Which is the Propagation method used for the propagation of bananas? (IBPS AFO 2020)

✅Explanation:
Bananas are primarily propagated asexually using sword suckers. These are shoots that develop from the underground stem (rhizome) of the banana plant. Sword suckers have a sword-like shape with narrow leaves. They are carefully separated from the mother plant and replanted to grow into new banana plants. This method ensures the new plants are genetically identical to the parent plant, maintaining desirable traits.

📌Other Options Explanations:
-Option B: Veneer grafting: This technique involves joining a thin layer of bark (veneer) from the desired plant (scion) onto a compatible rootstock. While used for some fruit trees, it's not a common method for banana propagation.
-Option C: Air layering: This involves inducing root formation on a stem while it's still attached to the parent plant. It's more common for plants with thicker stems and is not typically used for bananas.
-Option D: Seed: Most cultivated banana varieties are seedless, making seed propagation impractical.
-Option E: T Budding: This is a form of grafting where a bud is inserted into a T-shaped cut on the rootstock. It's more common for fruit trees like citrus and stone fruits.

🔴Additional information:
Banana is propagated by suckers.
-Bananas are propagated vegetatively because nearly all cultivated varieties are seedless.
– The principal method of banana propagation is the division of suckers that arise from the base of the main stem or from the underground corm.
-The banana has a reduced underground stem called the rhizome.
-Rhizome bears several buds.
-Each of these buds sprouts and forms its own pseudostem and a new bulbous rhizome.
-These daughter plants are called suckers.
-A good sucker is free from insects and leaf mottling and has narrow tapering leaves.
-Banana belongs to the family-Musaceae and genus-Musa.