Chiquita Brands International [has] bred a new banana called the Yelloway 1 that is resistant to [Tropical Race 4 disease] and shows promise in resisting [Black Sigatoka disease].
Australian researchers also have developed a TR4-resistant genetically modified banana by inserting a gene from a wild banana plant into a Cavendish. [T]he fruit is expected to look and taste just like the original variety. But so far, the GMO fruit hasn’t been adopted by growers or retailers. Consumers are squeamish about genetically modified foods, and regions like Europe with strict GMO rules present regulatory hurdles.
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“It’s just sitting there. Maybe someone overseas will want to take it up. There is a marketing issue, a legal issue, but not a technical issue,” [Andre Drenth professor and program leader for crop protection at the University of Queensland] said.
