Vanilla-omics: genomic, mycobiomic and floral trait diversity in vanilla crop wild relatives

The vanilla crop is the second most economically-valuable spice globally, and offers a high potential for livelihood improvement in forest-dwelling communities in lowland tropical regions. However, the crop faces considerable challenges in terms of susceptibility to disease, and limitations in its reproductive biology. The principal crop species, Vanilla planifolia, belongs to the taxonomic Section Xanata, within the genus Vanilla (Orchidaceae). The wild Vanilla species in this Section comprise the secondary gene pool for the crop and offer valuable resources for cultivar improvement. These crop wild relatives are naturally distributed in the Neo-tropics, with Colombia and Brazil harboring the greatest number of species. Vanilla species are naturally rare, and, despite their economic importance, have been little studied. This project aims to build on previous work in the Research Program for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Colombian Native Vanilla at the PUJ, and provide a major step forward in the global understanding of vanilla crop wild relatives through the characterization of species present in Colombia. We will apply next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques in order to gain a high-resolution understanding of the patterns of genomic diversity within and between species, and the structure and diversity of the mycobiome associated with Vanilla species in the wild. Finally, the floral traits associated with key reproductive functions will be analyzed within the phylogenetic context. The results of these three lines of research will provide essential information in order to subsequently design efficient strategies for crop improvement programs with effective use and conservation of vanilla biological resources. This research proposal brings together an international and inter-disciplinary team of researchers, whose contributions will ensure the delivery of high-impact research products, enhance the research training opportunities for students in Colombia, and maximize future opportunities for obtaining external research funds.