Did you know some food crops are endangered? Well, this happens for different reasons like pests or diseases, habitat destruction, climate change, and effects of economic activities, among other reasons.
In this blog, you’ll learn which fruits are endangered, their characteristics and why are they in such a state. So, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Banana
Characteristics of the banana
The banana is a fruit that originated in South Asia that grows from a giant herbaceous plant that may resemble a tree but is not. It usually grows in tropical or subtropical regions as it thrives most rapidly in warm, humid climates.
There are more than 1,000 types of bananas, including sweet ones that are eaten raw as fresh fruit, and others that are saltier and are used in the preparation of different dishes. Similarly, bananas are also used to make food products, cosmetics, or crafts. For example, its leaves are used to prepare typical foods in countries such as Colombia and Venezuela.
If you want to know more about this fruit, you can visit our complete banana guide.
Why is the banana endangered?
Background
In case you didn’t know, this is the second time that bananas are endangered. In the 20th century, the “Gros Michel” banana variety was the most marketed worldwide and therefore the most consumed by people, besides, it is said to be sweeter and to have a more resistant peel.
However, between the 1920s and 1950s, a disease commonly called “Panama disease” appeared, a disease caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. The fungus enters through the soil and lodges in the roots, preventing the plant from absorbing water and other nutrients, and can also enter through cuts or wounds on the plant.
This disease wiped out crops around the world and was so lethal that it almost wiped out the “Gros Michel” banana. For this reason, the genetic variety “Cavendish” was created, being resistant to the fungus and soon becoming the most commercialized.
Although the “Gros Michel” banana is still cultivated, it is no longer so well known and does not have the same commercial value it had a few years ago.
What is happening with bananas today?
As I said before, nowadays the “Cavendish” banana is the most known banana in the banana industry, it is the “typical” banana that you find in supermarkets.
But why is the banana endangered again? In 1990, a more aggressive strain of this fungus called “Fusarium Raza 4T” was reported in Taiwan. A lethal adaptation because it can survive in the soil for decades, silently affects banana crops, and is easily contagious, i.e. once one plant has this new fungus, other plants in the crop will soon have it.
Currently, according to the Agricultural Plant Biotechnology Association (2021), this new race of this fungus has been identified in 19 of the 135 banana-producing countries. When this fungus affects crops, it is practically impossible to eradicate it. In fact, the moment the fungus is identified in the soil, the land must be placed in quarantine, yet unfortunately, it becomes unusable for banana crops.
Scientists are working on the creation of a genetic variety of bananas resistant to this new breed of fungus. It should be pointed out that these types of alterations do not affect the appearance or flavor of the banana; they only allow the crops to be resistant to the disease so that the fourth most important and most consumed agricultural product in the world can continue to be marketed.
Oranges
Characteristics of the orange
The orange is a fruit that originated in Asia. It grows from a tree that can reach up to 10 m high, the fruit is oval with green peel when unripe and orange when ripe, plus its flesh also has this color.
This fruit can be consumed fresh, it is used to make food products such as juices or jams and it is also used in the cosmetic industry as orange oil, and creams, among others.
Why is the orange in danger?
Oranges, as well as other citrus fruits such as tangerines or lemons, are facing a disease called “Huanglongbing or HLB” caused by the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. This bacterium is spread by a tiny insect that measures no more than 3 mm. It lays eggs on the plants, thus infecting the citrus fruit. It originated in Asia in the 20th century and is currently wreaking havoc in the orange industry.
It is a lethal disease that grows silently, as it is difficult to identify when a tree is infected because it can go without any symptoms for months or even years. Once a tree is infected, nothing can be done as this disease has no cure so far, and within a few years, the infection will kill the tree.
This is a global issue, this bacterial disease has been identified in different parts of the United States, Brazil, Argentina, China, countries in Africa, and Oceania, among many other countries in the world. Scientists are working on different strategies to put an end to this threat that endangers oranges and other fruits; however, the solution is not easy and they have even proposed creating a genetic modification resistant to the disease.
Strawberry
Characteristics of strawberries
The strawberry is a triangular-shaped fruit with green skin when unripe and bright red color when it reaches maturity. Also, on the outside, you can see the small seeds of the fruit.
Strawberries are commonly consumed as fresh fruit, although the food industry includes them in various foods such as yogurts, juices, jams, and cookies, among others.
If you want to know more about this fruit, you can visit our complete guide to strawberries.
Why is the strawberry endangered?
Climate change is another of the main causes that endanger different foods. This is because this phenomenon is affecting agriculture and, therefore, crops of different foods that need the appropriate factors to grow optimally. As it turns out, heat waves and decreased rainfall affect crops and change the usual crop processes.
For instance, strawberries are one of the fruits that have been affected by climate change. The United States is one of the largest producers of strawberries and the variation in climate has caused different phenomena, on the one hand, there have been cases of delays in their harvests Also, on the other hand, the increase in temperatures has caused in some cases an overproduction of strawberries, which is negative because the excess supply could affect the economy of the country and the producers.
Not to mention that climate change has other consequences on crops such as increased exposure to the spread of pests or diseases, and increased mortality for plants due to extreme weather conditions such as heat waves or floods that reduce productivity and yield of plants.
Conclusion
As you may have noticed, several common foods that are part of your daily diet are endangered by different causes such as pests, diseases, or global warming. We encourage you to consume these fruits in your daily diet and, above all, appreciate them.