This systematic determination of morphological and phytochemical data was conducted with the purpose of conserving and identifying the phylogenetic relationship among the Vanilla species of the Totonacapan region in Mexico to increase awareness of the genetic biodiversity. Samples of Vanilla planifolia, V. planifolia cv. “oreja de burro”, V. pompona, V. insignis, and V. inodora, are distributed across 19 municipalities of the State of Veracruz and 19 municipalities of the State of Puebla. Morphological data parameters were determined in situ and included leaf length, leaf width, leaf thickness, stem diameter, stem thickness, node distance, stem texture degree, flower colour intensity, and fruit length. Similarly, alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenols, flavonoids, and terpenes were determined by specifically phytochemical tests and quantified by thin layer chromatography. Both, morphological and phytochemical data parameters, were successfully used in assembling dendrograms by using the Euclidian distance method and by principal component analysis.

La vainilla (Vanilla planifolia) es uno de los aromáticos más demandados en la industria culinaria y refresquera, y entre los cultivos lícitos es de los más rentables, solo después del azafrán. En 2017 la producción en México fue 505.32 toneladas, ubicándolo como el cuarto productor mundial después de Madagascar, Indonesia y China. El objetivo de este estudio fue desarrollar un modelo de pronóstico para la producción anual de vainilla en México (PVAINI). Los datos fueron del periodo 2000 a 2016 y se utilizó la metodología Box-Jenkins de procesos autorregresivos integrados de medias móviles (ARIMA). Los parámetros de los modelos se estimaron con el método de máxima verosimilitud con el paquete de cómputo Statistical Analysis System. Un modelo basado en la serie PVAINI se adaptó para el periodo 2000 a 2016 y se validó con los datos de los años 2016 y 2017. El mejor modelo estimado fue ARIMA (1, 1, 1) e indicó que los PVAINI se explican con la producción ocurrida 4 años previos. Los valores pronosticados para 2017 fueron cercanos a los valores observados. El modelo ARIMA representó con cierta precisión el PVAINI en el próximo año y proporcionó información para planificar y tomar decisiones para los próximos seis años.

Background In some regions of Mexico, edible wild plants have been displaced or eliminated from the traditional food systems, mainly by changes in land use, booming monoculture, herbicide use, and by changes among the new generations in the traditional foods and diets of indigenous populations. In the Totonacapan region of Puebla, the gradual change from the traditional acahual plantation to coffee-type agroecosystems has provoked the displacement of old-growth forests and the eradication of wild plants since 1970. One of the wild species which has been used in traditional medicine and food recipes by the Totonac culture is Smilax aristolochiifolia (SMILACACEAE), known as “kgentsililh”. This species forms part of traditional Totonac recipes, in which the tender stems are still used in local medicine to treat menstrual pain, deal with dysentery, and prevent hair loss. According to the Maxent® Program, there are still potential areas with habitats suitable to promote its conservation in the Poblano Totonacapan. Methods We conducted 260 interviews with people in 13 locations in the northern Sierra of the State of Puebla. Variables taken into account in the interview related to the consumption frequency of the species, its abundance and distribution perception, reasons or arguments given by the Totonac indigenous population about the decreased presence of specimens of S. aristolochiifolia, its dates of collection, and the cutting prices of kgentsililh at the community level and in local markets. The relative abundance of S. aristolochiifolia was determined through 22 samples in 2ts of 600 m2. Later, its potential distribution in the state of Puebla was estimated using the Maxent® Program Ver. 3.3.3. Results Of the 260 Totonac families interviewed, 31% had stopped consuming kgentsililh. The residents reported that in the last 50 years the populations of this plant had diminished in the northern Sierra of the State of Puebla, mainly due to changes in land use, herbicide application, over-collection, and urban growth. In traditional medicine, the stem sap of S. aristolochiifolia is currently employed to help treat baldness, and the “tuberous root” or plant rhizome is used to prepare a tea infusion to treat dysentery. The cost of plant guides varies from 10.00 to 40.00 Mexican pesos for one bunch (around 0.5 to 2.00 US dollars), and every bundle consists of between 7 to 10 cuttings from 0.4 to 0.5 m long. From our 22 quadrats of sampling and collection of S. aristolochiifolia, we were able to recognize a total of 32 specimens. There is a considerable abundance of kgentsililh in acahual plantations and old-growth forests (evergreen lowland and mid-elevation perennial forest) concerning the coffee-type plantations and milpas. According to our analysis using the Maxent Program®, eight physical and climatic variables have a direct relationship to the potential distribution of the species. Conclusions Smilax aristolochiifolia is still a plant of socioeconomic importance, mainly because of its food value and its use in traditional medicine by indigenous families in Poblano Totonacapan. It is evident that the villagers perceive that in the last 50 years the species has decreased its population mainly due to land-use change, the application of herbicides to the different family production units, and climate change. At the moment, there is no knowledge about the methods of propagation of the species, and therefore there is no intention on the part of the population to conserve the species. However, it would be of great importance to generate a biocultural conservation strategy and take advantage of the results obtained from the potential geographic distribution area, since according to the Maxent® Program, there are still potential areas with habitat suitable to promote conservation in Poblano Totonacapan.

BackgroundEdible wild plants have been displaced or eliminated from the traditional production systems in Mexico, mainly by the changes in land use, monoculture booming, and by changes in the traditional foods and diets of the new generations of indigenous populations. One of the millennial species which has been used in traditional medicine and food recipes by Mesoamerican cultures is Smilax aristolochiifolia (SMILACACEAE), known by the Totonac culture as “Kgentsililh”. These species are part of traditional Totonac recipes where the tender stems are still used in local medicine to treat menstrual pain, to deal with dysentery, and to prevent hair loss. This current ethnobotany and ecological investigation recorded the abundance perception and use value as a food diet ingredient and traditional medicine in the context of Totonac culture families and further estimation of the potential geographical distribution of S. aristolochiifolia in the State of Puebla, Mexico. MethodsWere applied to 260 interviews in 13 locations in the northern Sierra of the State of Puebla. Variables taken into account in the interview have related to the consumption frequency of the species, abundance perception, reasons, or arguments by the indigenous population about the decrease presence of specimens of S. aristolochiifolia, dates of collection, cutting prices of Kgentsililh at a community level and local markets. The relative abundance of S. aristolochiifolia determined through 22 samples in quadrants of 500 m2, later, was estimated the potential distribution in the state of Puebla by using the Maxent Program ® Ver. 3.3.3. ResultsFrom 260 interviews, 82 indigenous families stopped consuming Kgentsililh in the last two years, and consumption frequency decreased to once by a year, and there were no significant differences between communities. In traditional medicine, the stem sap of S. aristolochiifolia currently employed to help treat baldness, and from the sweet potato to prepare a tea infusion to treat dysentery. All persons interviewed argued that the main reason leading to an overall decline of species are: changes in land use, herbicide applications, especially on coffee plantations and milpa agroecosystems, climate change, overcollection of the species, and the increase of the urban stain. The average cost of plant guides varies from 10.00 to 40.00 Mexican pesos by one bunch (around 0.5 to 1.8 USD dollars). From all 22 locations of sampling and collection of S. aristolochiifolia, we were able to recognize a total of 32 specimens. The highest abundance was recorded on acahual agroecosystems with a specimen presence value of 1.8, and milpa with a value of 1.0. According to our analysis on the Maxent Program®, eight physical and climatic variables have a direct relationship in the potential distribution of the species. ConclusionsSmilax aristolochiifolia remains as a species of socio-economic importance among Totonac culture within the state of Puebla, mainly by concerning food issues but not in medicinal items. There is a low abundance of specimens of the species since of the collective perspective of indigenous people, provoked by changes in land use, herbicide applications on different units of production, and climate change. Ecological evidence shows that in 37 municipalities of northern of the state of Puebla, there are potential areas with suitable habitat to take conservation programs in situ of S. aristolochiifolia.