The Cavendish banana , which is eaten all over the world , is at risk of becoming extinct because of a fungal disease that destroys crops and is resistant to chemical treatments . Fusarium oxysporum subsp . cubense , also known as banana disease , has already spread through Asia , Africa , the Middle East , Australia and Central regions , with crops in South America potentially under threat . Scientists hope to create a resistant hybrid banana , using one of five , rare Madagascan trees that are immune to Panama disease . Around 1 billion Cavendish bananas are planted in the world annually .
The Cavendish banana, which is eaten all over the world, is at risk of becoming extinct because of a fungal disease that destroys crops and is resistant to chemical treatments. Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense, also known as Panama disease, has already spread through Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and Central America, with crops in South America potentially under threat. Scientists hope to create a resistant hybrid banana, using one of five, rare Madagascan trees that are immune to Panama disease. Around five billion Cavendish bananas are eaten in the UK annually.