Plant specialists from the University of Derby are studying a deadly fungus that attacks bananas.
A part of the project involves freezing different varieties of banana which can then be thawed later and used for research.
Paul Lynch, biotechnology professor, said: "We want to preserve this fruit for future breeding programmes."
He said the project involved a rapid freezing process which allowed the plants to be stored for long periods.
Prof Lynch will travel to Malaysia in March to work with scientists on infectious diseases that are threatening the main Cavendish banana.
He said: "The Cavendish is susceptible to a fungal disease in the soil that can kill the entire plant - and we want to develop a resistant variety.
"The material from Malaysia will be treated with chemicals and then frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored indefinitely.
"When they are required they can be thawed in warm water and transferred back into the culture room and re-grown in the field."
He said there were a wide variety of bananas in Malaysia - including savoury ones - that were being promoted as an alternative to the common variety.
"They are trying to wean us off the big yellow banana and onto some of the equally interesting flavoursome fruits," he said.
