The Bermuda Government is looking to cultivate new varieties of banana — in case the fungus decimating the fruit’s global population reaches the island.

The new strain of Panama disease, a resilient and incurable soil fungus also known as fusarium wilt, has already torn through crops in Australia, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

The BBC News has already declared the “imminent death” of the Cavendish, which became the world’s preferred banana variety after a previous outbreak of the Panama disease wiped out the Gros Michel in the 1950s.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Health, Seniors and Environment told The Royal Gazette that, should the new fungus arrive in Bermuda, it could have a “devastating impact” on the local banana culture.

He added: “Fusarium wilt is a serious threat to banana production worldwide.

“Locally, the department is currently investigating other varieties of bananas in order to diversify should something happen to our Cavendish stock.

“It is not likely that new varieties will be able to match the productivity of the Cavendish, unless they are genetically modified.

“However, the Plant Protection Lab has already identified sources for new and alternative banana varieties.”

Carlos Amaral, owner and manager of Amaral Farms, said that the department’s strict importation measures would help keep Bermuda safe from Panama disease.

However, he added that rogue individuals could provide the biggest threat to the island’s ecosystem.

“There are stringent guidelines in place to prevent accidental importation,” he said.

“The Pandora’s box, so to speak, is when a traveller sneaks something like a banana tree in, without knowing what’s on that particular plant.

“It gets done on a regular basis, and once something gets accidentally introduced into an environment, it takes a foothold and can decimate an agricultural commodity really quickly.

“It’s the individuals who think they’re being coy and trying to bring in something that’s unique, and unbeknown to them they introduce something that has a totally negative effect on the industry.”

Zach Moniz, manager of the Lindo’s Group of Companies, said that any potential threat to the international banana industry would affect the supermarket chain.

“There are always pockets of threat with certain produce items — asparagus was under threat one year because of floods — but they always tend to recover after a period of lean supply,” he said.

“Bananas are among our top items. It is a concern, but there’s not a whole lot we can do locally until we’re faced with the problem.”

• If you see wilting or dying banana plants, call 236-4201 or visit www.conservation.bm/observation-form