At a Glance

Experts warn that a tropical disease could wipe out bananas. Now a banana variety that may hold the key to protecting the world's edible banana crops is in danger.

Experts have warned for several years that a tropical disease could wipe out the most widely consumed banana varieties, and now, a banana species that may hold the key to protecting the world's banana crops from the disease is in danger.

The wild but inedibleGros Michelbananaonly grows in Madagascar and has recently been added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's because there areonly five trees remaining.

This is not good news considering scientists believe the Madagascan bananas may hold the key to saving the edible and widelyconsumed Cavendish banana, which is susceptible to Panama disease.

is a type of fungal infection that invades soil. It'sinfecting banana plants in Africa and Asia. Fears are mounting that the disease could make its way to South America, where the bulk of the world's edible bananas are cultivated. If that happens, it could signal the end of the tasty fruit.

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Scientists theorize that the Gros Michel,which has not exhibited vulnerabilities to Panama disease, could be combined with the Cavendish to create a more resilient but still edible banana variety.

Richard Allen, asenior conservation assessor at the Royal Botanic Gardens, that Gros Michel bananas (Ensete perrieri) may have genetic traits that protect it from the disease.

"We don't know until we actually do research on the banana itself, but we can't do the research until it's saved," Allen said.