GM Banana

Of the tropical fruits, banana is well liked because of its appealing taste. It is also versatile, as it can be made into other products aside from being eaten raw. This nutritious fruit, with virtually no fat, is high in potassium and fiber, and a good source of the antioxidant vitamin C.  

Banana is considered the fourth largest horticultural crop in the world with an estimated production of 64,627,049 metric tons as of 2000. It is grown in countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, Latin America and the Caribbean. By the end of 2000, the highest producer of banana is India (13.9M Mt), which accounted for 21.5% of the total world production.  

Bananas have a unique trait, which is their tendency to produce mutation, resulting in an extensive numbers of cultivars. There are about 1000 types of bananas, which are subdivided into 50 varieties, the most common of which is the Cavendish variety. 

Bananas have been modified to contain traits such as virus, nematode and fungal resistance, and delayed ripening. Bananas are also being targeted as edible vaccines against dreaded Third World diseases.

Related Topics:

• Current banana research
• Delayed Ripening
• Fungal Resistance
• Virus Resistance
• Nematode Resistance
• Banana with Vaccine
• Banana Vaccine Technology

Summary Report on the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops - [View the 2004 report]

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SciDev.Net's dossier on GM crops - [Click here]

Global Status of Approved Genetically Modified Plants -  [Click here]

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