In this episode Ed interviews Fernando Garcia-Bastidas, also known as Dr. banana. They discuss banana production and the very destructive disease known as banana wilt.

Additional Resources

https://www.keygene.com/banana-research-and-breeding-keygene/

https://linktr.ee/DrBananaGarcia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhPEErJnErU

Time Stamps

00:00 Introduction to Bananas and Fernando's Journey

00:42 Introductions

03:28 The Fascinating World of Bananas

06:12 KeyGene and Banana Breeding Innovations

09:07 Understanding Panama Disease and Its History

12:09 The Impact of Fusarium Wilt on Banana Cultivation

15:00 Banana Propagation and Monoculture Risks

18:17 Challenges in Banana Production

20:56 Fusarium Wilt: Transmission and Biosecurity Measures

23:48 The Global Spread of Fusarium Wilt

27:05 Social Implications of Fusarium Wilt

29:31 Future of Banana Cultivation and Breeding

39:30 The Impact of Fusarium on Banana Production

39:44 Understanding Banana Races and Their Threats

41:43 Geographical Spread of Fusarium Race 4

43:38 Banana Production: Global Insights

45:41 Management Strategies Against Fusarium

49:38 Symptoms and Effects of Fusarium Wilt

53:33 Breeding for Resistance: The Future of Bananas

57:55 Consumer Acceptance and Market Challenges

01:00:29 Exploring Banana Diversity and Flavor Profiles

01:04:38 The Future of Banana Production

01:08:38 Public Awareness and the Importance of Bananas

01:16:25 Outro

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Garcia-Bastidas, F. (Interviewee). S5:E6 (Podcast). Dr. Banana vs. Tropical Race 4. 4/15/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Brian Kelley of the Gathering Growth foundation. They discuss Brian's mission to photograph and document some of the nation's oldest and largest trees to raise awareness and preserve their legacy.

Additional Resources

https://www.gatheringgrowth.org/

https://www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/

https://nationalchampiontree.org

https://soundcloud.com/user-954267106

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to Gathering Growth Foundation

(01:12) Adventures in Tree Photography

(15:02) The Importance of Documenting Trees

(25:05) Future Projects and Aspirations

(35:03) Engaging the Public with Tree Awareness

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Kelley, B. (Interviewee). S5:E5 (Podcast). Documenting the Nations Grandest Trees: The Gathering Growth Foundation Part 2. 3/25/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Brian Kelley of the Gathering Growth foundation. They discuss Brian's mission to photograph and document some of the nation's oldest and largest trees to raise awareness and preserve their legacy.

Additional Resources

https://www.gatheringgrowth.org/

https://www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/

https://nationalchampiontree.org

https://soundcloud.com/user-954267106

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to I See Dead Plants Podcast

(01:34) Brian Kelly and the Gathering Growth Foundation

(05:32) The Journey from Skateboarding to Tree Photography

(12:54) The Importance of Documenting Trees

(16:01) Understanding Champion Trees

(25:30) The Role of State and Global Tree Registries

(27:49) Why Documenting Trees Matters

(33:55) Documenting Trees: The Process and Outputs

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Kelley, B. (Interviewee). S5:E4 (Podcast). Documenting the Nations Grandest Trees: The Gathering Growth Foundation Part 1. 3/18/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript