Agriculture
Ahmad Jafarzadeh; Abbas Khashei Siuki; Ali Shahidi
Abstract
Ensemble modelling is expanding in several areas of engineering, especially different aspects of water engineering. Accurate estimation of saffron water requirement (SWR), an essential strategic production of the agriculture sector, is a crucial and influencing act in local water planning of this region. ...
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Ensemble modelling is expanding in several areas of engineering, especially different aspects of water engineering. Accurate estimation of saffron water requirement (SWR), an essential strategic production of the agriculture sector, is a crucial and influencing act in local water planning of this region. Hence, this study aimed to check the applicability of ensemble modelling in enhancing SWR at Birjand, Southern Khorasan, Iran. The actual water requirement of saffron was recorded in the field lysimetric laboratory at the University of Birjand. The simulation of water requirement was conducted utilizing Decision Tree Regression (DTR) with input climate features. Additionally, Boosting and Bagging methods were employed to establish and enhance the ensemble process of soil water requirement (SWR) simulations. To track the effectiveness of any method, some comparative tests were designed, such as statistical criteria (RMSE and MAE) detection, Violin plot analysis, over/underestimation, times series comparison, and error improvement test. Results indicated that although the acceptable performance of DTR in simulating SWR, the probable improvement was potentially felt. Derived results confirmed that supervised ensemble modelling (Boosting) could enhance the accuracy of DTR by more than 30 percent (reducing absolute error from 36 mm to 23.65 mm), resulting in declining RMSE from 0.44 mm to 0.07 mm. Further, different experiment outcomes revealed that the Boosting algorithm quality is more appealing than DTR and Bagging outputs.
Agriculture
Mohammad Emami; Mohammad Armin; Matin Jami Moeini
Abstract
To evaluate the effects of application time and type of organic and chemical fertilizers on yield and yield components of saffron, an experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications in Sheshtamad, Khorasan Razavi province, Iran. The factors were ...
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To evaluate the effects of application time and type of organic and chemical fertilizers on yield and yield components of saffron, an experiment was conducted as factorial based on randomized complete block design with three replications in Sheshtamad, Khorasan Razavi province, Iran. The factors were time of fertilizer foliar application (January and early February) and the type of fertilizer: Humic acid (0.5 L.ha-1), Amino acid fertilizer (0.5 L.ha-1), Complete fertilizer (2 L.ha-1), Complete fertilizer+amino acids (1 L.ha-1+0.5 L.ha-1) and a control without the use of fertilizers. In this experiment, fresh weight of flower, number of flowers per square meter, stigma length, stigma+style yield and stigma yield were measured. The results showed that the highest flower fresh weight (200.6 kg.ha-1), number of flowers (68.5), stigma length (2.57 cm), stigma+style yield (3.6 kg.ha-1) and stigma yield (1.75 kg.ha-1) were achieved by foliar application of complete fertilizer+amino acids. Fertilizer application time had a significant effect on fresh weight of flower, number of flowers per square meter, stigma length, stigma+style yield and stigma yield. Fertilizer application in February had higher positive effect than its application in March. Reaction of yield was also different to time of fertilizer application. In early February, using complete fertilizer was better compared to other fertilizers while in March complete fertilizer + amino acid or complete fertilizer had more yield compared to other fertilizers.
Agriculture
Reza Asghari; Mohammadreza Dadashi; alireza razavi; Hassan Feizi; saed bakhtiari
Abstract
In order to study the effects of salinity stress of irrigation water and different amounts of cow manure on morphological and physiological characteristics of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), an experiment was conducted during 2015-16 in the Jalagh Rokh Torbat Heidarieh area. The treatments were consisted ...
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In order to study the effects of salinity stress of irrigation water and different amounts of cow manure on morphological and physiological characteristics of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), an experiment was conducted during 2015-16 in the Jalagh Rokh Torbat Heidarieh area. The treatments were consisted of four levels of irrigation water salinity as the main factor (1, 4, 7 and 10 dS.m-1) and cow manure (sub factor) in four levels including control (without fertilizer), 20, 40 and 60 (t.ha-1) that were split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The studied traits included fresh weight and numbers of flowers, fresh and dry weights of stigma, leaf chlorophyll content, proline content, diameter, fresh and dry weights of corm. The results of analysis of variance showed that the effects of different amounts of cow manure and salinity stress levels on all traits were significant at 1% level. In this experiment, the highest fresh weight and numbers of flowers, fresh and dry weight of the stigma were obtained in the control salinity treatment (without salinity) and 60 (t.ha-1) of cow manure. With increasing salinity levels up to 7 dS.m-1, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll increased and then decreased sharply. The results showed a significant increase in proline with increasing salinity levels. In addition, diameter and fresh and dry weights of the corms decreased with increasing salinity levels, so that their maximum and minimum values were obtained in salinity control (without salinity) and 10 dS.m-1 respectively. The results showed that the use of cow manure reduces the effects of salinity stress on corm yield and yield of saffron flower.
Kambiz Khormali; Ebrahim Gholamalipour Alamdari; Mehdi Zaraie; Zeinab Avarseji; Leila Ahangar
Abstract
A research was conducted to study floristic of weeds of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) fields located in Cheshmesaran district in Azadshar to report distribution and species diversity of weeds population. For this purpose, saffron fields under cultivation over 3 hectares was identified in three regions, ...
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A research was conducted to study floristic of weeds of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) fields located in Cheshmesaran district in Azadshar to report distribution and species diversity of weeds population. For this purpose, saffron fields under cultivation over 3 hectares was identified in three regions, including Narab, Vamenan and Tillabad village. Identification and sampling of weeds was done in vegetative growth stage of saffron (daughter corms) in 2017. 45 quadrates were used for each farm and then number and type of weed species each quadrat was counted separately. Weeds species based on Persian name, scientific name, genus, family, leaf shape, photosynthetic pathway, growth habit and life cycle were classified. Results of species composition of weeds in saffron fields of triple regions showed that Narab region with 54 species had the largest number of species. Veronica persica Poir weed and Stellaria midia in Narab and Veronica persica Poir in Vamenan were the dominant weed in these regions which had the highest relative density and frequency. In return, Hordeum murinum in the Tillabad region had the greatest density and frequency. This could be due to the differences in geographical coordinates, climatic conditions of sampling locations, competitive ability of weeds and management methods to control them in saffron fields. The results of species diversity of weeds showed that Narab and Tilabad included highest and lowest dominance index, which were about 0.13 and 0.08, respectively. In return, the highest Menhinick richness, Margalev and uniformiy of weeds were recorded in the Narab region about 0.67, 2.55 and 0.97, respectively. Narab and Vamenan regions also had maximum numerical value of Simpson (0.92) and Shannon- Wiener indices (2.64). Overall, the results showed that saffron fields of both regions of Narab and Vamenan were most similar in term of weed species number and population indices.
Biotechnology and genetics
Mohsen Sajjadi; Maghsoud Pazhouhandeh
Abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the medicinal plants that contain active components and medicinal materials. Tissue culture of saffron can improve the quality and quantity of the saffron product, increase its export and the farmers’ income. In this study, 36 different types of hormone combinations ...
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Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the medicinal plants that contain active components and medicinal materials. Tissue culture of saffron can improve the quality and quantity of the saffron product, increase its export and the farmers’ income. In this study, 36 different types of hormone combinations in the dark and 9 different treatments of hormone combinations in cold (4°C), using different saffron explants (bulb, leaf, scales around leaf and distal parts of the leaf) were studied in tissue culture. To investigate the growth of corms, the callus formation and the regeneration rate, three replications for each treatment were used and the length of shoot (cm), the callus formation percentage and the regeneration percentage were measured and statistical analysis was performed. Among the types of explants, only explants from bulbs produced the callus on MS medium containing 2 mg.l-1 BAP and 1 mg.l-1 IBA in both the dark and cold conditions. The highest percentage of regeneration was obtained in MS medium with hormonal composition of 0.3 mg.l-1 TDZ, 1 mg.l-1 BAP, 2 mg.l-1 IBA and 0.01 mg.l-1 GA3 in the cold conditions.
Agriculture
Amir Hosein Beiki
Abstract
Saffron is a triploid, sterile plant, used as a spice and medicinalplant in all countries. Stigma is the most important part of saffron. So far no reliable molecular methods were provided to identify and prediction of the three/multi branches species. In this study, using different bioinformatics algorithms, ...
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Saffron is a triploid, sterile plant, used as a spice and medicinalplant in all countries. Stigma is the most important part of saffron. So far no reliable molecular methods were provided to identify and prediction of the three/multi branches species. In this study, using different bioinformatics algorithms, new tools for prediction based on Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphismmolecular markers is presented. Five alleles M1311400, M151200, M12100 and M10850 selected as the most important classifier by Attribute Weighting models which has the potential to cluster and recognize the three from multi branches stigma. K-Means and K-Medoids unsupervised clustering algorithms were fully able to cluster each genotype to the right classes. Our results showed that for the first time, data mining techniques can be effectively used to genetic differentiation between three and multi stigma with above 90 percent the accuracy andprecision. These methods can use in gene mapping and selection by biomarker.
Agriculture
Abbas Khashei Siuki; Mohsen Ahmadee; Sayyed Reza Hashemi; Amin Chaalaak
Abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a subtropical and valuable crop which is reproduced by corms. Due to the importance of corm weight in saffron yield, it is important to study the different factors that affect yield such as drought stress. For this purpose, this research was conducted as a factorial design ...
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Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a subtropical and valuable crop which is reproduced by corms. Due to the importance of corm weight in saffron yield, it is important to study the different factors that affect yield such as drought stress. For this purpose, this research was conducted as a factorial design based on completely randomized design (CRD) in the Agricultural Research Station of the University of Birjand during the period 2013-2015. The treatments consisted of Zeolite at four rates (0: Z0, 0.5: Z1, 1: Z2 and 2: Z3 as weight percentage) and irrigation management at three levels (traditional: I1, deficit irrigation as 70% moisture depletion: I2 and full irrigation: I3) with three replications. The results showed that zeolite rates has a significant effect on corm weight, number of corms less than 2gr, number of 6-8gr corms and number of replacement corms (P≤0.01). Irrigation management also has a significant effect on corm weight (P≤0.01), number of corms 6-8gr and number of replacement corms (P≤0.05). The treatments with no zeolite amended (Z0I1, Z0I2 and Z0I3) showed a reduction in corm weight compared to Z3I3 (P≤0.05). Z3I3, Z3I2 and Z3I3 showed an increase in the number of replacement corms while Z0I1 and Z0I2 had the least number of replacement corms. In conclusion, Z2I1 is recommended as the best treatment by considering the reduction in zeolite and water used, which increased corm weight by 26.64%, 23.88% and 17.81% compared to Z0I1, Z0I2 and Z0I3, respectively.
Other subject about saffron
Mostafa Dehbashi; Amir Rajaei; Hossein KardanMoghadam
Abstract
Saffron is one of the most valuable crops on the planet and the most expensive agricultural and medicinal product globally; this plant has a special place among the industrial and export products of Iran. One of the challenges in the production of this plant is timely harvest from the ground as well ...
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Saffron is one of the most valuable crops on the planet and the most expensive agricultural and medicinal product globally; this plant has a special place among the industrial and export products of Iran. One of the challenges in the production of this plant is timely harvest from the ground as well as red stigmas (branches) separating from other parts of saffron because the flowers are harvested in a brief period. Further, harvesting and separating at a limited time is a critical point. This research has been tried with the help of image processing techniques to discuss and recognize saffron flowers and how to identify them on the ground. In the first step, saffron flowers are recognized by transforming colored spaces. Then, the histogram and the minimum threshold are used to segment and remove extra pixels. For this purpose, to identify flowers, RGB space is converted to YCbCr space, and the combination of HSI and YCbCr color space is used to distinguish other objects in the image; also, a histogram of Cb component for early identification of saffron flowers are used. Then, those pixels which are misidentified are removed by the threshold value. Next step, the saffron flower needle-shaped leaves that are placed on the flowers are restored by morphological operation of the proposed method, and the flowers that overlap are removed. Then, the type of saffron flower (bud, broken, open flower) is determined, and the ability of harvest or suitability of saffron flowers for harvesting has been determined. Finally, the flower center that can be harvested is recognized and used by the saffron harvesting robot. Average results with respect to the accuracy, recall, F-measure, correctness, and correlation coefficient were 99.79, 99.42, 99.60, 99.91, and 99.50 achieved by the proposed method, respectively.
Biotechnology and genetics
Khadijeh Bagheri; Pejman Azadi; Mitra Gholami; Massoud Mir Masoumi
Abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the world's most expensive spice. Moreover, it is important since it contains various drug metabolites. Saffron is a triploid (2n=3X=24) and sterile plant and it does not have any viable seeds. Because of the sterility, classical breeding of this plant is limited. Developing ...
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Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the world's most expensive spice. Moreover, it is important since it contains various drug metabolites. Saffron is a triploid (2n=3X=24) and sterile plant and it does not have any viable seeds. Because of the sterility, classical breeding of this plant is limited. Developing an efficient callus induction protocol is studied for two reasons, i.e. molecular breeding and the production of secondary metabolites. In order to provide a suitable callus induction protocol, establishment of corms was considered. Five different treatments were applied to sterilization of corms. Thin cell layer explants with approximately 1 mm thickness and typical explants with approximately 1 cm thickness were prepared from sterilized corms. For callus induction, different explants were planted in MS medium containing different concentration of 2, 4-D, BAP and NAA. Then, they were incubated in dark conditions at 20 ±20C for 3 months. The results showed that the use of Benomyl fungicide, followed by surface sterilization using sodium hypochlorite (2.5 %) was the best sterilization treatment. The highest survival rates of explants (90%) were observed in this treatment and all explants were free of contamination. The highest amount of callus induction (75%) was obtained in MS medium supplemented with 2mg/l NAA and 0/5 mg/l BAP from thin cell layer of basal corm. The same result was observed with 1mg/l 2, 4-D from typical explants of basal corm. The results obtained from this study show that the thin cell layer explants are suitable explants because of the high amount of callus formation and the advantages for gene transfer studies. The results showed that the use of Benomyl fungicide, followed by surface sterilization using sodium hypochlorite (2.5 %) was the best sterilization treatment. The highest survival rates of explants (90%) was observed in this treatment and all explants were free of contamination. The highest amount of callus induction (75%) was obtained in MS medium supplemented with 2mg/l NAA and 0/5 mg/l BAP from thin cell layer of basal corm. The same result was observed with 1mg/l 2,4-D from typical explants of basal corm. Our results showed that the thin cell layer explants are suitable explant because of high amount of callus formation and advantages for gene transfer studies.
Agriculture
Saeideh Alizadeh-Salteh
Abstract
In order to evaluate and access the best conditions to cultivate saffron in Tabriz, an experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station of the University of Tabriz (Khalatpooshan), in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design and three replications. The treatments ...
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In order to evaluate and access the best conditions to cultivate saffron in Tabriz, an experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Station of the University of Tabriz (Khalatpooshan), in a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design and three replications. The treatments included two ecotypes of saffron in 4 levels of mother corm weight (3.1- 5, 5.1- 7, 7.1- 9 and more than 9 g) and two planting methods (row and mass). The results showed that corm weight and planting method had significant effects on the number and weight of replacement corms. But there was no significant effect on the different ecotypes. Among the experimental treatments, corms with 7.1- 9 g weight lead to the highest total corm number (342.65 corm.m-2) and corm yield (892.9 g.m-2) and the yield of flowers and stigma of saffron. It seems that for production of larger replacement corms and increased flowering yield, we need to culture large maternal corms. In addition, we observed the best economical yield that is determined by amount of stigma, in row planting method. The results showed that row planting method leads to a higher amount and yield of replacement corm production in comparison to mass planting method. As a result, producing corms with high weight followed by increasing of flower yield requires the use of large maternal corms for cultivation and row planting method.
Agriculture
Nasim Rezvani; Majid Pouryousef; Afshin Tavakoli
Abstract
Saffron, a cherished native plant of Iran, holds immense value, and its optimal growth and development hinge on the precise administration of nutrients and growth regulators. However, scant information exists concerning the nutritional attributes and the impacts of external application of growth regulators ...
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Saffron, a cherished native plant of Iran, holds immense value, and its optimal growth and development hinge on the precise administration of nutrients and growth regulators. However, scant information exists concerning the nutritional attributes and the impacts of external application of growth regulators on its overall performance. This study intends to scrutinize the influence of varying concentrations of forchlorfenuron and potassium nitrate on the attributes of daughter corms as well as the ultimate saffron yield. Through this investigation, a deeper understanding of the relationship between growth regulators, nutrients, and saffron production can be attained, shedding light on the potential avenues for enhancing its cultivation and yield. This experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a randomized complete block design in the research farm of Zanjan University. According to the results, the interaction effect of forchlorfenoren 2.5 and 5 mg.liter-1 and potassium nitrate 500 mg.liter-1 decreased the number of daughter corms. Characteristics such as the weight of daughter corms of more than 7 grams per square meter, corm diameter, number of flowers per square meter, and the amount of safranal, crocin, and picrocrocin showed a significant increase due to the interaction of forchlorfenoren 5 mg.liter-1 and potassium nitrate 1000 mg.liter-1. The highest wet and dry weight of the stigma was 11.49 and 1.15 grams per square meter, respectively, with the treatment of furchlorfenoren at the level of 5 mg.liter-1. Also, the use of potassium nitrate at the level of 1000 mg.liter-1 increased the fresh and dry weight of the stigma by 10.22 and 1.01 grams per square meter, respectively. The maximum stigma length was obtained in treating furchlorfenoren 10 mg.liter-1 and potassium nitrate 250 mg.liter-1. Based on the outcomes derived from foliar application experiments, it is advisable to consider utilizing a concentration of 5 mg.liter-1 for forchlorfenuron and 1000 mg.liter-1 for potassium nitrate during the period extending from March to April. This recommendation holds under the premise that environmental conditions are conducive, encompassing factors such as favorable temperatures for foliar spraying. This practice is particularly relevant to the climatic conditions prevalent in the Zanjan region.
Agriculture
Fatemeh Ghobadi; Moahammad Ghorbani Javid; Ali Sorooshzadeh
Abstract
In order to evaluate the effect of different planting dates and the corm size on yield and some physiological characteristics of saffron, an experiment was conducted as factorial in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm of College of Abouraihan, University of ...
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In order to evaluate the effect of different planting dates and the corm size on yield and some physiological characteristics of saffron, an experiment was conducted as factorial in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research Farm of College of Abouraihan, University of Tehran, is located in Varamin dry plain during growing season 2013-2014. Four planting dates, 10 June, 7 and 27 September and 12 October and two corm sizes 5-9 g and 10-14 g were considered as treatments. Evaluated physiological traits include such as proline and protein content in leaves and yield traits, include number of flowers and dry weight of stigma were measured and were examined in a square meter and starting date of flowering were recorded. The results of this research showed that cultivation of large saffron corms (10-14 g) on planting date of 10 June, had Maximum yield, by production 62.7 number of flower and 0.299 gram dry weight of stigma in a square meter. Leaf proline concentration of small saffron corms (5-9 g) on planting date of 12 October and leaf protein concentration of small saffron corms (5-9 g) on planting date of 10 June, were higher than the other planting dates. Increasing proline concentration increased plant resistance under drought and cold in corms planting on 12 October, particularly small corms. In general, these results indicate that flower yield in first year is more influenced by corm size and planting of large corms (10-14 g) on 10 June will have a suitable production.
Agriculture
Mozhgan Esmaeelian; Javad Feizy; Moslem Jahani; Soodabeh Einafshar
Abstract
In the present study, the conventional solvent extraction (CSE) was compared with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and subcritical water extraction (SWE) methods for the extraction of bioactive constituents from Crocus sativus corms. The response surface methodology (RSM) based on a central composite ...
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In the present study, the conventional solvent extraction (CSE) was compared with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and subcritical water extraction (SWE) methods for the extraction of bioactive constituents from Crocus sativus corms. The response surface methodology (RSM) based on a central composite face-centred design (CCD) was used to optimize the extraction parameters. The optimum conditions of extraction were estimated to be ethanol 80%, 48˚C and 60 min in CSE, ethanol 80%, 37˚C, 45 min, and 37 kHz in the UAE, and 180˚C and 22 min in SWE. The subcritical water extraction showed the maximum extraction yield, and the highest value of total phenolic compounds (807.6 mg gallic acid equivalent in 100 g saffron corm) and total flavonoid (12.2 mg Quercetin equivalent in 100 g saffron corm) were determined in the SWE extract. The phenolic and flavonoid content of the SWE extract is 8 and 12 times higher than the other two methods, respectively. Also, CSE and SWE extracts showed the least and the most antioxidant activities, respectively. The antibacterial activity of the optimized extracts was evaluated by the microdilution method. The results showed the minimum bactericidal concentrations of 300 and 600 mg mL-1 against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria, respectively.
Processing, food industry and biochemistry
Elham Azarpazhooh; Ahmad Ehtiati; Parvin Sharayei
Abstract
Saffron, as the most expensive agricultural and pharmaceutical product of the world, has a special value among plants. Since the Saffron harvesting period is short, its storage for later processing requires understanding the most effective factors affecting the quality of saffron and its deterioration. ...
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Saffron, as the most expensive agricultural and pharmaceutical product of the world, has a special value among plants. Since the Saffron harvesting period is short, its storage for later processing requires understanding the most effective factors affecting the quality of saffron and its deterioration. Therefore the effects of reposition thickness, storage temperature and storage time of saffron flowers on its chemical parameters including crocin, safranal and picrocrocin values of saffron stigma and its microbial quality indicators including total count, coliform and mold contamination were modelled. This was done using multi-layer perceptron artificial neural network (ANN) and its structure and the learning parameters were optimized using genetic algorithm technique. The optimized MLP neural networkwas capable to predict the saffron quality characteristics during storage with coefficient of determinations higher than %94 and low error values (RMSE lower than 3.5 for all responses). The ANN model showed that reposition thickness has the lowest impact on chemical and microbial parameters deterioration while increasing storage temperature and time drastically increased loss of quality although the effect of storage time is lower than that of storage temperature. Overall, keeping fresh saffron flowers at a low temperature near zero degrees centigrade is necessary for maximum retention of valuable chemical compounds and minimum microbial contamination development during saffron flower storage for further processing.
Other subject about saffron
Zakieh Shariatmadari; Mahmoud Shoor; Parviz Rezvani Moghaddam; Ali Tehranifar; ahmad ahmadian
Abstract
In order to study the effects of organic and chemical fertilizers on replacement cormsand flowercharacteristics of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), an experiment was conducted in a factorial layout based on randomized complete block design with three replications in a farm at Zaveh, Iran in the growing season ...
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In order to study the effects of organic and chemical fertilizers on replacement cormsand flowercharacteristics of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), an experiment was conducted in a factorial layout based on randomized complete block design with three replications in a farm at Zaveh, Iran in the growing season of 2013-2014 The experimental treatments were all combination of six types of organic fertilizers (Sheep manure (10 t.ha-1), cow manure (30 t.ha-1), vermi compost (6 t.ha-1), hen manure (5 t.ha-1), urban compost (9 t.ha-1) and control and using and not using chemical fertilizer (Nitrogen (100 kg.ha-1)+Phosphate (80 kg.ha-1)). The studied criteria included: total weight of cormper square meter, average number of buds per corm, diameter of corm and number of replacement cormsin each weight categories (0.1-4g,4.1-8g, 8.1-12g,12.1-16g and more than16.1g), number of flowers, fresh weight offlowers,stigmaandstyle dry weight per square meter, and harvest index of stigma. The results showed that the simple and interaction effects of using and not using chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers on all studied criteria were significant. Control+chemical fertilizer and hen manure+without chemical fertilizer treatments produced the highest and lowest total corm number (228 and 177 corm per in m2), respectively. The highest and lowest total corm weight (1876 and 1623 g.m-2, respectively), average single corm weight (10.94 and 7.75 g.m-2, respectively), average corm diameter (3 and 2.72 cm, respectively) and average number of buds (8 and 1.33 bud per corm, respectively) were obtained in hen manure+without chemical fertilizer and control+chemical fertilizer treatments, respectively. Control+chemical fertilizer produced the highest replacement corms at the weights of 0.1-4 (12.64%) and 4.1-8g (10.31%) categories. The highest percentage of number of replacement corms at 8.1-12 (16.77%), 12.1-16 (18.10%), and more than 16.1g (31.38%) weight categories were shown in the hen manure+ without chemical fertilizer treatment. Hen manure+without chemical fertilizer and control+ chemical fertilizer treatments produced the highest and lowest number of flowers (142 and 56 flower per square meter, respectively), fresh flower weight (50.20 and 17.60 g.m-2, respectively), stigma dry weight (0.405 and 0.169 g.m-2, respectively), style dry weight (0.685and 0.080 g.m-2, respectively), harvest index of stigma (0.0082, 0.0011, respectively), respectively. The results showed that flower yield in the second year was directly affected by the weight of replacement corms which were produced in the first year. Overall, the results of the present study revealed that the application of organic fertilizer compared with chemical fertilizers had superior effect on replacement corms and yield criteria of saffron.
Agriculture
Zahra Hosseini- Evari; Ebrahim Izadi Darbandi; Mohammad Kafi; Hassan Makarian
Abstract
A field study with 3 replications based on RCBD was conducted in order to improve the efficacy of some herbicides using adjuvants in the control of broadleaf weeds of saffron. Oxadiazone, oxyfluorfen, rimsulfuron and dicamba+ tritosulfuron herbicides at recommended rates of 500, 700, 10 and 150 a.i. ...
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A field study with 3 replications based on RCBD was conducted in order to improve the efficacy of some herbicides using adjuvants in the control of broadleaf weeds of saffron. Oxadiazone, oxyfluorfen, rimsulfuron and dicamba+ tritosulfuron herbicides at recommended rates of 500, 700, 10 and 150 a.i. ha-1, respectively without adjuvants and in reduced rates 375, 480, 8.75 and 112, respectively were used when they were tank-mixed with and without citogate (0.2% v.v-1) and humix 99 (0.25% v.v-1) as well as a control plot with no herbicide application and hand weeding. Weed species of Polygonum aviculare and Cardaria draba with relative density of 26% and 20.5%, respectively were the dominant weeds in the experimental field. The results showed that hand weeding significantly increased the yield of saffron flower and corm. Application of oxyflurfen and oxadiazone in reduced rates decreased saffron damage while addition of citogate to these herbicides increased the phytotoxicity damage in saffron. Addition of humix to these herbicides had no effect on phytotoxicity damage. Although application of rimsulfuron and dicamba+ tritosulfuron in reduced rates reduced phytotoxicity damage and increased yield of saffron, these herbicides have the potential to damage saffron even at reduced rates. Adding citogate to these herbicides can increase the efficacy of these herbicides in weeds control but considering the potential of these herbicides in damage to saffron, application of these herbicides in saffron fields is not recommended even at reduced doses. Application of oxyflurfen at 480 a.i. ha-1 without adjuvant and tank-mixed with humix were best treatments for use in saffron fields. However, it is also possible to use oxadiazone at 375 a.i. ha-1 to control saffron broadleaf weeds.
Agriculture
Majid Rostami; Masoumeh Maleki; Ali Reza Effati
Abstract
In order to investigate the effects of different types of nano-fertilizers on some of the physiological characteristics of saffron (i.e. antioxidant enzymes, reducing and non-reducing sugars, photosynthetic pigments, total phenol content and relative water content of leaf) the current experiment was ...
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In order to investigate the effects of different types of nano-fertilizers on some of the physiological characteristics of saffron (i.e. antioxidant enzymes, reducing and non-reducing sugars, photosynthetic pigments, total phenol content and relative water content of leaf) the current experiment was conducted at Malayer University during 2014-2015 growing season. The study was performed based on randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six treatments and three replications. The experimental treatments were control and five different types of nano-fertilizers (iron: Fe, boron: B, manganese: Mn, potassium: K and zinc: Zn). The effects of experimental treatments on relative water content, protein and total phenol content, reducing and non-reducing sugars were significant but there was no significant effect on chlorophyll b, leaf carotenoids, Catalase and Proxidase activity. Although the difference between nano-fertilizers and control treatment for chlorophyll a and also total chlorophyll was not significant but the highest amount of chlorophyll a (1.53 mg.g-1 Fw) measured in Fe treatment and the lowest amount (0.93 mg.g-1 Fw) observed in Mn treatment. Based on results, all of the experimental treatment increased the relative water content of leaf comparing to control. The highest amount of total phenol content (0.27 mg.g-1 FW) with 10.5% increase compared to control observed in Mn treatment and just the difference of this treatment with control treatment was significant. By application of Zn, Mn, K and B nano-fertilizer leaf protein content comparing to control treatment significantly increased whereas the difference between Fe and control wasn’t significant. The highest concentration of leaf protein (1.56 mg.g-1 Fw) with 12% increase compared to control treatment observed in K and B treatments whereas the lowest concentration (1.36 mg.g-1 Fw) with 3% decrease compared to control was related to Fe treatment. The different response of studied characteristic to application of various nano-fertilizer showed that different physiological traits hadn’t the similar sensitivity to all of mineral nutrients therefore application of entire nano-fertilizers with the same concentration isn’t scientifically recommendable
Other subject about saffron
hossein sahabi; fatemeh moallem banhangi
Abstract
In order to evaluate the trend of saffron yield and study the relationship between saffron yield fluctuations and various climatic parameters, research was designed and conducted in Mashhad, Torbat Heydariyeh, Kashmar, Birjand and Qaen during 20 years (1998-2018). According to meteorological data from ...
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In order to evaluate the trend of saffron yield and study the relationship between saffron yield fluctuations and various climatic parameters, research was designed and conducted in Mashhad, Torbat Heydariyeh, Kashmar, Birjand and Qaen during 20 years (1998-2018). According to meteorological data from the last 20 years, the average rainfall decreased by 33% and the average temperature increased by 0.5 °C . On the other hand, the regression results between yield and climatic parameters indicates that the pattern of temperature rise and decreased rainfall in all studied cities was significantly in line with saffron yield declining. In this period, the study's findings also revealed that over the last 20 years, an average of 112.3 hectares of saffron cultivation have been added to the areas under cultivation of saffron and at the same time, saffron yields have dropped by an average of 0.08 kg per hectare. Climatic indicators significantly affected decreased saffron yield in Razavi and South Khorasan. The results also revealed that the average and maximum temperature were the main variables influencing the reduction of saffron yield. For instance in Torbat-e Heydarieh, the variable of average temperature predicted 42 percent of the variability of the yield and in other cities studied, the maximum temperature variable predicted between 24 and 56% of the variability of the yield. Furthermore, the results of the time series analysis of saffron yield revealed that saffron yield will show a decreasing and negative trend by 2025 in all studied cities. Up to 2025, Mashhad and Kashmar with a slope of 0.09 and 0.07 kg/ha, had the highest and lowest decreasing trends, respectively.
Other subject about saffron
Hamidreza sharifi; zohreh nabipour; Hamidreza Tavakoli-kakhki
Abstract
In order to investigate the effect of planting density, corm weight and planting depth on the quantity and quality of corms obtained from saffron corm production fields, an experiment in the form of a factorial split plot in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications at the ...
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In order to investigate the effect of planting density, corm weight and planting depth on the quantity and quality of corms obtained from saffron corm production fields, an experiment in the form of a factorial split plot in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research and Training Center and natural resources of Razavi Khorasan (Gonabad research station with latitude 34 degrees 21 minutes north and longitude 58 degrees 41 minutes east) was carried out in the crop years of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019. In this research, planting density treatment (at four levels of 60, 90, 120 and 150 corms per square meter) in the main plot and factorial planting depth (at two levels of 15 ± 2 and 25 ± 2 cm from the soil surface) and corm weight (at two levels) level of 4±1 and 8±1 g) were located in the sub-plot. The results showed that higher density increased the number of daughter corms per square meter and the total weight of daughter corms per square meter and decreased the average fresh weight of a single corm, the ratio of the total weight of harvested corms to the planted corms and the coefficient of corm multiplication. In addition to this, the increase in the weight of mother corms and surface planting caused an increase in the number of daughter corms, the average fresh weight of a single corm, the total fresh weight of all corms, and the multiplication factor. The double interaction effect of density × corm weight on the number of daughter corms, the total fresh weight of all daughter corms, the interaction effect of density × planting depth on the average weight of a single corm and the ratio of harvested to planted corm weight and the interaction effect of corm weight × planting depth On the number of daughter corms in the second year, the average fresh weight of a single corm and the total fresh weight of all the corms per square meter were significant only in the first year. Based on this, the effect of increasing the weight of mother corms on improving the fresh weight of daughter corms at a depth of 15 cm was more than that of 25 cm. In general, it seems that at least in the fields that are cultivated with the aim of obtaining seed pods in the first years, using a density of 120 pods per square meter using standard mother pods (that is, the average pod weight) 8 grams) and surface planting (i.e. planting depth of 15 cm) is recommended, but for functional farms, larger mother corms have a relative priority only in the early years, and with the age of the field, the importance of its effect decreases. Based on this, it seems that it is possible to use a different strategy with a combination of less depth and especially more density to compensate for the effect of stem weight and achieve more performance overall.
Agriculture
Nima Khaledi; Mahdi Rezaei; Mojtaba Alizadeh Farddarabad
Abstract
Fusarium rot disease is one of the most important fungal diseases of saffron corms worldwide, which can lead to a decrease in product yield and the quality of daughter corms produced. The objective of this study was to isolate and identify agents responsible for Fusarium corm rot in saffron, as well ...
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Fusarium rot disease is one of the most important fungal diseases of saffron corms worldwide, which can lead to a decrease in product yield and the quality of daughter corms produced. The objective of this study was to isolate and identify agents responsible for Fusarium corm rot in saffron, as well as to assess their pathogenicity. In order to determine the Fusarium species from saffron corms with rotting symptoms were sampled from the different fields in provinces of Hamadan, Golestan, Kerman, Kurdistan, Semnan, Kermanshah, Ardabil, East Azerbaijan, North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, Isfahan, and South Khorasan. After isolation and purification, fungal isolates were identified and confirmed based on morphological characteristics and species-specific primers. Also, the pathogenicity of the isolates was artificially tested in the greenhouse on saffron corms according to Koch’s principles. The results indicated that approximately 38.6% of the saffron corms were infected with fusarium rot disease in the 1 to 5% range. 33 isolates were identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics belonging to F. oxysporum (26 isolates, 78.8%) and F. solani sensu lato (7 isolates, 21.2%). The pathogenicity tests revealed that all Fusarium isolates were pathogenic, displaying varying levels of disease index.The result of the host range test of F. oxysporum on different plants revealed that all isolates caused wilting and yellowing of aerial organs, necrosis and rotting of underground organs on Gladiolus (Gladiolus communis L.), Irises (Iris germanica L.) and Crocus (Crocus vernus L.) and was called as F. oxysporum f. sp. gladioli. This is the first report on identification of F. oxysporum f. sp. gladioli from saffron fields in Malayer, Bijar, Kangavar, Parsabad, Marand, Natanz, Najafabad and f F. solani sensu lato from saffron fields in Azadshahr, Shirvan, Esfarayen, Kashmar, Najafabad, Boshruyeh on saffron corms. The findings of this research provide new insights into the health status of saffron corm against fusarium rot disease, which can be used for the revision of the national standard for saffron corms and determining suitable areas for certified corm production of saffron.
Other subject about saffron
Yaser Esmaeilian; Mohammad Behzad Amiri
Abstract
In order to study the response of saffron medicinal plant to planting density and different levels of manure, a two year experiment was conducted in split-plot as complete block design with three replications in 2015-16 and 2016-2017 in Gonabad area. Main factor consisted of 5, 10, and 15 cm plant spacing ...
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In order to study the response of saffron medicinal plant to planting density and different levels of manure, a two year experiment was conducted in split-plot as complete block design with three replications in 2015-16 and 2016-2017 in Gonabad area. Main factor consisted of 5, 10, and 15 cm plant spacing on row and sub factor was control (no manure application), and application of 0, 20, 40, and 60 t/ha cow manure. Experiment results showed that maximum value of fresh flower yield in first year (127.4 kg/ha) achieved in 60 t/ha and in second year (72.3 kg/ha) obtained from 40 t/ha manure application under 5 cm plant spacing in row. The highest fresh stigma yield in both years (10.300 and 5.383 kg/ha, respectively) was obtained due to high planting density (5 cm plant spacing in row) and 40 t/ha manure application. Also, dry stigma yield under this treatment with 2.300 and 1.770 kg/ha, respectively had more increase in both years than other treatments. The highest daughter corm number in both years (614 and 591 corm/m2, respectively) obtained from highest corm planting density. In first year, 40 t/ha manure treatment had the highest value (592 corm/m2) and in second year, 60 t/ha manure application showed the highest value (572 corm/m2). In first year, the highest corm yield with 22724 kg/ha achieved from 5 cm plant spacing in row and 40 t/ha manure. But, in second year the highest mean value (12429 kg/ha) obtained from the same planting density and use of 60 t/ha manure. Therefore, to achieve suitable economic yield in saffron cultivation, application of 40 t/ha cow manure in 20×5 cm planting density under climatic and edaphic conditions similar to this experiment location is suggested.
Agriculture
Mohammad Seyyedi; Parviz Rezvani Moghaddam
Abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a sterile triploid geophyte plant that is propagated by corms. Considering the crucial role of the mother corms quality in saffron production, a program for "STANDARDIZATION OF SAFFRON CORMS" should be developed in Iran, a measure that has not been taken up yet. There are ...
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Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a sterile triploid geophyte plant that is propagated by corms. Considering the crucial role of the mother corms quality in saffron production, a program for "STANDARDIZATION OF SAFFRON CORMS" should be developed in Iran, a measure that has not been taken up yet. There are several obstacles that stop us from having this comprehensive program, for example the lack of standard fields to produce high quality corms, the lack of a clear and precise criteria for sorting produced mother corms, the lack of supervision or poor supervision provided by authorized organizations on production and presentation of high quality corms and unbalanced supply and demand ratio in saffron corms markets, are considered as the most important reasons. Moreover, mixing the healthy and infected corms as well as the storage of corms, regardless of optimal temperature conditions or environmental hygiene, are considered as other challenges in the production and processing cycle of saffron. In this review, some obstacles and prerequisites for implementation of a comprehensive program for STANDARDIZATION OF SAFFRON CORMS are discussed. Further, useful approches and techniques for producing standard corms such as the establishment of managed fields, quality criteria for sorting harvested corms, and the principle storage of corms are outlined. In addition, some effective strategies for the implementation of this program, including the provision of training courses, comperhensive monitoring on the services and functioning in the supply and demand market of saffron corms, helping to meet the needs and demands of consumers, editing incentive plans and supportive programs to saffron producers are specifically provided.
Agriculture
Mohammadreza Maleki; Mohammadjavad Seghatoleslami; Gholamreza Mousavi; Hassan Feizi
Abstract
This experiment was carried out as a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 and the data related to 2017-2018 were analysed. The irrigation time for the main plot (A) consisted of 4 levels including I1: control (traditional irrigation) ...
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This experiment was carried out as a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications in 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 and the data related to 2017-2018 were analysed. The irrigation time for the main plot (A) consisted of 4 levels including I1: control (traditional irrigation) on October 12, I2: irrigation at 10 days after I1, I3: I1+ one additional irrigation after the last irrigation (April 30), I4: the first irrigation time was done 10 days later than the traditional irrigation+ one additional irrigation 10 days after the last irrigation. Sub plot (B) was the foliar application of various stimulators including of G1: control, G2: acid salicylic, G3: Complete micro fertilizer, G4: nano Tio2, G5: nano Sio2. In this experiment different traits of corm and flower and stigma quality were determined. The results indicated that foliar application of complete micro fertilizer and Sio2 nanoparticles had the highest number of daughter corms. Moreover,both of them caused 25 percent increase overthe control group. Irrigation times at I4 and I1 yielded the maximum and minimum contents of dry weight of style and stigma. Foliar application of complete micro fertilizer was the best treatment in terms of dry weight of style and stigma. The most contents of crocin among various fertilizers belonged to complete micro and Tio2 nanoparticles. The highest amount of picrocrocin belonged to complete micro fertilizer and salicylic acid. The salicylic acid foliar application was the best treatment in terms of chlorophyll content of saffron leaves. In conclusion the first irrigation on October 12 and using complete micro fertilizer are reconded.
Agriculture
Amir Mohammad Zargarian; Faezeh Zaefarian; abbas jalali; Vahid Akbarpour
Abstract
This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of cover crop on the density and biomass of weeds in a saffron field in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications located in Neka in 2022. The experimental treatments applied in the saffron farm was include: ...
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This research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of cover crop on the density and biomass of weeds in a saffron field in the form of a randomized complete block design with three replications located in Neka in 2022. The experimental treatments applied in the saffron farm was include: cover crop planting of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum - graecum L.), rapeseed (Brassica napus), treatment of no weed control with cover crop (control 1) and weeds control with no cover crop (control 2). The measured traits included the density and biomass of broad-leaved and narrow-leaved weeds, the dominant weed density in the field, Shannon-Wiener species diversity index and the performance indicators of saffron corm that were measured including the number of daughter corm, total daughter corm yield, average daughter corm weight, corm average diameter and corm yield in different weight groups per square meter. The results showed that barley cover crop cultivation treatment has the lowest density and biomass of broad-leaved and narrow-leaved weeds among the treatments, so that its cultivation caused a decrement of 96 and 88% of the biomass of broad-leaved and narrow-leaved weeds, respectively. In addition, among cover crops, the highest species diversity related to canola and the lowest one related to barley are 0.93 and 0.43, respectively. With the comparison among the cover crops, the highest total yield of daughter corm belonged to canola, clover, fenugreek and then barley were 1273.9, 1243, 1234.8 and 1175.2 g/m2, and the highest total corm yield, average corm weight and corm yield above 8 g was obtained with canola cover crop cultivation, which showed an increase of 6, 79 and 14%, respectively, compared to the control with no weeding. In general, although the weeding treatment as well as the saffron corm yield indicators were superior to other treatments, but this point should be notice that with the planting of cover plants, along with the stability and fertility of the system in the long term, there is a higher economic advantage, ultimately brings benefits to the farmer.
Economics and Marketing
Mohammad Reza Kohansal; Amirhossein Tohidi
Abstract
This study estimate the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on saffron export demand. To this end, the pooled mean group (PMG) approach is used in order to implement the model of auto regressive distributed lag model (ARDL) and vector error correction model (VECM) in the context of panel data. The results ...
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This study estimate the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on saffron export demand. To this end, the pooled mean group (PMG) approach is used in order to implement the model of auto regressive distributed lag model (ARDL) and vector error correction model (VECM) in the context of panel data. The results showed that, relative price of exports has a negative and significant effect on Iran's saffron export demand. In the short- and long-term, the estimated price elasticity suggests that Iranian saffron export demand is price inelastic. The results indicate that real income effect of importing countries on the export of Iranian saffron is positive. In the short-term, income importing countries has no significantly effect on Iranian saffron export demand, while the long-term effect is significant at the 0.01 level. In both short- and long-term, the results indicate that exchange rate has a significant, positive effect on Iran's saffron export demand. The exchange rate elasticity of export demand for Iran's saffron is elastic in both short- and long-term. Therefore, the devaluation of the Rial, Iran's currency, led to a significant increase in the export of Iranian saffron. Also, the results showed in the short-term, the unpredictability of exchange rate fluctuations lead to increase the degree of risk aversion of exporters of Iranian saffron and so they prefer to deal with this issue by reducing their export. However, in the long-term, the income effect dominates the substitution effect, and exchange rate fluctuations has a positive effect on the export of Iranian saffron by creating profit opportunities.
