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A plain vanilla murder
\"China and Ruby Wilcox are presenting their annual 'Not Just Plain Vanilla Workshop,' always a huge hit with customers at Thyme & Seasons Herb Shop. But someone involved with the workshop is driven by a deadly motive, and China soon finds herself teaming up with the very pregnant Pecan Springs police chief Sheila Dawson to solve a vanilla-flavored murder. Sheila, happy to get out from behind the chief's desk, is investigating the death of a botany professor, a prominent researcher specializing in vanilla orchids. China is trying to help a longtime friend: the dead professor's ex-wife and a prime suspect in his murder. However, there's no shortage of other suspects: a betrayed lover, a disgruntled graduate student, jealous colleagues, and a gang of orchid smugglers. But the lethal roots of this mystery reach back into the dark tropical jungles of Mexico, where the vanilla vine was first cultivated. At stake: a lucrative plant patent, an orchid that is extinct in the wild, and the life of an innocent little girl.\"-- Provided by publisher.
Book
The beautiful hills: half a century of vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews) breeding in Madagascar
An ambitious vanilla (
Vanilla planifolia
Jacks. ex Andrews) breeding program was started in Madagascar in the early 1950s to control Fusariosis, a serious crop disease caused by the soil fungus
Fusarium oxysporum
. The breeding program has produced tens of thousands of new vanilla genotypes of which a small number have been selected and conserved. This article examines the history of the Malagasy breeding work during the second half of the twentieth century, and outlines a possible strategy to exploit the data and exceptional genetic resources it has produced. The National Center for Research Applied to Rural Development has preserved 19 of the very diverse and original hybrids at the vanilla station in Ambohitsara (Antalaha, Madagascar). Two of them are particularly remarkable, namely
Manitra ampotony
for its exceptionally high vanillin content and
Tsy taitra
for its strong resistance to Fusariosis and its aromatic profile, which is similar to that of Bourbon vanilla. However, the global vanilla industry remains fragile because varietal diversity now available cannot overcome current and foreseeable constraints. The hybrids formed from multiple crosses between
V. planifolia
and three aromatic species, (
V. pompona
Schiede,
V. tahitensis
J.W. Moore and
V. phaeantha
Rchb.f.), constitute a preferred resource for further vanilla breeding. Facilitating its wide use by current research and extension teams is, in our opinion, essential to meet the growing need of producers for better-adapted varieties to supply the market of one of the most highly prized natural flavors in the world.
Journal Article
The rarest fruit : or, The life of Edmond Albius
Set in 19th-century La Réunion, this novel follows Edmond Albius, a young Creole boy born into slavery, whose extraordinary talent for botany leads him to revolutionize the vanilla industry with his method of hand-pollinating orchids. Raised by a passionate botanist after becoming an orphan, Edmond defies the expectations of his time, making a discovery that connects the histories of La Réunion, France, and beyond. Based on the true story of Edmond Albius, Bélem weaves a richly detailed narrative, exploring themes of survival and ingenuity against the backdrop of colonial exploitation. The Rarest Fruit is both a poignant tribute to the unsung heroes of history and a vivid portrayal of the intertwined destinies shaped by a single discovery.
BOOK
A genome-wide assessment of the genetic diversity, evolution and relationships with allied species of the clonally propagated crop Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews
The
Vanilla
genus is a complex taxonomic group characterized by a vegetative reproduction mode combined with intra- and inter-specific hybridizations, and polyploidy events. These factors strongly impact the diversification of the genus and complicate the delimitation of taxa. Among the hundred
Vanilla
species,
Vanilla planifolia
Jacks. ex Andrews and
Vanilla
×
tahitensis
J. W. Moore are the main cultivated aromatic species. We applied Genotyping-by-Sequencing to explore the genetic diversity of these two cultivated vanilla species, seven closely related species and nineteen interspecific hybrids. The inter- and intra-specific relationships of 133 vanilla accessions were examined based on 2004 filtered SNPs. Our results showed a strong genetic structuring between the nine species studied, with wild species showing much lower heterozygosity levels than cultivated ones. Moreover, using Bayesian clustering analyses, the kinship of several hybrids could be verified. We evidenced in particular that
Vanilla sotoarenasii
and
Vanilla odorata
C.Presl may be the parental species of
V. x tahitensis
. The analysis of 1129 SNPs for 84 V
. planifolia
accessions showed a clear genetic demarcation between the vegetatively propagated traditional vanilla cultivars compared to the accessions derived from sexual reproduction, and a higher genetic diversity and lower heterozygosity of the latter (Ho = 0.206) compared to the former (Ho = 0.362). Our data are consistent with a single-step domestication for
V. planifolia
in accordance with the recent history of its cultivation. It also opens avenues to breed new
V. planifolia
varieties adapted to biotic and abiotic constraints and to reduce mutational load induced by clonal propagation.
Journal Article
Transcriptomic analysis reveals molecular phenological changes during the flower-to-fruit transition in Vanilla planifolia Andrews (Orchidaceae)
Background
The transition from flower to fruit, encompassing flower formation to fruit maturation, has been extensively studied in model plants such as
Arabidopsis thaliana
. However, the Orchidaceae family, including
Vanilla planifolia
, exhibits a unique phenomenon known as post-pollination syndrome (PPS), where pollination initiates ovule development but often leads to premature ovary drop. This phenomenon significantly impacts the yield and stability of
V. planifolia
crops. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying PPS is essential for improving crop production. This study explores transcriptomic and histological variations to identify key molecular and phenological changes in the ovary during the flower-to-fruit transition in
V. planifolia
.
Results
The flower-to-fruit transition in
Vanilla planifolia
involves dynamic changes in gene expression and phenotypic events, which can be categorized into four distinct stages: (1) Pre-pollination: Ovary differentiation is characterized by the enrichment of nitrogen metabolism and photoperiod-responsive pathways. The upregulation of
VpVRN5-like
and
VpNAC14-like
suggests their roles in photoperiod-induced flowering and ovarian tissue differentiation in response to nitrate availability. (2) Pollination: Key events include nucellar filament branching and the functional enrichment of pathways associated with growth and responses to light intensity. The upregulation of
VpMBS1-like
indicates its involvement in regulating and adapting to high light conditions. (3) Post-pollination: This stage is marked by embryo sac formation and pollen tube elongation, with enrichment in auxin response pathways. The upregulation of
VpIAA6-like
and
VpRALF27-like
suggests their roles in auxin signaling during ovule development. (4) Fertilization: Seed development is associated with the enrichment of abiotic stress response pathways and carbohydrate transport. The upregulation of
VpAAE3-like
,
VpPR1-like
, and
VpSWET12-like
suggests functions in stress responses and sucrose transport, potentially linked to fungal interactions or symbiosis.
Conclusions
This study characterizes the molecular and phenological changes occurring during the flower-to-fruit transition in
V. planifolia
by integrating transcriptomic analysis with anatomical data on post-pollination syndrome. Based on functional predictions, this approach provides valuable insights into the mechanisms governing this transition in plants exhibiting PPS and identifies candidate genes for future experimental validation in
V. planifolia
.
Clinical trial number
Not applicable.
Journal Article
Contrasting clonal and population genetic structure in two endangered Costa Rican Vanilla species of commercial interest
Wild relatives of the commercially grown
Vanilla planifolia
, such as
Vanilla odorata
and
V. pompona
, are understudied despite their ecological and agricultural importance. Both species are listed as endangered by the IUCN, but limited research on their genetic diversity hinders effective management. While
Vanilla
species reproduce extensively by cloning, wild populations may retain significant genetic diversity valuable for crop improvement and conservation. To evaluate genetic diversity and structure, we analyzed 146 individuals from 10
V. pompona
populations and 75 individuals from six
V. odorata
populations in Costa Rica, using 11 and 10 microsatellites, respectively.
Vanilla odorata
showed higher clonality than
V. pompona
(63% vs. 35%). Both species exhibited low to moderate genetic diversity (
V. odorata
: H
O
= 0.47, H
E
= 0.29;
V. pompona
: H
O
= 0.43, H
E
= 0.41).
Vanilla odorata
populations revealed greater genetic differentiation than
V. pompona
populations (Nei’s G
ST
= 0.51 vs. 0.091), with
V. odorata
also exhibiting isolation by distance (R² = 0.704,
p
< 0.05). Both species showed fine-scale genetic structure, with higher levels linked to clonality. Gene flow in
V. pompona
benefits from broad distribution and sexual reproduction, while
V. odorata
experiences limited gene flow due to its high clonality and restricted range. Protecting habitats and promoting outcrossing may aid
V. odorata
viability while
V. pompona
serves as an important resource for increasing genetic diversity in cultivated vanilla.
Journal Article
Development of species-specific molecular markers in Vanilla for seedling selection of hybrids
Vanilla planifolia
is the primary botanical source of vanilla extract used globally in various foods and beverages.
V. planifolia
has a global distribution based on a few foundational clones and therefore has limited genetic diversity. Many
Vanilla
species easily hybridize with
V. planifolia
and could be a source of valuable genetic traits like increased vanillin content, disease resistance, or early flowering. While breeding
Vanilla
hybrids may improve plant performance, basic molecular tools for this species are lacking. DNA-based molecular markers are the most efficient method to validate hybrid progeny, detect hybrids in commercial plantings, and identify unknown accessions. This study used publicly available sequence data to develop species-specific, qRT-PCR-based molecular markers for
Vanilla
. Over 580,000 assembled sequence fragments were filtered for species specificity and twenty-two targets were selected for qRT-PCR screening. Ten targets differentially amplified among
V. planifolia
,
V. pompona
,
V. phaeantha
, and
V. palmarum
with ΔCT values as high as 17.58 between species. The ten targets were used to validate the parentage of hybrid progeny from controlled crosses with most hybrid progeny showing amplification patterns similar to both parents. The ten targets were also used to screen sixteen
Vanilla
species for specificity, and supported species assignments for unknown accessions including the detection of putative hybrids. This is the first report using species-specific, qRT-PCR-based molecular markers in
Vanilla
. These markers are inexpensive, simple to develop, and can rapidly screen large populations. These methods will enable the further development of species-specific molecular markers when creating
Vanilla
interspecific hybrid populations.
Journal Article
Comparative transcriptome profiling of vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) capsule development provides insights of vanillin biosynthesis
Background
Vanillin is the most abundant volatile compound in natural vanilla extract and the primary metabolite from an economic perspective. Natural vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world and the most profitable crop adapted to the warm tropics. Despite its global popularity, vanilla is mainly cultivated from vegetatively propagated clones and insufficient modern plant breeding has been achieved. One of the breeding objectives is to increase the vanillin concentration in the cured vanilla capsules. The vanillin biosynthesis pathway has not been thoroughly deciphered and multiple hypotheses are considered.
Results
A comparative transcriptomic approach between two accessions with contrasting vanillin content was used to fill in knowledge gaps on vanillin biosynthesis and identify potential candidate genes affecting vanillin accumulation. Out of the 59,128 genes known in vanilla, putative positive and negative regulators that influence vanillin accumulation through pathway modulation, precursor sequestration or enzymatic efficiency were identified. Differentially expressed genes were identified using three specific comparisons on accession, tissue type and developmental stage of capsule. Each comparison was analyzed separately focusing specifically on the accession contrast. BLAST annotation of differentially expressed genes provided protein identities that were mapped to the prominent vanillin biosynthetic pathways proposed by previous studies.
Conclusion
Enzymes from the lignin biosynthetic pathway were found to be negatively correlated to vanillin accumulation in vanilla cured capsules. There were 656 differentially expressed genes shared among all three comparisons and included β-glucosidase, cytochrome P450 and PAL amongst others. These results identify gene targets that could lead to higher vanillin content in vanilla cured capsules.
Journal Article
Exploring endophytic bacteria communities of Vanilla planifolia
Background
Rhizosphere bacterial community and endophytes are now known to influence plant health and response to environmental stress. Very few studies have reported the diversity of endophytic bacterial communities of
Vanilla planifolia
and their potential roles in promoting plant growth or contributing to aromatic quality.
Results
In this study, the composition and diversity of the Vanilla rhizosphere bacterial community were explored by analyzing rhizosphere soil and root tissue samples as well as green pods of three accessions of
Vanilla planifolia
grown on different types of substrates (compost and leaf litter). In addition, the endophytic bacterial diversity of roots and green pods as well as the evolution of endophytic bacteria after the curing process of vanilla green pods were analyzed based on a metabarcoding approach. The results showed that bacterial species richness and diversity were higher in the compost. The analysis of the soil bacterial composition displayed that
Halomonas, Pseudoalteromonas, Enterobacter
and
Bradyrhizobium
were the most abundant genera. Moreover, the results indicated that the soil bacterial community structure was linked to the host plant genotype. Regarding the roots endophytic bacteria composition, the genera
Halomonas
,
Pseudoalteromonas
,
Bacillus
and
Carboxydocella
genera were present in all samples, independently from the substrate nature. Several genera including
Bacillus
,
Bradyrhizobium, Burkholderia
and
Halomonas
were transmitted internally from the roots to the green pods. The curing process reduced the bacterial richness and bacterial diversity associated with the green pods.
Halomonas
,
Pseudoalteromonas
,
Bacillus
, and
Carboxydocella
are the dominant genera in the pods after the curing process.
Conclusions
This study provides an overview of changes of the bacterial communities dynamics especially endophytic in the roots and the green pods. It highlighted bacterial genera (
Halomonas, Pseudoalteromonas, Bacillus, and Carboxydocella)
potentially implicated in the formation of aroma compounds of vanilla beans.
Journal Article
Diagnostic KASP markers differentiate Vanilla planifolia, V. odorata, V. pompona, and their hybrids using leaf or cured pod tissues
Background
Vanilla is a globally important spice crop used in a variety of food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products.
V. planifolia
is the primary commercial species with
V. x tahitensis
also permissible for food use. Other aromatic species, including
V. pompona
, are used for food throughout Central and South America. Supply chain complexity hinders the vanilla bean industry and can lead to false claims of genetic and geographical origins to obtain higher prices. Beans of some species can be differentiated by experienced buyers, but hybrids and morphological differences caused by environmental variability or disease would best be resolved by diagnostic tests.
Methods and Results
Kompetitive Allele Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction is a widely used molecular marker that can genotype single nucleotide polymorphisms efficiently and inexpensively. Assays were designed to differentiate
V. planifolia
,
V. x tahitensis
, and
V. pompona
using publicly available vanilla genomics data. Ten KASP assays on chromosomes 1 through 7, the ITS region, and plastid-encoded
rbcL
gene successfully differentiated
V. planifolia
,
V. odorata
, and
V. x tahitensis
. Additional KASP assays on chromosomes 1 through 4, the ITS region, and
rbcL
gene successfully differentiated
V. planifolia
and
V. pompona
. Further, a method for extracting KASP-quality DNA from cured vanilla bean seeds was developed and successfully differentiated
V. planifolia
,
V. odorata
,
V. x tahitensis
,
V. pompona
, and their hybrids.
Conclusion
The methods and results from this study can be used to identify interspecific hybrids, ensure the authenticity of cured vanilla beans, and reduce abuse within the vanilla supply chain.
Journal Article