Cavendish banana threatened by TR4 fungus and climate change (legrandcontinent.eu)

• TR4 fungus threatens Cavendish, similar to how TR1 eliminated Gros Michel
• India (27% of world production) faces heat wave crop losses
• 2024 study identifies nitric oxide genes as TR4 virulence mechanism

"The world's most consumed banana variety, Cavendish, is threatened by the Fusarium fungus TR4 and extreme heat. TR4, an aggressive strain of Panama disease, could wipe out the cultivar as it did with Gros Michel in the 1950s. India, producing 27% of global bananas, suffers heat waves causing crop losses. In Latin America, up to 60% of prime growing areas may vanish by 2080. A 2024 study found TR4 virulence mediated by nitric oxide genes, opening treatment avenues. Climate change could raise food prices by 3% annually from 2035."