Producing the foundation for successful banana cultivation
The key to successful banana production lies in the early stages, long before the plants reach the greenhouse. The process starts in the laboratory, where tissue culture plants are propagated under controlled conditions before being carefully hardened and acclimatised for commercial cultivation.
The company Vitroagriannakhil (V2A) in Morrocco has specialised in this process for more than ten years. With state-of-the-art facilities comprising a tissue culture laboratory and two young plant nurseries located in southern and northern Morocco, V2A supplies high-quality banana plants to Banana producers in Morocco and other international markets, including Senegal and Burkina Faso.
Tissue culture enables the production of uniform, virus-free young plant batches that establish quickly and consistently in the field. V2A reports average yields of around 70 tonnes banana fruits per hectare on its own plantations — well above Morocco’s national average of around 40 tonnes per hectare, according to FAO data (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).
Creating the ideal environment for root development
The transition from the laboratory to the nursery is one of the most critical stages in banana propagation.
Plants produced in vitro initially have root systems that are not fully functional. During acclimatisation, they must develop entirely new roots that are capable of supporting healthy growth under commercial growing conditions.
According to Abdellah Bellanouenes, manager of the Vitroagriannakhil nursery and tissue culture laboratory, the type of propagation substrate used is therefore crucial.
„Propagation substrates of Klasmann-Deilmann are used throughout the entire process, from primary hardening to cultivation. They meet our scientific and professional production standards. They are essential for producing high-quality plants.“
The substrate provides the physical environment that young plants need during this sensitive stage. A balanced combination of water retention, aeration and structural stability supports rapid root development and helps the plants to become established successfully.
Healthy roots are the basis for healthy plants
At Vitroagriannakhil, strong root development is one of the clearest indicators of plant quality.
„You can see the roots, they are dense. They have found an ideal environment in terms of water retention, aeration, and nutrient supply.“
The TS3 Substrate by Klasmann-Deilmann provides the ideal conditions for early development, the nursery can simplify crop management during propagation. „This means that we don’t need to use fertilisers.“
The result is a more efficient production process and consistently high-quality young plants that are ready for growers.
A partnership focused on quality
For Vitroagriannakhil, choosing the right substrate is about creating the best possible starting point for every plant.
„We opted for a substrate from Klasmann-Deilmann because it saves us time. In general, the roots of in vitro plants aren’t functional. The plant has to regenerate new roots. To do this, it needs an ideal growing media structure. That’s exactly what we find in Klasmann-Deilmann substrates.“
By combining tissue culture expertise with the carefully selected substrates of Klasmann-Deilmann, Vitroagriannakhil produces vigorous, first-class banana young plants that enable banana producers to establish very productive plantations from the outset.
