Scientists have uncovered a powerful source of natural disease resistance in a wild banana, offering new hope for protecting the global banana supply from a dangerous fungal threat. Researchers at The University of Queensland, led by Dr. Andrew Chen and Professor Elizabeth Aitken, identified the specific genomic region responsible for resistance to Fusarium wilt Sub Tropical Race 4 (STR4), a destructive strain of Panama disease. Fusarium Wilt and the Threat to Cavendish Bananas "Fusarium wilt -- also known as Panama disease -- is a destructive soil-borne disease which impacts farmed Cavendish bananas worldwide through its virulent Race 4 strains," Dr. Chen said. This fungus attacks the plant through the soil, causing it to wilt and die. Even worse, it leaves behind long-lasting contamination in the soil, putting future crops at risk.…