Gros Michel

The Gros Michel, often called the "Gros Michel banana," was once the dominant commercial banana variety. It was known for its rich, sweet flavor, surpassing the modern Cavendish in taste. However, this variety was nearly wiped out in the 1950s and 1960s due to a devastating fungal disease called Panama disease.12

Panama disease, caused by Fusarium oxysporum, attacks the banana plant's vascular system, leading to wilting and death. Because Gros Michel bananas were grown as sterile clones, there was little genetic diversity, making them highly susceptible to the disease. Farmers were forced to abandon Gros Michel plantations, and the Cavendish banana, which was more resistant at the time, became the new commercial standard.21