Revisión bibliográfica sobre la distribución del género Vanilla en el Ecuador

Abstract

Abstract: Vanilla is an orchid with high commercial value and there are some widely distributed species. It was proposed to explore the diversity and distribution of Vanilla species in Ecuador, focusing on native and cultivated varieties. The methodology involved a bibliographic search using scientific articles, theses and online sources, prioritizing platforms such as SCOPUS, Google Scholar, ResearchGate and university thesis repositories. The results indicate the presence of five native Vanilla species in Ecuador, V. oroana, V. andina, V. odorata, V. pompona and V. planifolia. Of these, four are in the Amazon region, one in the Sierra and three on the Coast. The description of the native species was made, indicating their habitat, morphological characteristics and distribution maps. The three most cultivated species of Vanilla are V. tahitensis, V. planifolia and V. odorata, both on the Coast and in the East. Research carried out in Ecuador has focused on production, propagation and acclimatization. The study identified a dearth of information and interest in the genus. The information collected serves as a basis for conservation and use projects of this genus.