Our love for bananas as Kenyans might soon lead us to our death.
Bananas are known for their various health benefits like preventing cancer and improving digestion among others but now, they are making news countrywide for all the wrong reasons.
The banana is said to have a deadly disease known as the Panama wilt. Well, if you did not know, now you definitely do.
This disease is being referred to as the worst disease, after cancer and AIDS.
The disease is caused by the Fusarium oxysporum fungus which then enters the plant’s roots and spreads through the plants xylem vessels. The disease causes significant damage.
So with this deadly virus going round it is only normal to ask if this is the end of the banana.
“Bananas affected by Panama wilt show yellowing of leaves starting with the oldest. Some of the leaves droop, turn brown, dry and tear,” said Lusike Wasilwa, the director of crop systems at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (Kalro) in Nairobi.
Wasilwa explained that this fungus can only be treated by fungicide as it produces various spores that can live for years on end. Once another banana plant grows next to the infected one, the spores attack the plant, killing it immediately.
The only advise that can be given to farmers at the moment is to observe crop hygiene so that cases of Panama wilt can reduce and done away with for good.
So with that information, one will be sure to be keen before eating a banana.