Saffron Corms Research Articles

Indian crested porcupineHystrix indicaKerr (Rodentia:Hystricidae): an emerging threat to saffron cultivation in Jammu and Kashmir

The Indian crested porcupine, Hystrix indica Kerr (Rodentia: Hystricidae) is emerging as a serious pest of saffron. Porcupine is largest rodent, herbivorous, noctranal and fossorial animal. A survey conducted for two years (2008 and 2009) in saffron growing districts, i.e. Pulwama and Budgam indicated that seven villages, i.e. Samboora, Chandhara, Lethpora, Kakpora, Shar-Mandekpal, Gundbal, Ladhoo of district Pulwama and one village, i.e. Hyatpura in District Badgam revealed that saffron and fruit orchards are badly infested by porcupine activity in the month of February to April causing damage to the planted saffron corms and standing fruit trees. Around four thousand families residing in the targeted blocks are directly or indirectly dependent on horticulture and allied activities. Only 3% damage to saffron by this pest can lead to the loss estimated to the tune of 17.4 million rupees annually which will prove to be major setback to the state economy in near future.

Effect of biofertilizers, biological control agents and soil amendments on the control of saffron corm rot (Crocus sativus L.)

Saffron corm rot caused by Fusarium monliforme var. intermedium, Fusarium oxysporum and F. gladioliis a serious threat to saffron cultivators of Jammu and Kashmir. About 46% of the soil in the saffron fields are infected with the said fungus and the infection is spreading steadily. Longer planting cycle (up to 15 years), primitive agronomic practices, monocropping of saffron, along with the use of non-graded corms and continual use of diseased material resulted in the frequent occurrence of corm rot diseases. Three biocontrol agents viz., Tricoderma viride, Tricodermaherzanium and Pseudomonas florescence having antagonistic activity against corm rot of saffron were used as seed treatment. Similarly three biofertilizers, viz., Azatobacter, Azospirillium and vermicompost were evaluated against corm rot of saffron. Mustard cake, Dal weed and Neem cake were used as soil amendments. Study carried over 39 on farm trials conducted over an area of about 1 ha. Confirmed efficacy of Tricoderma viride when used as a corm dresser in combination with vermicompost and Neem cake applied to the soil directly in control of saffron corm rot under two years planting cycle to the extent of 98%. The study has indicated that all the morphological, yield and yield attributing traits showed significant differences for all the treatments used in the experiment. Maximum corm yield (792.66 g m-2), number of daughter corms/mother corm (3.01), fresh flower weight (217.77 g plot-1) and saffron yield (7.96 kg ha-1) was obtained with the treatment combination of Tricoderma herzanium, Azospirillum spp. and Mustard cake.

Increasing saffron (Crocus sativus L.) corm size through the mycorrhizal inoculation, humic acid application and irrigation managements

ABSTRACTCorm size is the most important factor in production of replacement corms and flower yield of saffron. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nutrition and irrigation managements on saffron corms characteristics in the experimental field of Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, in 2013–2015. The experiment was carried out as split-split plot based on a Randomized Complete Block Design with 18 treatments and three replications. Experimental factors were: 1- superabsorbent (SA) [application and no-application of superabsorbent (non-SA)], 2- irrigation intervals [irrigation every 2, 3 and 4 weeks] and 3- nutrition management [humic acid, mycorrhiza (Glomus intraradices) and control]. The results showed that the highest total weight of replacement corms per clone in sum of two years was obtained in non-SA application, two weeks irrigation intervals and humic acid treatment. The corm/tunic weight ratio decreased by increasing the irrigation intervals and this index in two weeks irrigation intervals was 31% more than four weeks irrigation intervals. Application of nutritional treatments increased the number of saffron replacement corms per clone in all of the weight categories (0-3, 3–6, 6–9 and more than 9 g) on averaged 5, 40, 36 and 25%, respectively compared with control treatment in both years. Results showed that the replacement corms yield in large weight groups was on average 34% higher in the second year than the first year. Finally, application of SA, organic and bio fertilizers and four weeks irrigation intervals improved most of criteria and yield of saffron replacement corms.

Effect of ultrasonic waves on crocin and safranal content and expression of their controlling genes in suspension culture of saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

The expression of biosynthesis controlling genes of crocin and safranal in saffron (Crocus sativus) can be influenced by ultrasonic waves. Sterilized saffron corms were cultured in a ½-MS medium supplemented by 2-4-D and BAP. Saffron callus cells were treated with ultrasonic waves in a cellular suspension culture under optimal growth conditions. The samples were collected at 24 and 72 hours after treatment in three replications. The secondary metabolites were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and the gene expression was analysed by the real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results indicate that this elicitor can influence the expressions of genes CsBCH, CsLYC and CsGT-2; the ultrasonic waves acted as an effective mechanical stimulus to the suspension cultures. The analysis of variance of the ultrasonically produced amounts of safranal and crocin indicates that there is a significant difference between once- and twice-treated samples in that the amount of safranal was the highest within the samples taken from the twice-treated suspension culture at 72 h after the ultrasound treatment, and the crocin was maximised after 24 h passed the twice-applied ultrasound treatment.

Effect of changes in planting depths of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) corms and determining their agronomic characteristics under warm and temperate (Csa) climatic conditions of Turkish province of Hatay

The study was carried out under warm and temperate (Csa - Kopen Gegger classification) ecological conditions of Turkish province of Hatay during 2010-2011 using saffron (Crocus sativus L.) corms of three different circumference by planting them at 5 and 15 cm depths. Saffron corms were divided into three categories based on circumference; large: more than 8 cm, medium: 6-8 cm and small 4-6 cm. The number of corms, number of flowers, fresh stigma yield, number of leaves, number of harvested corms and their weight were evaluated after harvest. The results showed that the number of flowers were positively affected by their circumference at both planting depths. Surface planted corms showed proportionally increased regeneration of new cormlets. The stigma yield was positively affected using different corms circumferences in the second year, but had no significant effect at different depths. Increased weight of harvested cormlets was noted on corms planted at 15 cm depth during the 2nd year. Second year planting at 15 cm depth showed markedly increased corm circumference, improved number of flowers, stigmas yield compared to the these parameters noted after first year planting with planting.

Investigation of planting age farm on saffron characteristics and corm position in soil, Kashmar, Iran

To evaluate the morphological characteristics and yield of saffron in the fields with ages over 4 years, we conducted random sampling from 3 fields with 3 ha area. For this purpose, we collected three samples from each of the fields with 4, 7 and 14 years old. Sampling depth was from 35 cm with minimum 5 bunches of plants harvested in each sample. Then the samples were transported to the laboratory in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad and all characteristics were determined and recorded such as leaf dry weight, number of daughter corms plant-1, average weight of corms, corms position in depth, collar length, leaves length, leaves diameter, number of leaves and stigma and flower yield of saffron in the field. Results showed that leaf length, collar length and the number of corms weighing between 1 to 3 g field-1 (from 7 to 14 years old) had significant differences (p≤0.05) compared to the 4-year-old field. Also, the number of leaves and corms weight increased with aging field (from 4 to 7 years) but these criteria decreased significantly (p≤0.01) with increased farm age (from 7 years to 14 years). Studies showed that the flower and stigma yield of the older farm (14 years), was not significant compared to the 7-year-old farm, but these criteria had a significant difference from 4- to 14-years-old farms. It seems to reduce tillage operations and for decreased losses of daughter corms for uses of propagation, and the dry fodder in summer, had no difference between efficiency of oldest farm (14 years) or 7-year-old farm.

Boosting saffron (Crocus sativus L.) micro-propagation through in vitro corm production

Lack of availability of quality planting material is hampering the National program of extending saffron area in Morocco. Tissue culture has been found to be a valuable substitute to vegetative propagation due to high proliferation ratio. Corm storage at 35°C has proved to be beneficial not only in making corms more responsive to shooting but also helps in extending corm dormancy thus enabling to remove the bottle neck of available tissue culture protocols being season dependent. These states of dormancy also facilitate the corms disinfection (100%) after been soaked in pure alcohol, and then in 50% bleach solution. Culturing of saffron corms on MS media supplemented with 1.5 mg L-1 BAP + 0.5 mg L-1 NAA helps to produce 12 shoots/corm after 4 weeks. Further sub-culturing on MS + 6.5 mg L-1 BAP + 0.2 mg L-1 NAA promotes shoot multiplication, and thereafter 16 weeks on a MS medium with 3 mg L-1 BAP in combination with 80 g L-1 sucrose leads to microcorm development up to 2 g weight without any dormancy and can be used successfully for a second multiplication cycle. Direct transfer of in vitro corms on peat substratum has been found promising. The in vitro micro-propagation seems to be a very promising technology for saffron production and will help in the diffusion of any genetic progress generated by the current participatory breeding program of saffron in Morocco.

Effect of planting density on productivity of saffron corms

Effect of planting density on productivity of saffron corms

Sanitary assessment of saffron corms and soil from Great Moroccan production areas: Taliouine and Taznakht

Sanitary assessment of saffron corms and soil from Great Moroccan production areas: Taliouine and Taznakht

Effect of nano-silver particles on saffron corm treated with NaCl

Effect of nano-silver particles on saffron corm treated with NaCl

Saffron corm behavior in a new and emerging area of production

Saffron corm behavior in a new and emerging area of production

Metabolic shift in sugars and amino acids regulates sprouting in Saffron corm

Saffron is one of the most expensive spices of the world. Since this spice is triploid and meiosis is unusual, it cannot reproduce sexually like other plants; rather, it is propagated vegetatively via an underground corm, which can withstand a long dry dormant period before sprouting. Thus, corms are indispensable to saffron propagation. To identify and analyse signature metabolites associated with the ‘dormancy-sprouting’ process, non-targeted GC-MS was performed at different stages of corm development. Comparative metabolite profiling reflected dissimilar profiles among the stages as portrayed by differential cluster patterns of metabolites in the PCA and PLS-DA analysis. Correlation analysis revealed the interdependencies of individual metabolites and metabolic pathway. At the onset of stage 2, characterized by the initiation and differentiation of leaf primordia, a shift from dormancy to active metabolism occurred as derived from the increased abundance of sugars and other metabolites involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, glycolytic, amino acid and fatty acid pathways. These changes contribute to sprouting and vegetative growth of the corm. The present study provides new insights into saffron corm composition and metabolite changes associated with various stages of corm development and may pave the way for achieving agronomical improvements in this economically important spice.

اثرات تاریخ کاشت، زمان آبیاری و کاربرد گیاهان پوششی بر رشد و عملکرد زعفران (Crocus sativus L.)

به منظور بررسی اثرات زمان‌های کاشت بهاره، تابستانه و پاییزه و نیز مدیریت آبیاری و استفاده از گیاهان پوششی، بر ویژگی‌های رشد و عملکرد گیاه دارویی زعفران (Crocus sativus L.) آزمایشی در مزرعه تحقیقاتی دانشکده کشاورزی دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد در سال‌های زراعی 89-1388 و 90-1389، به صورت کرت‌های دوبار خرد شده در قالب طرح پایه بلوک‌های کامل تصادفی با سه تکرار اجرا شد. فاکتورهای آزمایشی عبارت بودند از: تاریخ کاشت بهاره، تابستانه و پاییزه زعفران به عنوان فاکتور اصلی (اول خرداد ماه، اول مرداد ماه و اول مهر ماه)، مدیریت آبیاری به عنوان فاکتور فرعی (انجام آبیاری و عدم انجام آبیاری پس از هر تاریخ کاشت) و کاربرد گیاهان همراه در سال دوم آزمایش به عنوان فاکتور فرعی فرعی [شبدر ایرانی (Trifolium resopinatum L.)، خلر (Lathyrus sativus L.) و شاهد]. نتایج نشان داد که با تأخیر در کاشت بنه‌ها از اول خرداد به اول مهر، شاخص‌های کمی زعفران به طور قابل ملاحظه‌ای کاهش پیدا کرد و شدت کاهش در سال دوم آزمایش به مراتب بیشتر بود. بیشترین عملکرد گل در تاریخ کاشت مرداد ماه (به ترتیب 28 و 98 کیلوگرم در هکتار برای سال‌های اول و دوم آزمایش) و کمترین آن در تاریخ کاشت مهر ماه (به ترتیب 18 و 34 کیلوگرم در هکتار برای سال‌های اول و دوم آزمایش) به دست آمد. کاشت زعفران در تاریخ اول مرداد ماه موجب بهبود سرعت گل‌دهی و کاهش نسبی سرعت ظهور برگ گردید. عدم آبیاری پس از کاشت باعث افزایش شاخص‌های کمی زعفران شد؛ به طوری‌که عملکرد گل در تیمار انجام آبیاری پس از کاشت در سال اول نه و در سال دوم 43 کیلوگرم در هکتار و برای تیمار عدم انجام آبیاری در سال‌های اول و دوم به ترتیب 37 و 78 کیلوگرم در هکتار بود. بیشترین تعداد گل در هکتار (480000 گل در هکتار) و نیز بیشترین درصد بنه‌های گل‌دهنده (100 درصد) در سال دوم آزمایش و در تیمار تاریخ کاشت خرداد ماه و عدم انجام آبیاری پس از کاشت به دست آمد. کاربرد گیاهان پوششی به خصوص خلر تا حدودی باعث بهبود ویژگی‌های رشد و عملکرد زعفران گردید؛ به طوری‌که استفاده از این گیاه پوششی، عملکرد گل و کلاله را در مقایسه با شاهد حدود دو درصد افزایش داد. همچنین بیشترین سرعت گل‌دهی و کمترین سرعت ظهور برگ در تیمارهای تاریخ کاشت خرداد ماه، عدم انجام آبیاری پس از کاشت و کاربرد گیاه پوششی خلر مشاهده شد.

AMF association and their effect on metabolite mobilization, mineral nutrition and nitrogen assimilating enzymes in saffron (Crocus sativus) plant

ABSTRACTMycorrhizae are fungal symbionts forming mutualistic relationship with plant roots. Literature about the rhizsospheric mycrorrhizal diversity of saffron and its role in growth, yield and quality of saffron is very scarce. In this study association of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) with the saffron plant was analyzed. Saffron plant shows the high incidence of AMF colonization. It was observed that corm, despite being the modified stem, shows AMF colonization. The study was further extended to know the influence of AMF on growth of the saffron plant under pot culture conditions. The corms of saffron are shown to present a higher level of metabolites, mineral nutrition in the mycorrhizal ones as compared to the non-inoculated ones. Our results show a promising potential of AM fungi in saffron production for enhancing metabolites like carbohydrates, protein and phenolics and mineral nutrition in corm and nitrogen assimilating enzymes in plant.

Influence of superabsorbent polymer rates on growth of saffron replacement corms

Mother corm size is the most important factor for production of replacement corms, flower, and stigma yield in saffron. In semi-arid regions, water shortage is a deterrent agent for appropriate corm growth of saffron. Therefore, in this experiment the effects of six levels of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) including 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 kg ha-1 was investigated on growth indices of replacement corms of saffron. For this purpose, an experiment was evaluated at the research farm of the Saffron Research Group, Sarayan Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Iran, during 2013-2015. Results showed that SAP application did not considerable effect on corm growth indices in the first life cycle of saffron. Nevertheless, consumption of 30-40 kg ha-1 SAP somewhat improved the number and total weight of replacement corms per clone. In the second life cycle of saffron, the positive impact of SAP was clearly observed on the growth of replacement corms. The application of 40 kg ha-1 SAP increased the amount of number of replacement corms per clone by 13%, total weight of replacement corms per clone by 36%, and scale weight of corms per clone by 50% compared with control. In addition, the amount of mean weight of replacement corms and mean number of buds per corm in treatment of application of 40 kg ha-1 SAP were 29 and 27% higher than the control treatment, respectively. SAP application decreased the amount of non-standard (< 8 g) corm production while significantly increased the percentage of corms with standard weight. Overall, the increasing effect of SAP application on corm weight, bud number, and standard corm yield was higher than the number of produced corms per clone. In addition, water-use efficiency in SAP application treatments (6.1 kg standard corm m-3) was more than the control (4.34 kg m-3) treatment. In total, SAP application is an appropriate strategy for production of standard saffron corms in semi-arid regions.

Determining the most effective traits to improve saffron (Crocus sativus L.) yield.

To determine the effective traits to improve saffron yield, a split plot design based on RBCD was done in Mashhad region in Iran for three years (2012-2014). The results showed that all traits except number of daughter corm, fresh weight of daughter corm and dry leaf weight had low general heritability. Results of genotypic and phenotypic coefficients of variation and genetic advance demonstrated that the majority of traits had a low diversity and the selection did not have any effect in improving the traits. As a result, the best way to increase saffron yield is improvement of farm management. It was also found that saffron yield had the highest phenotypic and genotypic correlations with fresh and dry weight of daughter corm and dry and fresh flower weight. Therefore, the efforts to improve these traits will increase saffron yield. According to the present study 5-Jun to 5-Jul was found to be the best sowing date for planting saffron. Also, the Mashhad and Torbat ecotypes were the best ecotypes in this study. Phenotypic and genotypic path analysis showed that in the first step three traits number of daughter corm, fresh flower weight and flower number and in the second step traits fresh weight of daughter corm, dry flower weight and dry leaf weight interred to the regression model and had the highest positive direct and indirect effects on saffron yield. Mainly, it can be derived that the implementation of correct farm management including appropriate sowing date, saffron ecotypes, proper density, bigger and higher quality saffron corm can play an important role in improving yield components and subsequently increasing saffron yield.

Somatic Embryogenesis in Crocus sativus L.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most important species in Crocus genus because of its effective usage. It is not only a very expensive spice, but it has also a big ornamental plant potential. Crocus species are propagated by corm and seed, and male sterility is the most important problem of this species. Hence, somatic embryogenesis can be regarded as a strategic tool for the multiplication of saffron plants. In this chapter, the production of saffron corms via somatic embryogenesis is described.

Diversity of culturable bacterial endophytes of saffron in Kashmir, India.

Saffron (Crocus sativus) is a medicinally important plant. The Kashmir valley (J&K, India) emblematizes one of the major and quality saffron producing areas in the world. Nonetheless, the area has been experiencing a declining trend in the production of saffron during the last decade. Poor disease management is one of the major reasons for declining saffron production in the area. Endophytes are known to offer control against many diseases of host plant. During the present study, culturable bacterial endophytes were isolated from saffron plant, identified and assessed for plant growth promoting activities. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis grouped the fifty-four bacterial isolates into eleven different taxa, viz. Bacillus licheniformis, B. subtilis, B. cereus, B. humi, B. pumilus, Paenibacillus elgii, B. safensis, Brevibacillus sp., Pseudomonas putida, Staphylococcus hominis and Enterobacter cloacae. The results were also supported with the identification based on BIOLOG system. B. licheniformis was the dominant endophyte in both leaves and corms of saffron. 81 % isolates showed lipase activity, 57 % cellulase, 48 % protease, 38 % amylase, 33 % chitinase and 29 % showed pectinase activity. 24 % of the isolates were phosphate solublizers, 86 % showed siderophore production and 80 % phytohormone production potential. The present repository of well characterized bacterial endophytes of saffron, have plant growth promoting potential which can be explored further for their respective roles in the biology of the saffron plant.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40064-015-1435-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effects of soil conductivity on properties of saffron corms and in vitro production of its style explants

Saffron is the dried stigmas of Crocus sativus L., a member of the Iridaceae family which ispropagated by means of corms. Corms are faced with many stresses in soil. Therefore, it isimportant to reduce these stresses and improve the quantity of saffron production. Biotic andabiotic stresses disrupt the metabolic balance of cells; thereby, resulting in accumulation ofreactive oxygen species (ROS) which cause oxidative damage. In this study, the effect of soilelectrical conductivity (EC) on biochemical indicators of corms, the percentages of callusformation and stigma-like structures (SLSs) on calli were investigated. In order to obtain calliand SLSs, immature style explants from floral buds of corms were collected from three regions(Shahroud, Mardabad and Torbat Heydarieh) and used for tissue culture. Style explants wereseparated first from the immature floral buds, then sterilized and used for tissue culture.Biochemical analysis of calli with SLSs including malondialdehyde (MDA) and prolinecontents, antioxidant enzymes activities and polysaccharides and reducing sugars contents wereinvestigated and compared. Moreover, sodium and potassium ions content and EC of soils ofthe three regions were investigated. The results indicated that corms from Shahroud with thehighest level of EC soil showed more imposed stress than that from Torbat Heidariye andMardabad but the calli percentage and number of SLSs of Mardabad’s were higher than those ofthe other two respectively. In this study, a close relationship between soil EC and in vitroproduction of saffron with a short glance on epigenetic modification was postulated.

Irrigation levels and dense planting affect flower yield and phosphorus concentration of saffron corms under semi-arid region of Mashhad, Northeast Iran

In arid and semi-arid regions of Iran, drought and water management are considered as important challenges in developing sustainable agriculture. The effects of irrigation levels and dense corm planting on flower yield, daughter corms behavior and phosphorus uptake of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) were studied as two-year field experiment based on a randomized complete blocks design arranged in split-plot with three replications at Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, during 2012–2013 and 2013–2014 growing seasons. The irrigation levels including 50, 75 and 100% of saffron water requirement (SWR) and dense corm planting (50, 100, 200 and 300cormm−2) were allocated to the main and sub-plots, respectively. The lowest yield, minimum number of daughter corms and phosphorus content of saffron were observed by planting 50cormsm−2 and supplying 50% of SWR. In the first year, flower characteristics were not affected by irrigating at 50% of SWR. However, in the second year, flower number, fresh flower and dry stigma yields significantly decreased by irrigating at 50% of SWR compared with 75 or 100% of SWR. In the second year, phosphorous concentration (gkg−1) and content (gm2) in small (0.1–4g), medium (4.1–8g) and large (over 8g) daughter corms were significantly more than the first year. In general, small daughter corms contained less phosphorous compared with large (over 8g) corms.