Biologia floral, reprodutiva e propagação vegetativa de baunilha

Abstract

Vanilla chamissonis is a species of orchid naturally occurring in the coastal strips of the state of São Paulo (Brazil), with high economic interest. However, sustainable management of natural stands aiming for commercial production of fruit is not put into practice. This study aims to describe some aspects of the floral biology, reproductive biology and vegetative propagation of natural stands of Vanilla chamissonis, aiming to generate information for its sustainable management. For studies of floral biology, the anthesis and senescence of flowers in daytime and nighttime periods, as well as pollinators, were monitored. For studies of reproductive biology, the following treatments were examined: T1-control (no intervention), T2-manual self-pollination/induced autogamy, T3-artificial cross-pollination/induced allogamy, T4- spontaneous self-pollination/autogamy, and T5-natural cross-pollination/allogamy. For studies of vegetative propagation, the lower portion of the cuttings was treated with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), both applied in paste at 3,000 mg L-1 . Sustainable management of vanilla has the required attributes to application by the local community. Direct observation of flowers from anthesis until senescence was adequate, but it was not possible to determine the agents responsible for pollination. Cross-pollination is the most appropriate for management aiming for the commercial production of fruit. The use of IBA resulted in the greatest number of terrestrial roots.