Abstract
Vanilla planifolia is the botanical source of vanilla extract, but has not generally benefited from strategic plant breeding. V. planifolia was cultivated in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica for its desirable aroma, and spread globally by vegetative cuttings starting in the 1500s. In 1837 a method to artificially pollinate Vanilla flowers enabled commercial production outside the native range. Today, Madagascar leads Vanilla production with significant contributions from other nations. The mass propagation of a few foundational clones has resulted in a global industry reliant on a very narrow germplasm base with threats from multiple biotic and abiotic stresses. Further, the lack of molecular, genomic and definitive phenotypic characterization inhibits improvement within this genus. The establishment of modern Vanilla breeding programs could leverage increasingly accessible technologies including advances in genomics and biotechnology to rapidly improve this species for high priority traits like disease resistance, total bean yield, pod uniformity, vigor, non-splitting pods, flower longevity, extract quality and flowers that are able to self-pollinate without manual intervention. While plant breeding is generally a long-term prospect, the potential benefits are justified by the increasing demand for premium ingredients like natural vanilla extract. In the future, genetic improvement of this species could result in more resilient and higher-quality cultivars that reduce price volatility, support growers, improve sustainability and excite modern consumers.
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Appendices
Appendices
1.1 Appendix I: Research Institutes and Online Resources Relevant to Vanilla
Institute name | Specialization Research Activities | Contact information |
---|---|---|
University of Florida Tropical Research and Education Center | Genetics, genomics, and plant breeding program. ~200 Vanilla accessions from multiple species | Alan Chambers, ac@ufl.edu |
VATEL Biological Resources Center | ~400 Vanilla accessions from multiple species including hybrids | Michel Grisoni, michel.grisoni@cirad.fr |
Genetic Resources Center Vanille de Tahiti | ~140 V. x tahitensis accessions for breeding and research | Sandra Lepers-Andrzejewski, sandra.lepers@vanilledetahiti.pf |
National Laboratory for Genomics of Biodiversity | Mesoamerican crops and their wild relatives including 140 accessions of cultivated and wild Vanilla species | Angélica Cibrian Jaramillo, angelica.cibrian@cinvestav.mx |
Unidad de manejo para la conservación de la Vida Silvestre | Vanilla germplasm management, maintenance, in vitro cultivation and producer training. 70 accessions | David Moreno Martínez, dmoreno29@hotmail.com |
Orquidario de la Universidad Veracruzana | In vitro germplasm coordinator and orchid research and conservation. 14 accessions | Rebeca Menchaca García, rebecamenchaca@hotmail.com |
Indian Institute of Spices Research | ~300 Vanilla accessions | Bhas Sasikumar, bhaskaransasikumar@yahoo.com |
1.2 Appendix II: Vanilla Genetic Resources
Cultivar or Morphotype | Important traits | Cultivation location |
---|---|---|
Handa | Selfed V. planifolia with resistance to Fusarium | Madagascar |
Vaitsy | Possible V. planifolia x V. pompona hybrid | Madagascar |
Albomarginata | V. planifolia Mansa’type with white leaf margins | Madagascar |
Classique | Light green, flat leaves | Madagascar |
Mexique | Darker, blue-colored leaves | Madagascar |
Aiguille | Similar to Classique with more slender leaves and pods | Madagascar |
Sterile | Similar to Classique yet with self-incompatibility | Madagascar |
Mansa | Common commercial type of V. planifolia | Mexico |
Oreja de Burro | Similar to Mansa but probably self-incompatible | Mexico |
Variegata | Variegated V. planifolia | Mexico |
Tahiti | Diploid V. x tahitensis | Tahiti |
Parahurahu | Diploid V. x tahitensis | Tahiti |
Rea rea | Diploid V. x tahitensis | Tahiti |
Haapape | Probable autopolyploid of Tahiti | Tahiti |
Tiarei | Tetraploid V. x tahitensis | Tahiti |
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Chambers, A.H. (2019). Vanilla (Vanilla spp.) Breeding. In: Al-Khayri, J., Jain, S., Johnson, D. (eds) Advances in Plant Breeding Strategies: Industrial and Food Crops. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23265-8_18
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