Vanilla planifolia is the most widely cultivated species for obtaining natural vanilla. In Mexico, vanilla production has decreased due to negative effects of climate change. We evaluate the current, potential, and future of vanilla cultivation areas in Mexico using bioclimatic models with distinct climate change scenarios (intermediate emissions, temperature rise of 1.1 to 2.6 °C, and high emissions from 2.6 to 4.8 °C, to 2050 and 2070), in order to understand the magnitude of future distribution changes and propose future management strategies. We found that the areas with greatest potential for establishment of V. planifolia are northern Veracruz state bordering the state of Puebla (the Totonacapan region) and northeast Oaxaca state. In the models, the most relevant environmental variable were mean temperature and precipitation of the driest quarter. The average projections for 2050 and 2070 show a progressive reduction in the potential area for the species (−1.6 and −17.3%). However, the Totonacapan region maintains the largest ideal cultivation area, while that of northeast Oaxaca is reduced by 50%. These results show the need to redesign the strategies of agricultural production of vanilla, through sustainable and climate-smart agricultural production strategies as well as a national strategy for conservation of genetic diversity.

Velázquez-Rosas, N., E. Silva-Rivera, B. Ruiz-Guerra, S. Armenta-Montero, and J. Trejo González. 2018. Traditional Ecological Knowledge as a tool for biocultural landscape restoration in northern Veracruz, Mexico: a case study in El Tajín region. Ecology and Society 23(3):6. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-10294-230306

Vanilla planifolia is an orchid of cultural and economic value. However, its cultivation in many tropical countries is threatened by water stress. In contrast, V. pompona is a species that is tolerant of prolonged periods of drought. Due to the need for plants’ resistant to water stress, the use of hybrids of these two species is considered. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the morphological and physio-chemical responses of in vitro vanilla seedlings of the parental genotype V. planifolia, and the hybrids V. planifolia × V. pompona and V. pompona × V. planifolia, which were then exposed over five weeks to polyethylene glycol-induced water stress (−0.49 mPa). Stem and root length, relative growth rate, number of leaves and roots, stomatal conductance, specific leaf area, and leaf water content were determined. Metabolites potentially associated with the response to water stress were identified in leaves, through untargeted and targeted metabolomics. Both hybrids exhibited a smaller decrease in the morphophysiological responses compared to V. planifolia and exhibited an enrichment of metabolites such as carbohydrates, amino acids, purines, phenols, and organic acids. Hybrids of these two species are considered as a potential alternative to the traditional cultivation of vanilla to face drought in a global warming scenario.

Urban forests are remnants of forest habitats within urban areas. Their structural alterations create stressful microclimatic conditions that can influence the morphology of sensitive plants, such as ferns. This study analyzed variations in the morphological traits of ferns in four urban forest sites in central Veracruz, Mexico, considering the microclimatic differences arising from vegetation structure. Temperature, humidity, canopy openness, and radiation were measured, along with eight foliar traits, while assessing the impact of site and habit (terrestrial or epiphytic) on the response. Sites with greater alterations in vegetation structure exhibited increased canopy openness, solar radiation, temperature, and a higher number of days with lower relative humidity. In these sites, leaves showed an increase in dry matter content and vein density, indicating a greater investment in resource storage and structural resistance. In the less-disturbed sites, terrestrial ferns demonstrated larger leaf area and specific leaf area, suggesting greater growth potential. Conversely, epiphytes generally had smaller leaves, which could represent an adaptive advantage for these species. The results also suggest a process of biotic homogenization within this plant group, reflecting a similar morphological response, except for indicator species restricted to less disturbed sites. Thus, this study reveals that microclimatic variations induced by urbanization significantly affect plant morphology and, ultimately, species diversity.