The banana could disappear within 10 years unless it is genetically modified, scientists revealed in a study published today.

Banana plants have not reproduced for thousands of years according to Emile Frison, head of a worldwide network of banana researchers.

The fruit lacks the genetic diversity to fight off the pests and diseases now emerging in Central America, Africa and Asia. This means the banana situation resembles that of the potato – before the Irish potato famine 150 years ago.

Frison said: 'The uniformity of bananas makes them ripe for disease like no other crop on earth.' The sweet commercial variety Cavendish is threatened by a new strain of Panama disease that wiped out the Gros Michel in the 1950s. This is expected to reach western plantations in the near future. While other varieties are being decimated by a fungal disease called Black Sigatoka, which first appeared in Fiji in 1963.

Frison said the only option to save bananas was genetic modification.

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