[PCA] Who are vanilla's native pollinators?

[De Angelis, Patricia]

Hi All,

The video link below was posted on a pollinator listserve by Dr. David W.
Inouye and it sparked a discussion seeking published research on the native
pollinators of vanilla. And now I'm curious about it myself!

MEXICO: PROTECTING VANILLA'S ONLY NATURAL POLLINATORS
Vanilla's native Mexico is the only place in the world where the fragrant
orchid is pollinated without human help. But pesticides threaten to wipe
out the insects that do the job, in turn threatening human livelihoods. See
a video and more about this project at:
https://www.dw.com/en/mexico-protecting-vanillas-only-natural-pollinators/a-48614137


These two publications have been shared thus far:

Lubinsky, P., et al. (2006). "Pollination of Vanilla and evolution in
Orchidaceae." Lindleyana 75: 926-929.

The pollination of Vanilla grandiflora by male Eulaema meriana is reported
from the Peruvian Amazon. No scent-collection behaviour was observed.
Vanilla is the most primitive orchid genus to demonstrate this interaction,
and is unique among orchids for having both fragrant flowers and fruits.


Dam, A. R., et al. (2010). "Vanilla bicolor Lindl. (Orchidaceae) from the
Peruvian Amazon: auto-fertilization in Vanilla and notes on floral
phenology." Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 57(4): 473-480.

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.


Do you know of additional publications?
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