Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is among the world's most valuable spices, its cultivation in Saudi Arabia is constrained by the high cost of importing quality corms and the challenges posed by extreme open-field conditions.
To address these issues, researchers evaluated saffron production under cooled greenhouse environments. The study investigated three planting densities (200, 100, and 67 corms m⁻²) and two planting depths (8 cm and 13 cm) to determine their effects on plant growth, flower and stigma yields, and new corm development. While a higher density of 200 corms m⁻² maximized total flower and stigma yields per unit area, it reduced flower number, stigma production, and biomass per individual plant. A planting depth of 13 cm consistently reduced daughter corm formation, particularly at the highest planting density. The largest corms and the highest proportion of big corms were obtained at the lowest density of 67 corms m⁻², whereas planting depth had a lesser effect on corm size distribution. Considering the need to balance economic flower yield with the ability to regenerate planting material, researchers recommend a planting density of 100 corms m⁻² at a depth of 8 cm.
This combination achieved an optimal balance between stigma yield and daughter corm production. Implementing these parameters could significantly improve the viability and sustainability of greenhouse-based saffron cultivation in regions facing heat and environmental stress.
Qaryouti, M., ABDELAZIZ, M. E., Gruda, N. S., AlSahly, S., Alrasheed, W., Althobiti, S., Babiker, O., Sharafeldin, M., & Voogt, W. Cutting-Edge Greenhouse Practices for Better Stigma Yield and Corm Quality of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Frontiers in Plant Science, 16, 1612791. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1612791
Source: Frontiers In