People will not be able to buy bananas locally planted in the Southern city of Guangzhou in future years. According to statistics from Guangzhou Association for Science & Technology, over 34.5% of 8,667 hectare (86.67 million s.q.m.) of banana forests have been infected with "Panama disease", a so-called cancer in the banana world. The disease in 3,333 hectare (33.33 million s.q.m) of forest is spreading and infecting other areas at a rate of 20% a year.

Panama disease is one of the most notorious and destructive of all plant diseases. Panama disease impacts the production of a wide range of banana cultivators. The root of the banana tree is infected first and eventually the tree dies out. 5% of a banana forest will die out during the first year, and the percentage will rise to 20% the following year. A forest will be destroyed after 3 or 4 years of infection.

Panama disease impacts the production of a wide range of banana cultivators. [Information Times]

Nansha, Conghua, Huadu and Panyu were the major producing areas of bananas in Guangzhou. By 2000 however, uninfected banana forests could hardly be found. Many banana forests have been replaced by vegetable and rice fields as Panama disease only affects banana trees.

Nansha, Conghua, Huadu and Panyu were the major producing areas of bananas in Guangzhou. [Information Times]

"In 1995 the banana forest in Nansha was diagnosed as infected with the disease. The situation could not be remedied as a result of its destructive effect and the lack of experience of farmers and government", an expert said.

In addition to replanting other crops, agricultural scientists have also began to research remedies in the hope of reducing or eliminating banana plant infection.

Editor: Yan