PROPAGATION OF VANILLA (Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews) CUTTINGS USING VERMICOMPOST

Abstract

Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andreux), as source of natural vanillin, is an orchid with cultural and commercial
importance. However, in order to cover its international demand it must be cultivated at high commercial scale. The
objective of this research was to evaluate vermicompost doses on cutting rooting to produce quality plants and favor their
establishment in the field. Two experiments were performed to study the effect of different doses of vermicompost (VC)
on growth and nutrition of vanilla. The first one evaluated four doses of VC: 5%, 10%, 20% and 25%; while the second one
tested five doses of VC: 0%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%. Pigments photosynthetic (chlorophyll and xantophylls+carotenoids)
and nutrition (N and P) were increased in vanilla cuttings by VC addition. However, these effects were only observed after
six months of vanilla growth. VC doses in the range of 20% to 40% are highly recommended.