Plant Diseases: Bananas - Book Report/Review Example

Anth/Path Plant Diseases in the News Summary Assignment Introduction Plant diseases are still having profound impacts worldwide and in some cases, significant losses occur due to the introduction of a new pathogen or the re-emergence of old pathogens. Bananas are sweet fruits that provide enough phosphorus but unfortunately, they have negatively been affected by diseases, which has been on the rise for the last five years. Many types of commonly edible bananas like Cultivar Cavendish and Gros Michel are in the danger of extinction due to their little resistance to diseases.

This is not only threatening to large scale commercial farmers, but also to small scale subsistence farmers (Pustak, 49). If no precautions are taken to prevent the spread of banana diseases, typical bananas will be replaced by genetically modified bananas, whose cultivation is only driven by commercial motives that are only short-term.Panama Disease A Panama disease is a fungal disease caused by fusarium soil fungus. This fungus, with the help of water, enters the plant through the roots, and then travels to the other parts of the plant like leaves, and trunk.

Here, it produces gums and gels that hinder the flow of nutrients and water to the other parts of the plant. Therefore, the plant wilts, thus exposing the other parts of the plant to excess amounts of sunlight, which are lethal to its growth. Though the disease was historically reported, it has unfortunately re-emerged again. Within the last five years, the disease has not only been reported in Africa, but also in Europe and America, (Koeppel 4). According to Koeppel (6), the economy is losing 4.

76% through banana destruction by the disease. Even worse is the fact that the spread of the disease is likely to increase in the coming ten years, if necessary control measures are not put in place. This means more loss of money, and low food production, something that negatively affects economic growth. Current sources indicate that the deadly disease is also affecting Cavendish, the highest quality bananas. Genetic similarity in plants has however made it difficult to prevent evolution of the resistance of the disease.

Researchers are currently examining many and different varieties from the wild in order to determine their resistance (Koeppel 5). However, scientific scientists are currently advising farmers to destroy completely any affected bananas plants, and to avoid planting bananas in the same place for at least five years. Unfortunately, the rising population and small pieces of land, yet with high demand for bananas, is making it hard, or almost impossible for farmers to strictly follow this preventive measure.

Further more, farmers are being advised to stop sharing banana suckers for planting materials before they are examined by qualified professionals so as to prevent spread of the disease.Conclusion Bananas contribute greatly to economic growth through food supply and income from large scale commercial farmers. However, the emergence of panama disease is a major threat to the survival of the plant. The disease has fast been spreading all over the world but unfortunately, a significant measure to curb the disease has not yet been found.

Though demand for bananas is high, and land is small, farmers should take necessary precautions to avoid its spread like completely avoiding sharing planting suckers, destroying affected plants, and planting the land with crops that are not affected by the disease.Work CitedPustak, Mahal . Healing Power of Foods: Natures Prescription of Common Diseases, 2010, ISBN 81-223-0748-5, p. 49.Koeppel, Dan. Panama Disease: “Yes, We Will Have No Bananas”. The New York Times article of June 18, 2008.

Retrieved on 6th Sept, 2011 from http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/opinion/18koeppel.html.