In about 50 years, bananas may soon cease to exist due to a viral disease that is quietly ravaging through plantations in different parts of the world right now, according to a recent report. The banana-killing virus that swept through East and Southeast Asia in almost silence beginning in the 1960's is currently spreading on a global scale. In the published study: "Worse Comes to Worst: Bananas and Panama Disease-When Plant and Pathogen Clones Meet", researchers have put forward an alarming report.

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In 2013, reports have indicated that the deadly virus has spread throughout continents, destroying banana plantations in South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia. The virus is reportedly spread either through infected plant material, contaminated soil, tools, or footwear or due to flooding and inappropriate sanitation measures.

The sudden rise of incidence of the Panama disease epidemic cases is particularly destructive due to the massive monoculture of susceptible Cavendish banana.

From the moment the viral disease caused massive destruction in Taiwan's Cavendish plantations, it has continued ravaging crops all over Southeast Asia, affecting the Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi, and Yunnan as well as on the island of Hainan. Cavendish is the banana variety that is exported and distributed in the markets today.

Tropical Race 4, a Single Pathogen Clone or TR4 has wiped out Cavendish plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia; between 1997 and 1999, reducing the banana industry significantly near Darwin, Australia. Overall, the TR4 has affected an estimated 100,000 hectares of banana plantation and is expected to further grow in scope.

In the early 2000s, the disease made its way into a newly planted Cavendish banana farm in Davao (on the island of Mindanao, Philippines), where it continuously does damage and threatens the entire banana export trade. Similar instances were reported in countries outside Southeast Asia. Among those affected were Jordan, Pakistan, and Lebanon. Newer reports indicate more devastation in plantations of Mozambique and Oman, and just recently noted in the Tully region of Northern Queensland, Australia as well.

TagsPanama Virus, Tropical Race 4, TR4, extinction of bananas, bananas