A team of scientists believe that the reports regarding the dismissal of banana have been hugely overstated. Moreover, the team has been able to successfully sequence the genome of banana and is hoping that it will provide them with a way out to tackle the problem faced due to two major fungal diseases, affecting the fruit: Panama disease and black sigatoka.

It is being expected that the sequencing will help generate new genes that will provide the fruit with resistance that will protect it from the diseases.

Cavendish (left, above) variety has been reported to be majorly used across the world, especially in countries of United States and European countries.

However, the major problem is that the plant doesn’t have seeds and also that it doesn’t reproduce sexually. Thus, all plants belonging to this variety have the same genome sequence and thus, all are vulnerable to fungi infection.

However, scientists have claimed that it was difficult to sequence the genome of the variety, as it has three different sets of chromosomes.

A new study published online in Nature has drafted the sequence of another variety of banana that is DH Pahang (right, above). It has been discovered that the variety is resistant to Panama disease. Moreover, it can be used for breeding a new variety.

However, that will require major efforts.