dirt collected on their shoes, Ploetz said.
Ploetz said reports Cavendish banana production could end are not correct. But if
the disease spreads to Latin America, it could hurt the worlds economy along with
food supplies for millions of people.

Still, he said there is reason for hope. Scientists in Australia are working on a
genetically engineered banana that might not be at risk of getting Panama disease.
But Ploetz wondered if people are ready to accept genetically engineered bananas.
Robert Bertram is chief scientist for the U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID). He said bananas are important to many millions of people all over the
world.
In Africa, Asia and tropical America, bananas and plantains are an important food
source for more than 100 million people, he told VOA.
As a cash crop, bananas are sold in local, regional and international markets,
Bertram said. Banana exports provide jobs and foreign money that producing
countries need, he said.
Bertram said USAID is organizing a worldwide effort to stop the growth of Panama
disease.
A fungus, known as TR4, causes the Panama disease.
Before 2013, Bertram said, it was limited to Asia China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines and Taiwan. Since then, it spread to the Middle East Jordan, Lebanon,
Oman and Pakistan and to Africa, in Mozambique.
In the 1960s, the same fungus wiped out the Gros Michel banana crop, which at
the time was the worlds most popular. The Cavendish replaced it.
John McQuaid, author of Tasty: The Art and Science of What We Eat said some
people think the Gros Michels tasted better.
At Wageningen University in the Netherlands, researchers are looking for Cavendish
replacements. Their work is difficult. Researchers said a replacement will have to
resist Panama disease, and survive the shipping time needed to get bananas to
stores thousands of miles away from banana fields.
And, yes, they will have to taste good.

Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views
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Words in This Story

banana n. a long curved fruit with a thick peel that is yellow when it is ripe
outbreak n. a sudden start or increase of a disease
serotonin -- n. a compound present in blood
vibes n. feelings
top banana n. the top person in a field
plantains n. a greenish fruit that comes from a kind of banana plant and is eaten
after it has been cooked
fungus n. any one of a group of related plants, such as molds, mushrooms, or
yeasts, that live on dead or decaying things
replacement n. the act of replacing something