Bangladesh scientists decode fungus DNA

Published 12 October 2012 07:41 1378 Views

The country is one of the world's largest exporters of the fibre, jute, and scientists have just decoded the DNA of a fungus which destroys it. Finding a cure to the fungus could increase the production of jute by 30 per cent. 40 million Bangladeshis, most of them farmers, depend on the plant. Once treated, the natural fibre is exported across the world. It's used to make heavy duty bags in South America, rugs in the Middle East, and the American automobile industry increasingly uses the natural fibre over synthetic alternatives to carpet and pad the interiors of cars. Al Jazeera's Nicolas Haque reports from Narsingdi, Bangladesh.

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