MORFOMETRIC CHANGES DURING THE TRADITIONAL CURING PROCESS OF VANILLA PODS (VANILLA PLANIFOLIA; ORCHIDACEAE) IN MEXICO.

Abstract

In this work, microstructural changes of the tissues of vanilla were evaluated during the curing, using an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM). The morphometric parameters: area (A), perimeter (P), shape factor (SF) and compactness (C) of each tissue (epicarp, mesocarp and vascular bundle) were quanti_ed by Digital Image Analysis (DIA). Results indicated that curing induces structural disruptions of the vanilla tissues which is more pronounced in the mesocarp. Shape factor and compactness showed highest values in pods subjected to 10 cycles of sunning-sweating (10 SS) in which the highest concentration of vanillin and the lowest water looses were detected. It is possible to recommend a reduction of curing time from 20-25 SS cycles to 10.