Saffron Agronomy and Technology

Abstract One of the methods to improve production and control flowering in plants is the use of growth regulators such as gibberellic acid. In order to investigate the effect corm priming time of saffron with gibberellic acid (GA3), a factorial experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station,University of Tehran in 2023. Two planting times (late June, late September) and four levels of gibberellic acid (0, 100, 200, and 400 ppm) were considered as treatments in the form of corm priming. The evaluated traits were the number of buds, time to germination, number of flowers, time to flowering, bud-to-flower conversion ratio, dry weight of stigma, and quality traits of saffron stigma. The results showed that priming saffron corms with 100 ppm gibberellic acid in late June significantly (α=1%) increased the number of flowers, bud-to-flower conversion ratio, fresh and dry weight of stigma, crocin and safranal. However, corm priming in late September with 200 ppm gibberellic acid resulted in a significant increase (α=1%) in the number of buds, number of flowers, stigma length, fresh and dry weight of stigma, and a significant decrease (α=1%) in the time to flowering onset and germination, although in some traits they were in the same statistical group as the 400 ppm level. Overall, the results of this experiment showed that first, corm priming in late June with low levels of gibberellic acid is better, but, corm priming in late September with higher levels is beneficial. Secondly, corms priming in late June and at a level of 100 ppm of the hormone can increase the amount of crocin and safranal and yield traits, while priming corms in late September can reduce the time to flowering and time to germination And will improve flower and corm yield in the first year.

Abstract The study of the pharmacological properties of saffron and its active ingredients is important considering the clinical and health applications that it can have in humans. Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by decreased insulin secretion due to dysfunction of beta cells in the pancreas or increased insulin resistance. The tendency to treat diabetes with herbal medicines, which have fewer side effects than chemical medicines, is spreading day by day. This study was performed for the first time to investigate the effect of aqueous extract of saffron corm on blood glucose and liver enzymes in diabetic rats. Male rats were randomly divided into healthy and sick groups without treatment and treated with doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg aqueous extract of saffron corm. Streptozotocin was used to induce diabetes. The mortality rate decreased significantly after the injection of saffron corm extract. Doses of 200 and 300 mg/kg of aqueous extract of saffron corm controlled weight loss in diabetic rats so that the dose of 300 mg/kg was not significant compared to control without diabetes. The results showed that injection of aqueous extract of saffron corm significantly reduced fasting blood glucose. A dose of 300 mg/kg on day 15 after induction of diabetes caused a significant decrease in blood glucose levels. It seems that one of the mechanisms of the hypoglycemic effect of saffron extract, which increases insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells, was due to this event. A dose of 300 mg/kg decreased hepatic enzymes AST and ALT in blood serum. The results of this research showed that the aqueous extract of saffron corm, in addition to reducing blood sugar and controlling diabetes, regulated the activity of liver enzymes.

Abstract The effects of applications of vermicompost and nitroxin on corm characteristics and flower yield of saffron were evaluated under field conditions in the research farm of Birjand University, Iran, during the cropping year 2015-2016. Treatments were of four levels of vermicompost (0, 5, 10 and 15 t.ha^-1) and three levels of nitroxin (0, 5 and 10 L.ha^-1). This experiment was carried out as factorial based on randomized completely block design with three replications. The results showed that vermicompost improved the corm vegetative indices (total weight of corm, average fresh and dry weight of cormel and diameter of cormel). The highest total weight of corm was obtained in plants treated with 15 t.ha^-1 vermicompost. Also results showed that vermicompost improved the saffron flower characteristics (flower number and fresh total yield, flower length, stigma fresh and dry yield) in second year of study. The highest stigma fresh (1.63 g.m^-2) and dry (0.41 g.m^-2) yield were obtained in plants treated with 10 t.ha^-1 vermicompost, while the lowest values (0.77 and 0.21 g.m^-2) were recorded in the control. Application of different levels of nitroxin has a positive effect on flower number and fresh total yield, stigma dry yield in the second year of the experiment. The highest stigma dry yield was observed in 10 L.ha^-1 nitroxin (0.36 g.m^-2), while the lowest value was recorded in control (0.24 g.m^-2).  Application of different levels of vermicompost and nitroxin had a positive effect on the total weight of corm, average flower length and stigma fresh yield. Thus, the results showed that 5 L.ha^-1  nitroxin and 10 t.ha^-1 vermicompost had a significant impact on replacement corm characteristics and flower yield of saffron.