New banana variety shows seven-year survival in TR4-infected soil

A genetically modified Cavendish banana variety, known as QCAV-4, has become the first in the world to receive regulatory approval for commercial cultivation after demonstrating long-term resistance to Panama disease TR4, a fungal infection that has severely impacted banana production globally.

Developed by researchers at Queensland University of Technology (Australia), the plant contains a resistance gene from a wild Musa acuminata subspecies, enabling it to detect and block the fungus before it spreads. Field tests in the Northern Territory showed that QCAV-4 plants remained healthy for more than seven years in contaminated soil, with fruit quality comparable to conventional Cavendish bananas.

While the approval marks a significant breakthrough for the industry, consumer hesitation regarding genetically modified foods persists. Broader trials are currently underway in northern Queensland and the Philippines to assess large-scale performance and commercial viability.

source: abrafrutas.org

photo: abc.net.au