Researchers develop first banana plant resistant to TR4 and black sigatoka
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Researchers have developed a banana plant that is resistant to both fusarium tropical race 4 (TR4) and black sigatoka, two of the most destructive diseases for bananas.
Professor of Phytopathology Gert Kema at Wageningen University & Research views the development of the new hybrid, named Yelloway One, as a major breakthrough in banana cultivation, stating, "We've known for some time that conventional breeding can help us develop plants resistant to these diseases. Now we've proven it, and more importantly, we've demonstrated that by using the latest genetic tools, we can do it much faster than others. This is of great importance for the future of banana farming."
The development of Yelloway One comes at a critical time for global banana cultivation. TR4 and black sigatoka have caused significant damage in recent years, resulting in losses worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Until now, no resistant banana variety has been available, placing immense pressure on farmers and the banana sector as a whole.
