Importance and conservation challenges of Vanilla spp. (Orchidaceae) in Costa Rica. The aim of this work was to describe the importance and the main challenges for the use, management and conservation of the Vanilla genus in Costa Rica. Topics covered in this study were: taxonomy in the country and worldwide, data collection and new estimates of wild relatives, the economic, ecological and social importance, the gene pool of the Costa Rican species, the crop situation worldwide (harvested area, production, yield, major producers), causes that reduce the productive potential of the species, culture methods, the vulnerability of Vanilla planifolia to extinction, and the genetic potential in the country with respect to the concentration of vanillin. The comprehensive conservation strategy proposed in this paper aims to perpetuate vanilla plant genetic resources in gene banks through a formal system of seed production, for further use for breeding, research and commercial production. Through sustainable use, those species will be protected in Costa Rica. The natural or legal persons who use such materials must generate monetary or non-monetary benefits from the use of resources through a fair and equitable system to the suppliers. Agro-ecological conditions of Costa Rica as well as the genetic material of both wild and cultivated vanilla opens the possibility of developing production models based on organic agriculture.

D N A L i b r a r y o f L i f e , r e s e a r c h a r t i c l e 1A new vanilla species from Costa Rica closely related to V. planifolia (Orchidaceae) José

In Costa Rica, an urgent ex situ national conservation program for V. planifolia is needed due to the rarity, high risk of extinction in the wild and the economic importance; that places it, as the most profitable orchid worldwide. Due to the lack of research about wild species conservation and the importance to evaluate the agronomic performance of the wild-type relatives, as a strategy to increase the reduced genetic variability, the aim of this research was to evaluate the acclimatization capacity and morphogenetic performance of wild V. planifolia under nursery conditions. The effect of two treatments 1) qualitatively selected cuttings according to their phytosanitary quality, mechanical damage and vigorousness and 2) cuttings without selection, were evaluated. Some growth variables were evaluated: survival rate, weight, length, number of nodes of the new and original shoot; number and weight of the roots The survival of the selected cuttings was greater (60%) than those that were not (45%). The morphogenetic responses of the selected explants were statistically significant for all variables evaluated. This is the first time that an initial process of acclimatization and morphogenetic performance with a known genotype individual of V. planifolia, is reported under greenhouse condition, in Costa Rica. Therefore, it is the first attempt to the ex situ conservation of the species as a part of an integrated program focus on the in situ conservation in a systematic and sustainable way, as well as, the first values of the vigorousness to some growth variables out of natural conditions.

Resumen: El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir la evolución e importancia de los procesos andragógicos en la búsqueda de perfiles rurales comprometidos con el quehacer académico universitario en el desarrollo y ejecución de programas y proyectos. Dentro de los principales aportes se destaca la importancia de conocer y aplicar procesos de enseñanza, estrictamente para la población adulta, por parte de las coordinaciones de programas y proyectos universitarios. La trascendencia de tomar en cuenta este tipo de conocimientos permitirá hacer un uso eficiente de los recursos económicos institucionales; esto, debido principalmente al compromiso real de la comunidad adulta rural para la ejecución de las actividades de campo. Asimismo, obtener en menor plazo los logros académicos esperados. Se expone una experiencia exitosa de proyecto que aplicó metodologías andragógicas a través de la extensión, donde se mejoró la participación y compromiso de las personas en las comunidades rurales con los proyectos de la Universidad Nacional. En consecuencia, la aplicabilidad de estos conceptos en los programas y proyectos de desarrollo rural impulsados por las universidades públicas deberán sentar la base para desarrollar estrategias rurales regionales, cuyo fin ulterior es buscar la manera de mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas en escenarios particulares.

This investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of two cytokinins: 6-benzilaminopurine (BAP) (6.5 mg l-1) and kinetin (K) (2.5 mg l-1), as well as the growth inhibitor abscisic acid (ABA) (1.0 mg l-1) on the in vitro tuberization capacity of two potato varieties: Atlantic and Alpha. The basal culture medium MS (1962) was used as a control. The responses were different between varieties. In cv. Atlantic, the analysis of the number (NM), weight (WM) and diameter (DM) of microtubers indicated that the addition of growth regulators did not affect induction and development of microtubers. However, when BAP was used, a non-significant increment of 41 % was observed in the number of the microtubers compared to the control treatment, from 2.6 to 4.4. The addition of cytokinins and ABA to the medium did not have a significant impact on the development of microtubers. In cv. Alpha the cytokinins used without ABA increased the number of microtubers, which were larger and heavier than those of the control treatment. In this variety, ABA significantly reduced the values of the NM, WM and DM variables. The exogenous action of cytokinins in the culture medium is likely to have caused an endogenous hormonal imbalance in the Atlantic and Alpha genotypes which interfered with their innate microtuberization ability, a result that was even more evident for cv. Alpha, which showed the need to continue optimizing protocols of genotype-specific systems in potato tissue culture to increase yield and seed quality.

In order to understand the performance of Solanum tuberosum L. "Floresta" in producing microtubers, the effect of four concentrations of boric acid (6.2 mg l ) under two conditions-1) 8 hour dark and 2) 16 hour light photoperiod and 8 hour dark-was evaluated under in vitro culture conditions. Full-strength Murashige and Skoog medium was used as a control. The data analysis for the number and biomass of microtubers were significant for the condition (p ≤ 0.05). Concerning the concentration of boric acid and the interaction between factors, a significant difference was obtained for biomass (p ≤ 0.05). In dark conditions, a greater number of microtubers was obtained, although the biomass was lower compared to the light conditions where the biomass was higher, and the number of microtubers was lower. A concentration of 9.3 mg l -1 of boric acid in both types of conditions was the best treatment to produce a greater number and more biomass of microtubers. The differences identified in this work with regards to the number and biomass of microtubers were probably the combined result of genotype and specific culture conditions. Even considering this, the use of lighting conditions is proposed to induce larger and greener microtubers.