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#1
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Bananas, should we be worried?
With the news that our eating bananas (Cavendish strain) are under real
threat in various ways, see http://news.bbc.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2664373.stm should we be worried about the continued health of our ornamental varieties or are they resistant to blight etc ? Don't want to lose our Musa lasiocarpa just yet. -- Bob www.pooleygreengrowers.org.uk/ about an Allotment site in Runnymede fighting for it's existence. |
#2
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Bananas, should we be worried?
In article , "Sue & Bob Hobden" writes: | With the news that our eating bananas (Cavendish strain) are under real | threat in various ways, see | | http://news.bbc.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2664373.stm | | should we be worried about the continued health of our ornamental varieties | or are they resistant to blight etc ? | Don't want to lose our Musa lasiocarpa just yet. More to the point, the fungal diseases mentioned are probably only serious threats under tropical conditions and high planting densities. Regards, Nick Maclaren, University of Cambridge Computing Service, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QH, England. Email: Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679 |
#3
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Bananas, should we be worried?
The message
from "Sue & Bob Hobden" contains these words: With the news that our eating bananas (Cavendish strain) are under real threat in various ways, see http://news.bbc.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2664373.stm should we be worried about the continued health of our ornamental varieties or are they resistant to blight etc ? Don't want to lose our Musa lasiocarpa just yet. Copied from uk.food+drink where this quote from the New Scientist was posted:- ************************************************** ***************** The New Scientist article, which I have now read, is not at all frightening. It says: "The present banana clones were found 10,000 years ago and have not changed since then. The wild, inedible, relative of the domesticated banana is doing just fine. We have a problem with lack of genetic diversity in the banana, there are fungal diseases which could wipe out the present *single* clone produced commercially. There is too much fungicide used on present crops, to keep the diseases at bay. Work is required to breed new clones, resistant to these fungi. Nobody, commercially, likes the first new clone which have been produced. We changed clone in the 1960s because of a similar problem. I did not notice any change in bananas in the 1960s." ************************************************** **************** Jennifer |
#4
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Bananas, should we be worried?
The New Scientist article, which I have now read, is not at all
frightening. It says: We have a problem with lack of genetic diversity in the banana, there are fungal diseases which could wipe out the present *single* clone produced commercially. Jennifer Perhaps the solution it to genetically engineer some diversity into the banana ;-) I say that jokingly, but I guess it is probably being considered seriously by the producers. -- Drakanthus. ( Spam filter: Include the word VB anywhere in the subject line or emails will never reach me.) |
#5
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Bananas, should we be worried?
"Drakanthus" wrote in message The New Scientist article, which I have now read, is not at all frightening. It says: We have a problem with lack of genetic diversity in the banana, there are fungal diseases which could wipe out the present *single* clone produced commercially. Jennifer Perhaps the solution it to genetically engineer some diversity into the banana ;-) I say that jokingly, but I guess it is probably being considered seriously by the producers. -- From what I've read it's more than being considered, however the scientists are worried about consumer acceptance. -- Bob www.pooleygreengrowers.org.uk/ about an Allotment site in Runnymede fighting for it's existence. |
#6
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Bananas, should we be worried?
"Jennifer wrote in message Copied from uk.food+drink where this quote from the New Scientist was posted:- ************************************************** ***************** The New Scientist article, which I have now read, is not at all frightening. It says: "The present banana clones were found 10,000 years ago and have not changed since then. The wild, inedible, relative of the domesticated banana is doing just fine. We have a problem with lack of genetic diversity in the banana, there are fungal diseases which could wipe out the present *single* clone produced commercially. There is too much fungicide used on present crops, to keep the diseases at bay. Work is required to breed new clones, resistant to these fungi. Nobody, commercially, likes the first new clone which have been produced. We changed clone in the 1960s because of a similar problem. I did not notice any change in bananas in the 1960s." ************************************************** **************** What I'm worried about is if the Cavendish Banana, throughout the world, is being overrun by this fungus, and other things, won't it be a pool for infection of other varieties. A global breeding ground for diseases of Musa. Fungal spores are airborne too, so with the acreage under cultivation nowhere will be completely safe. A bit like the problems now encountered by us outdoor Tomato growers with Potato Blight. -- Bob www.pooleygreengrowers.org.uk/ about an Allotment site in Runnymede fighting for it's existence. |
#7
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Bananas, should we be worried?
The message
from "Sue & Bob Hobden" contains these words: What I'm worried about is if the Cavendish Banana, throughout the world, is being overrun by this fungus, and other things, won't it be a pool for infection of other varieties. A global breeding ground for diseases of Musa. Fungal spores are airborne too, so with the acreage under cultivation nowhere will be completely safe. A bit like the problems now encountered by us outdoor Tomato growers with Potato Blight. Not really, because potatoes and tomatoes are both grown all over the UK; unlike Cavendish bananas. Its unlikely that airborne tropical fungal spores from commercial banana acreage in the tropics, will reach here; or survive. Janet |
#8
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Bananas, should we be worried?
"Sue & Bob Hobden" wrote:
should we be worried about the continued health of our ornamental varieties or are they resistant to blight etc ? Its not a major problem in temperate regions - persistently high temperatures (above 30C for much the time) plus high humidity encourage the disease. Don't want to lose our Musa lasiocarpa just yet. I'm not aware that the disease attacks it. Musella appears to be remarkably resistant to many viruses and fugal diseases that affect Musa proper. I don't see this as being a problem with ornamental bananas being grown in this country, but it could be a major economical disaster in countries where culinary bananas are a major source of revenue. Dave Poole TORQUAY UK |
#9
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Bananas, should we be worried?
From what I've read it's more than being considered, however the
scientists are worried about consumer acceptance. -- Bob I've seen a lot of pro GM news items in the last week or so. Could this be the companies involved in the GM process trying to gain some positive publicity? Howard Neil |
#10
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Bananas, should we be worried?
"Janet wrote in message : Not really, because potatoes and tomatoes are both grown all over the UK; unlike Cavendish bananas. Its unlikely that airborne tropical fungal spores from commercial banana acreage in the tropics, will reach here; or survive. Ah, but what about the tons of Banana skins thrown away daily in this country, is that not a potential point of entry? Are they fumigated against fungi spores before entry here? We compost our skins, hot humid conditions in our heap! -- Bob www.pooleygreengrowers.org.uk/ about an Allotment site in Runnymede fighting for it's existence. |
#11
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Bananas, should we be worried?
In article ,
Sue & Bob Hobden wrote: "Janet wrote in message : Not really, because potatoes and tomatoes are both grown all over the UK; unlike Cavendish bananas. Its unlikely that airborne tropical fungal spores from commercial banana acreage in the tropics, will reach here; or survive. Ah, but what about the tons of Banana skins thrown away daily in this country, is that not a potential point of entry? Are they fumigated against fungi spores before entry here? We compost our skins, hot humid conditions in our heap! Relatively few parasitic fungi will grow on dead material, so such fungi will probably not survive composting. Also, unless you keep your bananas in a hot, humid glasshouse, it is unlikely that they will suffer from tropical fungi even if they get exposed. Regards, Nick Maclaren, University of Cambridge Computing Service, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QH, England. Email: Tel.: +44 1223 334761 Fax: +44 1223 334679 |
#12
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Bananas, should we be worried?
Dear Sue and Bob,
you should be alright with that plant, its supposed to be in a different genus, musella. These dangerous fungi would have a struggle with our climate. Andy "Sue & Bob Hobden" wrote in message ... With the news that our eating bananas (Cavendish strain) are under real threat in various ways, see http://news.bbc.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2664373.stm should we be worried about the continued health of our ornamental varieties or are they resistant to blight etc ? Don't want to lose our Musa lasiocarpa just yet. -- Bob www.pooleygreengrowers.org.uk/ about an Allotment site in Runnymede fighting for it's existence. |
#13
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Bananas, should we be worried?
Its unlikely that airborne tropical fungal
spores from commercial banana acreage in the tropics, will reach here; or survive. Janet If you look at global air currents you will see that warm equatorial air rises and goes north and south towards the poles. It is indeed likely for tropical fungal spores to reach here, but as said wouldn't survive etc. Art |
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