Abstract
Due to the novelty of saffron aeroponic cultivation, many aspects related to this system have not been yet studied.This study was conducted to determine the appropriate maternal-corm weight in saffron aeroponic systems.The experiment was arranged with three replications, including five treatments (corms weighting i) 0-4, ii) 4.1-8, iii) 8.1-12, iv)12.1-16 and v)more than16g). The number and weight of buds, traits related to reproductive growth, traits concerning the growth of daughter corms and qualitative traits including the content of stigma apocarotenoids (crocin, picrocrocin and safranal) were studied. According to the results, the traits related to the economic yield of saffron (weight of stigma, weight of the corolla+stamen, weight of flower, and number of flowers) also increased by increasing the weight of the corms. The lowest yield of stigma per maternal corm with0.12mg belonged to corms weighing 0-4g and the two heaviest corms treatments (16.1-1and more than16g) both with 3.38 mg yielded the highest amount of stigma dry weight. By increasing the weight of maternal corm from0-4 to 16.1-12g, the number of flowers in each saffron corm increased from0.026to0.555, respectively.Nevertheless, increasing the weight of maternal corms to more than 16g did not increase the yield-related traits of saffron. In the next year, as the weight of maternal corms increased from16.1-1 to more than 16g, the number of produced daughter corms increased (to almost double) from4.11to8.50per maternal corm. However, the results of the average weight of each daughter corm showed a significant decrease of37% in maternal corms heavier than16g compared to those of12.1-16g. In addition, the amount of saffron apocarotenoids in aeroponic cultivation is not dramatically different from soil culture.In general, the use of maternal corms weighing 12.1-16g due to the highest reproductive growth and yield of daughter corms from transplanting is recommended under controlled conditions of aeroponic system.
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