An ambitious vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews) breeding program was started in Madagascar in the early 1950s to control Fusariosis, a serious crop disease caused by the soil fungus Fusarium oxysporum. The breeding program has produced tens of thousands of new vanilla genotypes of which a small number have been selected and conserved. This article examines the history of the Malagasy breeding work during the second half of the twentieth century, and outlines a possible strategy to exploit the data and exceptional genetic resources it has produced. The National Center for Research Applied to Rural Development has preserved 19 of the very diverse and original hybrids at the vanilla station in Ambohitsara (Antalaha, Madagascar). Two of them are particularly remarkable, namely Manitra ampotony for its exceptionally high vanillin content and Tsy taitra for its strong resistance to Fusariosis and its aromatic profile, which is similar to that of Bourbon vanilla. However, the global vanilla industry remains fragile because varietal diversity now available cannot overcome current and foreseeable constraints. The hybrids formed from multiple crosses between V. planifolia and three aromatic species, (V. pompona Schiede, V. tahitensis J.W. Moore and V. phaeantha Rchb.f.), constitute a preferred resource for further vanilla breeding. Facilitating its wide use by current research and extension teams is, in our opinion, essential to meet the growing need of producers for better-adapted varieties to supply the market of one of the most highly prized natural flavors in the world.

1950年代初，在马达加斯加启动了雄心勃勃的香草（Vanilla planifolia Jacks。ex Andrews）育种计划，以控制镰刀菌病，镰刀菌病是由土壤真菌尖孢镰刀菌引起的一种严重的农作物病害。。育种计划已经产生了成千上万种新的香草基因型，其中少数已经被选择和保存了。本文考察了二十世纪下半叶马达加斯加人的育种工作的历史，并概述了一种利用其产生的数据和特殊遗传资源的可能策略。国家农村发展研究中心在安博希萨拉（马达加斯加安塔拉哈）的香草站保存了19种非常原始的杂种。其中两个特别出色，即香草醛含量极高的Manitra氨纶和Tsy taitra由于它对Fusariosis的强抵抗力和芳香特征，与波旁香草相似。但是，全球香草产业仍然脆弱，因为现在可用的品种多样性无法克服当前和可预见的限制。从之间的多个杂交所形成的杂交体V.荚兰和三个芳香物质，（V. pompona Schiede，V. tahitensis JW摩尔和V. phaeantha Rchb.f.），构成用于进一步育种香草一个优选资源。我们认为，必须满足当前研究和推广团队的广泛使用需求，才能满足生产商对适应性更好的品种不断增长的需求，以向世界上最受尊敬的天然香料市场提供产品。