Boragen Collaborates with Dole to Develop Boron-based Treatment for Major Banana Disease
Boragen Inc., a world-leading boron-based discovery platform, has announced a collaboration with Dole Fresh Fruit Company, a subsidiary of Dole Food Company, Inc. Dole is focused on finding innovative and more sustainable solutions to protect against Black Sigatoka, one of the most prevalent and damaging diseases affecting the banana.
“As pressure to reduce chemical load increases, and the number available crop protection products reduces, the need for alternatives to control this disease is more important than ever,” said Patricio Gutiérrez, Research and Innovation director for Dole Fresh Fruit. “We look forward to collaborating with Boragen to develop new solutions to protect this nutritious household staple and improve the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the banana trade.”
Black Sigatoka, also known as black leaf streak, is caused by the fungal pathogen Mycosphaerella fijiensis. One of the most destructive diseases to commonly grown banana cultivars, it has developed resistance to several current fungicides. If left untreated an entire plantation can be lost in only a few weeks. As an economically important crop and staple food within many countries, the effects of the disease on bananas and plantains represent significant production losses.
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