Evaluation and comparison of the production costs of Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels plantlets produced by microcuttings and micrografting

Argan ( Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) is a difficult plant to propagate. In recent years, research has been performed to establish micropropagation systems for argan. The researches aiming at optimizing existing techniques or developing new protocols must consider their costs. Two methods have been reported to produce true-to-type argan plants: microcuttings and micrografting. This paper presents an economic analysis of vitroplant production to determine expenses associated with these two regeneration systems. The cost components included were chemicals, consumables, lab operations, salaries and glassware, but buildings and equipment were not included. There was a small variation between the two systems, which might be significant in large-scale production. In fact, the production unit cost of a plantlet obtained through microcuttings was assessed at US$ 9.04, whereas the cost of a micrografted plant was estimated at US$ 9.13. In microcuttings, losses caused by rooting recalcitrance greatly increased production costs. In micrografting, the work hours required by skilled employees, combined with an additional stage of rootstock preparation, raised the production cost. This study represents the first attempt to estimate the production cost of argan micropropagation to encourage scientists and industry to consider production costs in their future investigations. The findings of this study also provide commercial laboratories looking to invest in argan micropropagation with an idea of which regeneration method to use, the funds to invest and expenses, the losses experienced at each step, and the approximate overall cost to consider. Key message The production costs of argan plantlets obtained by microcuttings and micrografting were determined and compared. The loss variables of each method were incorporated, and the economic feasibility was assessed.