University of Florida researcher works to make vanilla grow in the sunshine state – Gainesville Sun

Danielle Ivanov|The Gainesville Sun

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Editor's note: The online version of this story has been updated to note that vanilla is native to Central and South America.

Ice cream, yogurt, cookies, cakes, pies and more. Everyone has a favorite food involving vanilla, and the tasty spice is getting a leg up fromUniversity of Florida researchers.

Alan Chambers,an assistant professor who studies tropical fruit breeding and genetics, has been researching the vanilla orchid for four years and enjoying strong vanilla milkshakes in Miami-Dade. He and his team'spaper, "A phased Vanilla planifolia genome enables genetic improvement of flavour and production," was just published in Nature Food journal this month.

It outlines their work identifying groups of DNA sequencesin the vanilla plant that will help minimize disease and maximize yield and flavor important traits that could allow the spice to be commercially grown in Florida forbakeries and otherbusinesses.

Currently, vanilla is grown in the state either by hobbyists, researchers or botanical gardeners. The plant is native to Central and South America, and Florida's climate is similar enough to support it as a crop. But the spice is not widely farmed here.

Chambers' research hopes to change that and provide a stable, delicious source of vanilla for local businesses that does not depend on pricing fluctuations in the global market for affordability.

According to Lourdes Rodrigues, a public information specialist withUF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, vanilla is the most popular and second most expensive spice in the world. Madagascar grows and exports 80% of the global vanilla bean supply, and the U.S. is its largest consumer.

An 8-ouncebottle of pure vanilla extract from Madagascar costs around$33 online. The average supermarket price is about half that.

Chambers said heand his coworkers used artificial selection the traditional breeding methodwhere plants with desired traits are chosen forreproductionto identify wanted genes in vanilla plants from Madagascar and other international growers.

So far, they have narrowed down hundreds of DNA sequencesto just handfuls.

The researcher said he expects to see high-yield, high-taste vanilla plants available for sale to Florida growers in three to four more years. That time will first allow genetic fine tuning on his part to createa cultivar with the best taste, most disease resistance and greatest bean production before reproducing that plant enough times to sell to farmers.

About 500 peoplein South Florida have already expressed interest in the university's first vanilla orchid sales even though they're years away,he said. The prospect of money saved and earned, along with the"locally sourced" label, is attractive to growers and buyers of the spice.

"Here at UF, we connect the dots," Chamberssaid. "It's a very fun area to be working in."

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University of Florida researcher works to make vanilla grow in the sunshine state - Gainesville Sun