Gros Michel banana

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Gros Michel, or 'Big Mike', was an early export cultivar of banana which was phased out as the main export variety in the 1950s by Panama disease, a fungus which attacks the roots of the banana plant. Although there are many banana cultivars, Gros Michel was especially suitable for export to non-tropical nations. Following its susceptibility to Panama Disease, the Vietnamese Cavendish banana, which was resistant to the disease, was chosen to replace it. More care is required for shipping the Cavendish banana and its quality compared to Gros Michel is debated.