Vanilla planifolia is the most widely cultivated species for obtaining natural vanilla. In Mexico, vanilla production has decreased due to negative effects of climate change. We evaluate the current, potential, and future of vanilla cultivation areas in Mexico using bioclimatic models with distinct climate change scenarios (intermediate emissions, temperature rise of 1.1 to 2.6 °C, and high emissions from 2.6 to 4.8 °C, to 2050 and 2070), in order to understand the magnitude of future distribution changes and propose future management strategies. We found that the areas with greatest potential for establishment of V. planifolia are northern Veracruz state bordering the state of Puebla (the Totonacapan region) and northeast Oaxaca state. In the models, the most relevant environmental variable were mean temperature and precipitation of the driest quarter. The average projections for 2050 and 2070 show a progressive reduction in the potential area for the species (−1.6 and −17.3%). However, the Totonacapan region maintains the largest ideal cultivation area, while that of northeast Oaxaca is reduced by 50%. These results show the need to redesign the strategies of agricultural production of vanilla, through sustainable and climate-smart agricultural production strategies as well as a national strategy for conservation of genetic diversity.

Manejo y aprovechamiento Potencial de aprovechamiento de epífitas vasculares caídas en un bosque mesófilo de montaña de Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, México Potential harvesting of fallen vascular epiphytes in a tropical montane cloud forest at Los Tuxtlas, Veracruz, Mexico

Vanilla planifolia is an orchid of cultural and economic value. However, its cultivation in many tropical countries is threatened by water stress. In contrast, V. pompona is a species that is tolerant of prolonged periods of drought. Due to the need for plants’ resistant to water stress, the use of hybrids of these two species is considered. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological and physio-chemical responses of in vitro vanilla seedlings of the parental genotype V. planifolia, and the hybrids V. planifolia × V. pompona and V. pompona × V. planifolia, which were then exposed over five weeks to polyethylene glycol-induced water stress (−0.49 mPa). Stem and root length, relative growth rate, number of leaves and roots, stomatal conductance, specific leaf area, and leaf water content were determined. Metabolites potentially associated with the response to water stress were identified in leaves, through untargeted and targeted metabolomics. Both hybrids exhibited a smaller decrease in the morphophysiological responses compared to V. planifolia and exhibited an enrichment of metabolites such as carbohydrates, amino acids, purines, phenols, and organic acids. Hybrids of these two species are considered as a potential alternative to the traditional cultivation of vanilla to face drought in a global warming scenario.

Vanilla planifolia es la principal fuente vegetal de vainillina, saborizante de amplia importancia comercial. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vanillae, principal patógeno de V. planifolia, ha devastado cultivos enteros a nivel mundial. Vanilla pompona poseé resistencia a patógenos comunes del género. Variaciones climáticas extremas repercuten en las interacciones planta-patógeno. A partir del supuesto de que temperaturas superiores a 28 ºC intensifican la infectividad de F. oxysporum en vainilla, se determinó la influencia del incremento de la temperatura en la infectividad de F. oxysporum f. sp. vanillae (cepa M21C5) en V. planifolia y dos híbridos de V. planifolia x V. pompona. Se inocularon raíces de esquejes de V. planifolia y de los híbridos con suspensiones de esporas del hongo. Se midió el avance de la enfermedad durante 60 días a 25, 30 y 35 ºC. Se emplearon cinco réplicas por tratamiento, incluyendo un lote testigo. Se utilizó ANOVA post hoc Tukey (P = 0.05) para analizar los datos. V. planifolia fue suceptible a 35 °C y altamente suceptible a 25 y 30 °C. Ambos híbridos mostraron resistencia al patógeno en las temperaturas evaluadas. Por la resistencia mostrada, los híbridos de V. planifolia x V. pompona son una alternativa viable ante el patógeno.

El fruto de vainilla (Vanilla planifolia Andrews) genera una importante derrama económica; sin embargo, los frutos mejor pagados son aquellos de mayor longitud (tipo gourmet), por lo cual se necesitan estrategias que permitan obtener frutos de ese tipo. Ante ello, una opción es la inducción de metaxenia, entendida como el aumento de tamaño de los frutos a causa de la polinización con polen extranjero. Para el caso de la vainilla, se podría utilizar polen de V. pompona Schiede, ya que suele ser una especie acompañante y su fenología coincide con la de V. planifolia. Se realizaron polinizaciones cruzadas entre V. planifolia y V. pompona durante abril de 2021, se evaluó la longitud total, el diámetro, el peso y el índice de forma 40 días después. Se encontró influencia del polen extranjero, manifestada en frutos más largos y pesados si la flor de V. planifolia era polinizada con polen de V. pompona, mientras que si el polen extranjero era de V. planifolia en flores de V. pompona los frutos fueron más pequeños y livianos. La polinización cruzada entre V. planifolia con polen de V. pompona es una alternativa para los productores para que obtengan frutos de tipo gourmet con mayor facilidad.