Saffron Agronomy and Technology
In collaboration Iranian Medicinal Plants Society

The effect corm priming time with different levels of gibberellic acid on quantitative and qualitative traits of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) in the first year

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

ُshirin ansariyan mahabadi 1
ُali ahmadi 2
hossein moghaddam 3
seyed abdolah mohammadi 4

1 PhD student in Agrotechnology-Physiology of Crop Plants, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2 Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

3 Associate Professor, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

4 PhD in Agronomy-Crop Ecology, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22048/jsat.2026.558779.1576
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.

Keywords

Growth regulator
medicinal plant
corm dormancy period
Subjects
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