The Combined Effects of Vegetative Stage Corms, Ultra Low Oxygen Cooling Storage and Incubation Time on <i>Crocus sativus</i> L.

Abstract

In order to extend the flowering season of Crocus sativus L. more time than the methods developed to date and to study their limits, a multivariable trial was carried out with the following factors: vegetative stages of the corm; ultra low oxygen (ULO) cooling storage and incubation time. The main production parameters and the quality saffron were studied. The usage of corms lifted 40 days earlier leaf senescence (V3–40 d) was not technically viable. No benefits were obtained from corms lifted shortly after leaf senescence (V3). Most of the parameters decreased with increasing of storage in ULO chambers for the vegetative stages studied. The corms lifted 20 days earlier leaf senescence (V3–20 d), stored from 0 to 120 days in ULO chambers and incubated 30 and 60 days provided greater number of flowers and more weight of saffron than corms non-incubated. A predictive model was obtained which allows to know the saffron yield in corms lifted in the stage V3–20 d, stored from 0 to 180 days in ULO chambers followed by incubation from 30 to 120 days. The combination of the three factors studied allowed to extend the Crocus sativus L. flowering from October to early February with an acceptable saffron yield and a quality similar than saffron grown traditionally.

Keywords

• predictive model
• yield
• forced crop
• flowering
• saffron quality