00:00100 billion is the amount of bananas humans eat worldwide, most of which are the Cavendish.
00:06However, despite this type of banana dominating the global market,
00:10a fungal disease could wipe out the variety altogether. According to Science Alert,
00:15there are over 1,000 varieties of bananas, but 47% that humans consume are Cavendish.
00:22Panama disease, Fusarium wilt, tropical race 4, is the name of the infection that could
00:27threaten the continuation, basically by starting in the banana tree's roots and then spreading.
00:33The infection ultimately disables the plant's ability to absorb water or conduct photosynthesis,
00:39leading to an eventual death. TR4, tropical race 1, began infecting bananas in 1876,
00:46completely wiping out Gros Michel Farms. There's no single solution to the problem,
00:51but it appears mass production and selling more than one banana variety might be the answer.
00:57It's, uh...
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