Effect of Thermal Forcing of Corms on The Flowering of Saffron (Crocus Sativus L.)

Authors : İbtissam MZABRİ, Maria RIMANI, Khadija CHARİF, Said OTOUYA, Noureddine KOUDDANE, Abdelbasset BERRİCHİ

Pages : 66-70

Doi:10.47115/bsagriculture.841263

View : 14 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 2021-04-01

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Among all environmental factors, the temperature is considered one of the key elements that control the growth and development of saffron. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of thermal forcing of corms on saffron growth and development. To this end, mother corms were collected at four different periods: late March insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(T2); , mid-April insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(T3); , late April insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(T4);, and after leaf senescence insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(Control, T1); . The corms of each period were then pretreated at three successive temperature levels: at 25 °C for 2 weeks, at 15 °C for 2 weeks and finally at 4 °C for 12 weeks. The results showed that the thermal pretreatment of corms had a significant effect on some saffron parameters. The flowers of the corms that underwent thermal treatment were later than those of the control. Similarly, the flower numbers and stigma yield were negatively affected by thermal forcing of corms. Overall, the thermal forcing of corms under the proposed regime was unfavorable for the growth and development of saffron.
Keywords : Forcing, Vegetative growth, Late flowering, Stigma yield, Daughter corms