Comments on: The Sterile Banana

By: Jason Rosenberg

Jason Rosenberg — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:28:11 +0000

In reading your article I noticed a glaring fallacy. You say that genetic diversity only occurs in the stage of sexual reproduction. I know from propagating apples from root cutting that this is completely untrue. Fragments of plants can have genetics that are completely different than the genetics of other parts of that plant. If you sever that potion, you force it to function on it’s own and it can have completely different traits from leaf color to disease and moisture tolerance, to flower color and fruit. Not only can it, as a response to the stress of being removed from the parent plant, in most cases, it will display genetic diversity throughout the bank of cuttings. Certainly this is also true of bananas. If you are getting genetic diversity in terms of color and type of fruit already. I have certainly seen banana trees with different colored leaf variegations including red, white purple and yellow. I have even seen a plant with yellow variegations that lost them and a year later came back with red variegations like the other variegated banana I have. Yes you can’t tamper intentionally with the genetics if it doesn’t reproduce sexually, but it doesn’t mean it’s not already genetically diverse. This diversity can be explored by exposing plants and plant fragments to a vast variety and extremity of conditions. Genetic diversity is one of the most essential aspects of all biological systems. My guess is that the writer knows this but is charged with the task of promoting genetic the modification of bananas and is therefor obscuring the facts to this end.

By: Despite its Phallic Appearance, the poor Banana is Sterile - Rancho Chilamate

Despite its Phallic Appearance, the poor Banana is Sterile - Rancho Chilamate — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:30:21 +0000

[...] Though its shape is evocative of sex, the banana is “a sterile, seedless mutant—and therein lies a problem,” Fred Pearce writes for Conservation. Article [...]

By: eshana

eshana — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 01:31:48 +0000

A peanut is a legume, not a nut!

By: Tyrel

Tyrel — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:00:18 +0000

We are here to save the banana, so it wont be going anywhere.

By: Organic Bananas Grow Your Own - Growing, How To Grow Tomatoes Growing Fruit & Veg - Recipe Advice, Organic food Gardening, Chickens, Seeds for Sale

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:01:27 +0000

[...] if gloomy article here Conservation Magazine Blog Archive The Sterile Banana __________________ Manda. To see a world in a grain of sand And a heaven in a wild [...]

By: Table of Contents Oct-Dec 2008 (Vol 9 No 4) | Conservation Magazine

Table of Contents Oct-Dec 2008 (Vol 9 No 4) | Conservation Magazine — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:49:42 +0000

[...] to Save the OceanThe Problem of What to EatTable of Contents Oct-Dec 2008 (Vol 9 No 4)Impostor FishThe Sterile BananaAliens Among UsIdentity CrisisWater Footprint [...]

By: In this issue | Conservation Magazine

In this issue | Conservation Magazine — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:14:48 +0000

[...] Most Popular Lifestyle on EarthHomeIdentity Crisis10 Solutions to Save the OceanThe Sterile BananaThe Problem of What to EatImpostor FishAliens Among UsWildlife [...]

By: The Sterile Banana | Conservation Magazine

The Sterile Banana | Conservation Magazine — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 19:46:58 +0000

[...] Read the article >> Discussion Questions [...]