THE EFFECT OF DURATION OF INCUBATION AND PHOTOPERIOD ON CORM AND SHOOT CHARACTERISTICS OF SAFFRON PLANT (CROCUS SATIVUS L.)

Abstract

Although botanical characteristics of saffron are well documented in the literature, there is little evidence on physiological aspects of this plant. Four separate studies were conducted to evaluate effects of duration and condition of incubation period, weight of mother corm and different light / temperature regimes on aerial and corm criteria of saffron. Results showed that combination of 120 days incubation in growth chamber and bigger size of corms caused more rapid emergence of aerial parts and an increase in leaf area. Corm size had significant effect on days to emergence of aerial parts, leaf area, shoot dry weight (aerial biomass) and number of active buds on corms. Incubation of corms in growth chamber promoted emergence of aerial parts significantly. Length of planting to emergences period of aerial parts was longer with 120 days compared with 60 days incubation. However with application of water to corms, this period was shorter. Light / temperature regimes had a significant effect on length of emergence of aerial parts, aerial dry mater, leaf area and number of active buds on corms and increasing light period from 6.5 to 16 hours increased all these components. When corms were located under light regimes of 16/8 (light / dark), 33 % of corms initiated flower compared with 75 % for corms located under natural conditions. Corms located in light regimes of 6.5 / 5.5 did not initiated flower.