Vanilla bicolor Lindl. (Orchidaceae) from the Peruvian Amazon: auto-fertilization in Vanilla and notes on floral phenology

Abstract

Minimal documentation exists for natural pollination in wild Vanilla spp., despite the economic importance of this genus, additionally commercial vanilla (V. planifolia Jacks.) is one of very few crops whose production depends entirely on artificial pollination. Flowering and fruiting phenology of Vanilla bicolor Lindl., a close relative of V. planifolia, was documented in a palm swamp in the Peruvian Amazon. V. bicolor was found to auto-fertilize via bagging experiments. This ecotype had an average fruit set per raceme of 42.50 ± 2.5%. Pollen removal experiments suggest that stigmatic leak may be the mechanism by which auto-pollination occurs in V. bicolor.