Chiquita and Yelloway unveil disease-resistant banana variety

The mission of the Yelloway initiative is to develop banana varieties that are resistant to diseases endangering the world’s banana supply

Chiquita, in partnership with KeyGene, MusaRadix and Wageningen University and Research (WUR) is proud to announce the introduction of Yelloway One, a revolutionary banana hybrid resistant to Tropical Race 4 (TR4) and partially resistant to Black Sigatoka. These devastating fungal diseases are among the most significant threats to global banana production.

The mission of the Yelloway initiative is to develop banana varieties that are resistant to diseases endangering the world’s banana supply, while maintaining the familiar look, feel, and shelf life of the beloved Cavendish banana. Yelloway One is the first of its kind—ushering in a new era of banana cultivation.

Yelloway One is the first edible banana to combine resistance to Fusarium Wilt of Banana (TR4) and Black Leaf Streak Disease (Black Sigatoka), two diseases that have cost the banana industry hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The success of Yelloway’s breeding program in producing a banana variety with natural resistance to these destructive pathogens represents a breakthrough in sustainable banana production.