Colombia: TR4 resistant banana variety successfully tested

The Israeli company Rahan Meristem, together with Banarica Colombia from Colombia, has developed a new variety of bananas from the Cavendish group that is resistant to the fungal disease - Fusarium TR4, which is known as "Panama disease". The new variety is also distinguished by high yield and early flowering. It is reported by Fruit-inform with reference to Freshplaza. The new variety has been field tested in Israel, the Netherlands and banana plantations in the Philippines. "Panama disease" spreads rapidly and causes severe damage to plants, resulting in significant losses for banana growers around the world. To date, few varieties have been developed with resistance to the pathogen, the soil fungus, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cuban TR4. The dangerous strain is now the focus of research in the banana industry. Until now, manufacturers could only use bioprotection products. See also: TR4 strain threatens banana plantations in Peru It took more than seven years of scientific work ...