How are banana and pineapple plants propagated for fruit production?

In fruit farming, banana and pineapple plants are propagated asexually to ensure that the resulting plants maintain the desirable genetic traits of the parent clone. Because these cultivated varieties often do not produce viable seeds, horticulturists rely on vegetative methods to multiply them.123

Banana Propagation

Banana plants are propagated using suckers or divisions of the underground stem, known as the rhizome. In a plantation, the main plant is replaced after fruiting by these suckers, which arise from the rhizome at regular intervals. Stronger suckers are selected and allowed to grow into new fruit-producing plants, while weaker ones are pruned to prevent overcrowding. Unlike many other fruit crops, these planting materials do not require nursery care before being set in the field.43

Pineapple Propagation

Pineapple plants are also multiplied using offshoots or suckers. On modern plantations, these propagating pieces are typically inserted directly into the soil through holes in mulch paper, which helps manage the growing environment. Like bananas, pineapple planting materials are ready for field planting without the need for prior nursery development.35