Hope for global banana farming in genetic discovery

19 Feb 2026
Bananas
Generations of Calcutta 4 crosses were grown to identify STR4 resistance was carried in chromosome 5. Photo credit: Professor Elizabeth Aitken

Scientists have pinpointed crucial genetic resistance to a fungal disease which threatens the global banana supply in a wild subspecies of the fruit. 

In a valuable step forward for banana breeding programs, Dr Andrew Chen and Professor Elizabeth Aitken from The University of Queensland have identified the genomic region that controls resistance to Fusarium wilt Sub Tropical Race 4 (STR4).

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