Banana and plantain are propagated principally by vegetative division and far more rarely by seeds (usually only for banana breeding, ornamental types and wild species). In addition, tissue culture has become standard for commercial plantations in recent years, primarily because of the advantage of starting with disease-free planting material.

Vegetative Propagation: Banana is traditionally propagated through sucker (pups) or pieces of the rhizome. This is the most common propagation materials in banana propagation. Edible bananas are almost always seedless (however, some, such as 'Pisang Awak', produce many seeds when growing near a fertile pollen source).

There are 3 types of suckers that can be use in this propagation. First type is the maidenhead or the large non-fruiting pseudo-stem (with roots and some rhizome) and the second type is the water sucker. It produces broad leaves and inferior fruit (not healthy banana clump) therefore not desirable propagating material. It is because these suckers emerge from old deteriorating corms and have a broad leaves from the outset that makes this type of suckers are insubstantial, with very little vigor. The last types of the sucker that use for banana propagation are sword sucker where a sucker attached to the original rhizome (mother plant) with narrow sword - like leaves. Large sword suckers and maidenhead are the preferred planting material for banana propagation.

Suckers are used for propagation, being taken when they have a stem diameter of 5.08 cm to 15.24 cm. Leaves are commonly cut off in nursery trade, but decapitation at 60.96 cm to 91.44 cm is satisfactory. The sucker should be dug carefully, using a sharpshooter or spade to cut the underground base sucker from the side of its mother rhizome. Large sucker can be decapitated at ground level and cut into or quartered (vertically) to increase planting material.

A banana "sword sucker" is suitable for propagation (above). The sword sucker is carefully separated from the mother plant where it is attached to the underground rhizome, and usually planted directly in the field.

Propagation by division: In the event that healthy propagating material is not available, the sucker is cut off and its rhizome is pared of all damaged roots and dark tissue, or is cut into pieces containing only white, healthy tissue and a few buds. If nematodes are a problem in the area, it is strongly recommended that nematode-free or hot water treated (described under nematodes) propagating material be used.

Propagule collection: Division by rhizomes in banana is referred to as sucker production and collection. This is the most common method used to obtain banana planting material. Sword suckers are preferred to water suckers for planting new fields because of their superior vigor and eventual yield. Sword suckers have narrow, sword-shaped initial leaves and are attached to a healthy, fruiting mother plant. Water suckers are those young plants that no longer have a physical connection with a living mother plant. Water suckers do not have the sword-shaped initial leaves. The sword suckers (with narrow leaves) can be obtained from healthy mother plants that are devoted (either in full or in part) to the production of sword suckers. These sword suckers are not removed during the normal process of thinning out banana clumps, but are reserved for collection and subsequent planting. Suckers to be used for planting can be given extra light (by trimming overhanging leaves) and fertilizer before removing them from the mother plant to enhance their viability. Suckers are ready for removal from the mother plant when they reach a minimum of 15 cm diameter and 50 cm height above the soil (Stover and Simmonds, 1987). The sucker is removed (cut away and out) from the mother plant using a sharp tool such as a narrow-bladed, straight-sided shovel, making sure to obtain an appreciable amount of corm with the sucker. It is not advisable to use "peepers" (suckers less than 30 cm [tall]) for propagation material because they are extremely slow-growing, may not survive, and if they do survive will produce small bunches the first year. Banana suckers intended for agro-forestry should be allowed to develop longer on the mother plant, reaching 2-2.5 m in height with 6-7 leaves, and given extra nitrogen fertilizer in the weeks before their collection and use as planting material. These plants are better able to compete in a shaded agro-forestry setting.

Propagule processing: Detached suckers are inspected for disease and pest damage. If rhizomes are infested with weevils or nematodes, the affected tissue should be removed before washing and immersing the rhizomes in hot water (54ºC for 20 minutes) and/or 10% bleach solution. Roots may be entirely trimmed from rhizomes without significant detriment to the plant.

1. Cut off bottom half of corm and, if discolored, trim off up to 2/3 of the bottom of the corm until only clean white tissue remains.
2. Trim off about 1.27 cm of tissue around the sides of the corm.
3. If bullheads are used, cut off the pseudostem 7.62 cm to 10.16 cm above the top of the corm.
4. Either, (a) Immerse the trimmed corms in a hot water bath at 50 - 52 ºC for 15 - 20 minutes. Before planting, place the corms in a transparent plastic bag at room temperature until new roots begin to appear. Otherwise the corms can be coated with parafilm wax prior to shipment or storage.

Trimmed suckers sprout new roots readily if irrigation or rainfall follows planting. Suckers may be planted almost immediately or allowed to sit for a few days without loss of viability. To reduce problems with Erwinia soft rots (bacterial diseases), it is usually a good idea to let the cut surfaces heal over (suberize) for 2 days. Suckers may have disease or pests. Care should be taken not to transfer infested suckers that contain nematodes or other banana pathogens to a new field.

Propagule storage: Suckers remain viable for several days after collection and trimming. The sooner they are planted after collection; the better is the recovery and growth after planting.

Growing area: Suckers are planted directly into planting holes in the field for plantation or agroforestry production. For suckers intended for nurseries, a light, well drained, pathogen-free growth medium will suffice. If suckers are irrigated after planting, they can begin to form new roots within days of planting, and leaf emergence can begin within 7-10 days after planting. Expected survival, if sufficiently irrigated and with proper nutrition and absence of disease, is 90-100%.

Propagation by seeds: Ease of germination depends on species, variety, and environment. Some germinate quite readily; others are more challenging. Store seeds in a cool, dry place. Seeds do not require scarification, although soaking them in water for 24-48 hours before planting is recommended. Sow seeds in a light, well drained medium, place in full sun, and keep moist. Seeds may take several weeks to germinate.

Micro propagation: These days, banana is also propagated through micro propagation technique. Micro propagation is a laboratory-based tissue culture technique commonly used to propagate bananas. Tissue culture is the propagation of plant by using plant part or single cell or group cell in test tube under very controlled and hygienic conditions. In this tissue culture technique, the propagation is using part of meristems from the plant. On the traditional cultivar of the sweet banana Grand Nain, plants originated from somatic embryogenesis are true-to-type, with a fruit yield similar to plants derived from in vitro budding. Varieties like 'Shrimanti', 'Gross Michael' and 'Grand Naine' are commonly produced using this technique. Normally disease free plantlets wit 3 to 4 leaves are generally supplied in pots raising secondary nursery. Plants are initially kept in shade (50%) and as they harden, hsade is reduced gradually. After 6 weeks, pants do not require any shade. Normally two months of secondary nursery is good enough before the plants to be planted in the field pits. The advantage of this system is that plants are uniform and free of nematodes and most diseases. Commercially, this technique offers the possibility of a more consistent supply of plants compared with variable seed. The disadvantage is the time it takes for small plants to be grown to a sufficient size for sale from the nursery and in some areas their lack of availability. Besides that, poorly managed of this technique increases the occurrence of bud sports undesirable for propagation but possibly leading to the new ornamental forms.