Question

A banana crop is cultivated by farmers without sowing of seeds. Explain how the plant is propagated?

Answer 1

• The banana plant is a large perennial herb with leaf sheaths that form trunk-like pseudostems.
• Bananas and plantains (cultivar of Musa) are propagated vegetatively rather than sexually because nearly all cultivated varieties are seedless, and fruits develop parthenocarpically (in the absence of seed development).
• The principal method of banana propagation by small-holder farmers is division of suckers or pups which arise from the base of the main stem or from the underground corm. Farmers from different regions prefer different size suckers for optimal planting material.
• Very small pups are called as buttons. Large suckers are the preferred planting material. These are removed from vigorous clumps of banana trees with a spade when at least three feet tall, during warm months. Pups should not be taken until a clump has at least three to four large banana plants to anchor it.
• When the pup is taken the cut must be into the mother banana plant enough to obtain some roots. Plant close to the surface. Large leaves are cut off of the pup leaving only the youngest leaves or no leaves at all.

Tissue Culture: Micropropagation technique has been developed during the past two decades are now considered well established. It has played a role in plantain and banana improvement program world wide. The rate of multiplication ranged from two to ten or more shoots or bud propagules per month, resulting in potential propagation rates of several thousands or millions of plants per year.