MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI AND FUSARIUM SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH VANILLA IN TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS IN PAPANTLA, VERACRUZ, MEXICO

Abstract

Background: The Totonacapan region is recognized as the origin of vanilla cultivation (Vanilla planifolia Andrews), an orchid used for its gastronomic and medicinal values in rituals from pre-Hispanic times. Since that time, locals have cultivated vanilla using several traditional systems with different management practices. This plant forms symbiotic associations with mycorrhizal fungi inside its roots, which serve as a source of nutrients. Question: The objective of this study was to isolate and identify mycorrhizal fungi from traditional systems to search potential bioinoculants that enhance the organic and traditional cultivation among local communities. Studied species: Vanilla planifolia Andrews. Study site and dates: We sampled four management systems: Acahual (Traditional management, forest composed mainly of secondary vegetation), shade house (semi-technified cultivation system), under orange (Citrus sinensis L.) and pichoco (Erythrina spp.) trees in the region of Papantla, Veracruz, Mexico in 2022-2023. Methods: The isolation was made from terrestrial roots, after the morphological and molecular characteristics of isolates by amplifying the ITS region. Results: A total of ten strains were obtained from the four systems, which all correspond to the genus Tulasnella. At the same time, isolates of the genus Fusarium (F. falciforme and F. oxysporum f. sp. vanillae) were identified as endophytes and pathogenic species of vanilla. Conclusions: The genus Tulasnella is the main mycorrhizal partner associated to vanilla in the Totonacapan cultivars; according to the phylogenetic analysis, seven of the isolated strains form a separate clade, suggesting that these strains are from the region of Papantla, Veracruz.