GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF VANILLA UNDER THREE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN PAPANTLA, VERACRUZ

Abstract

This research was carried out from May 1996 to October of 1997 in the north zone of the State of Veracruz, where is the most important vanilla production area of Mexico. Three representative production systems: intensive irrigation system (SIR), associated rainfed crop system (SCAT) and traditional system (ST) were compared in terms of growth, yield and fruit quality of vanilla plants. ST plants were the largest and had the best fruit yield per plant (222 g). High plant density in the intensive irrigation system resulted in highest yield (2 t ha^-1) and best fruit quality best fruit quality with 1.1 mg vanillin g^-1.