Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) yield parameter assessment of abiotic stressed corms stored in low temperature

Saffron (crocus sativus l./iridaceae family) is the most expensive spice in the world. it has been cultivated in morocco for centuries and has represented a traditional staple for culinary,medical and cosmetic uses. this study aims to optimize saffron yield parameters (saffron morphology,flowering,and corm yield) focusing on its performance in the semiarid regions of eastern morocco using low-temperature storage,salt and drought stresses. corms obtained from salt and drought stresses and stored in cold storage at 4 °c for 7 and 14 days (with a control kept at room temperature) were cultivated in open fields at the experimental station of the faculty of sciences of oujda. the number of flowers formed in the yield of spice saffron per corm and daughter corm parameter depended on storage temperature and cold storage duration. flowers from the corm that were cold-stored for 14 days formed earlier than other treatments. the flowers' number,fresh stigma yield decreased with the increase of the duration of cold- storage. similarly,length and leaf number showed the same decrease with the increase of the cold storage period. the diameter of produced daughter corms was the largest in control. however,the boost of cold storage time increases the number of small daughter corms per plant. cold storage induces precocious dormancy. overall,no benefit resulted from cold- storage of corms; and corms from stressed plants had no effect on the studied parameters. © 2017,university of mohammed premier oujda morocco.