The article implies that it is the Cavendish variety under attack. What I would like to know is whether other fresh-eating banana varieties have some resistance. If so, we will still be able to get bananas, they will just be a little different. If this fungus is wiping out other fresh-eating bananas, then we have a much bigger problem.

But also, this sort of problem was almost inevitable. All Cavendish bananas are clones. That means there is no genetic variation in the population. Any disease or pest that can be fatal to one Cavendish plant can be fatal to them all. If the disease or pest can't be quarantined, the whole population is in danger. In retrospect, it seems kind of silly that we've been using such a vulnerable plant population for a major food crop, doesn't it?

Of course, we do the same with al of the grafted fruit trees (citrus, apples, pears, peaches, plums, etc.) The biggest difference is that the other fruits in question still produce viable seeds, so we can do more (conventional) breeding work to try to breed in resistance to any emerging pest or pathogen.

This is why it's so important to protect the land-races in the centers of origin of all crops.

In an article I read earlier in the week, Cavendish replaced another commercial variety that succumbed to a similar disease. It was said to be inevitable that Cavendish would eventually succumb as well, now they are reportedly looking @ other varieties to replace Cavendish.

Here is a link that might be useful: More details