巴拿马病威胁香蕉生存
The most popular fruit in the world - bananas - may be about to be wiped out by an invisible killer bug.
一种无形的致死性病菌或许马上就要把香蕉——这种世界上最受欢迎的水果——“赶尽杀绝”了。
Panama Disease - which has already destroyed the most popular variety of banana - is back and its spreading like wildfire across global crops.
The problem is, bananas are seedless and are essentially all cloned from exactly the same plant - making them extremely vulnerable to disease.
A new study has warned the much-loved yellow fruit will be wiped out if we don't take action NOW.
The Gros Michel banana was once the most popular variety in the world – until it was completely killed off by Panama Disease in the 1950s.
The Cavendish banana - from the UK - stepped in to replace the Gros Michel and now makes up 95% of all banana exports in the world.
But Panama Disease - which is transmitted through soil and water and attacks the banana plant's roots - can lay dormant, waiting to strike, for up to 30 years.
And now it's back with a new global epidemic.