Genetic variation in Vanilla planifolia (Orchidaceae)

Journal article

Vanilla planifolia, a highly prized tropical crop, produces commercial vanilla. We investigated RAPD genetic diversity and geographical structure within V. planifolia. Multivariate analyses revealed three separate geographical groups of V. planifolia: a) a Costa Rican group; b) a Mexican group consisting only of cultivated plants from north of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt; and c) a Mexican group from Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Quintana Roo, which are wild and wild-sourced cultivated plants. It appears likely that human action has resulted in movement of northern Mexican plants into the region south of the Volcanic Belt. When supposed translocants are included, a significantly higher genetic diversity is observed south of the Volcanic Belt com-pared to northern Mexico. Furthermore, cultivar names used in V. planifolia do not appear to reflect genetically defined groups. © 2007, by The New York Botanical Garden Press.

Authors: Schlueter, P; Arenas, M; Harris, S

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: ECONOMIC BOTANY
• Volume: 61
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 328-336
• Publication date: 2007-01-01
• DOI: 10.1663/0013-0001(2007)61[328:GVIVPO]2.0.CO;2
• ISSN: 0013-0001
• Language: English
• Keywords: genetic diversity; commercial vanilla; Vanilla planifolia; population structure; Mexico