scholarly journals Blue Light Improves Photosynthetic Performance and Biomass Partitioning toward Harvestable Organs in Saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1994
Author(s):  
Shirin Moradi ◽  
Mohsen Kafi ◽  
Sasan Aliniaeifard ◽  
Seyed Alireza Salami ◽  
Majid Shokrpour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lower Energy ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Photosynthetic Performance ◽  
Biomass Partitioning ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Crocus Sativus ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Light Spectra ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Crocus Sativus L

Saffron is a valuable plant and one of the most expensive spices worldwide. Nowadays, there is a tendency to produce this crop in indoor plant production systems. However, the production of saffron is restricted by the need for the reproduction of high-quality corms. In this study, we investigated the effect of different ratios of red (R) and blue (B) light spectra (including 100% B (monochromatic B), 75%, 50%, 40%, 25% B, and 0% B (monochromatic R) on the photosynthetic performance and biomass partitioning as well as morphological and biochemical characteristics of saffron. The growth of flower, root, and corm was improved by increasing the proportion of B to R light. B-grown plants were characterized by the highest photosynthetic functionality with efficient electron transport and lower energy dissipation when compared to R-grown plants. B light directed biomass toward the corms and floral organs, while R light directed it toward the leaves. In saffron, the weight of a daughter corm is of great importance since it determines the yield of the next year. As the ratio of B to R light increased, the daughter corms also became heavier, at the cost of reducing their number, though increasing the proportion of B-enhanced antioxidant capacity as well as the activity of ascorbate peroxidase and catalase while superoxide dismutase activity was enhanced in R-grown plants. In conclusion, B light increased the production of high-quality daughter corms and altered biomass partitioning towards harvestable organs (corms and flowers) in saffron plants.

scholarly journals Quality traits of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) produced in the Italian Alps

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annamaria Giorgi ◽  
Daniela Pentimalli ◽  
Luca Giupponi ◽  
Sara Panseri
Keyword(s):  
International Organization ◽  
Crocus Sativus ◽  
Italian Alps ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Production Processes ◽  
Alpine Area ◽  
The World ◽  
Quality Category ◽  
The Alps ◽  
Crocus Sativus L

AbstractSaffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a perennial herbaceous geophyte in the Iridaceae family. It propagates vegetatively by corm. All saffron production processes are generally conducted by hand: from bulb implantation, harvesting of flowers to stigma separation. Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world because of the intensive hand labour required for production. The increasing interest in Crocus sativus cultivation and production in the Italian Alpine area could increase revenues for the rural farming economy. Twenty eight dried saffron samples were collected from different farmers of the Italian Alpine area (Lombardia, Trentino Alto Adige, Piemonte and Veneto) between November 2015 and March 2016. Each sample was processed to determine their moisture content and amount of picrocrocin, crocins and safranal using the methods established by the International Organization for Standardization for saffron (ISO 3632 1,2:2010-2011). Over 82.1 % of the samples analyzed were ranked in the highest quality category of the ISO 3632. A high quality saffron product can be produced in the Italian Alpine area suggesting that this crop could serve as a sustainable source of economic revenues to diversified farms in the Alps.

scholarly journals Economics of Utilizing Alternative Containers in Ornamental Crop Production Systems

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin G. Brumfield ◽  
Alyssa J. DeVincentis ◽  
Xueni Wang ◽  
R. Thomas Fernandez ◽  
Susmitha Nambuthiri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
The United States ◽  
Plant Production ◽  
Water Demands ◽  
Process Use ◽  
Shipping Costs ◽  
Current Production ◽  
Cost Of Production ◽  
The Cost

As high-input systems, plant production facilities for liner and container plants use large quantities of water, fertilizers, chemical pesticides, plastics, and labor. The use of renewable and biodegradable inputs for growing aesthetically pleasing and healthy plants could potentially improve the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of current production systems. However, costs for production components to integrate sustainable practices into established systems have not been fully explored to date. Our objectives were to determine the economic costs of commercial production systems using alternative containers in aboveground nursery systems. We determined the cost of production (COP) budgets for two woody plant species grown in several locations across the United States. Plants were grown in plastic pots and various alternative pots made from wood pulp (WP), fabric (FB), keratin (KT), and coconut fiber (coir). Cost of production inputs for aboveground nursery systems included the plant itself (liner), liner shipping costs, pot, pot shipping costs, substrate, substrate shipping costs, municipal water, and labor. Our results show that the main difference in the COP is the price of the pot. Although alternative containers could potentially increase water demands, water is currently an insignificant cost in relation to the entire production process. Use of alternative containers could reduce the carbon, water, and chemical footprints of nurseries and greenhouses; however, the cost of alternative containers must become more competitive with plastic to make them an acceptable routine choice for commercial growers.

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION OF HIGH QUALITY SAFFRON (CROCUS SATIVUS L.) IN SOME MOROCCAN AREAS

2010 ◽  
pp. 235-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lage ◽  
F. Gaboun ◽  
K. Bakhy ◽  
H. Dakak ◽  
A. Zouahri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Production ◽  
Crocus Sativus ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Crocus Sativus L

scholarly journals Production systems and methods affect the quality and the quantity of saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. e0901
Author(s):  
Mahsa Aghhavani-Shajari ◽  
Hamid-Reza Fallahi ◽  
Hossein Sahabi ◽  
Hamed Kaveh ◽  
Ferdinando Branca
Keyword(s):  
Open Field ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Production Method ◽  
Crocus Sativus ◽  
Controlled Environment ◽  
Plant Weight ◽  
Root Numbers ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Crocus Sativus L

Aim of study: Comparison of saffron flowering between open field and controlled environment. Possibility of saffron transplanting.Area of study: University of Birjand (Iran)Material and methods: In a first experiment, saffron yield and quality produced by traditional production system (TPS) and by soilless one (SPS) were compared. In a second experiment, the effects of the production method, by direct planting (DP) or by transplanting plant (TP) in open field were studied.Main results: Percentage of flowering corms grown by SPS was 39% and 65%, while by TPS was 6% and 56% in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Flower and stigma yields were significantly higher by SPS than by TPS. Stigma obtained from SPS had higher L (lightness) and crocin. Safranal content was higher in stigma produced by TPS. Leaf and root numbers and corm weight were higher for SPS, but after transplanting there was better status for DP than for TP. At the end of the first growing season (2018-19), mean replacement corms weight (4.4 vs 3.0 g), replacement corms yield (21.3 vs 12.8 g per plant), weight of main replacement corm (11.7 vs 6.0 g) and number of large replacement corms (0.6 vs 0.1 corms per plant) for DP were significantly higher than for TP. However, during the second growing season (2019-20), the plants in TP plots improved their performances.Research highlights: Saffron production was more favorable under controlled environment. Transplanting is possible, but there is a need to improve methods to gain more favorable results.

scholarly journals Success of organic and biodynamic system experiment to produce high quality wines

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 01032
Author(s):  
M. Thiollet-Scholtus ◽  
A. Muller ◽  
C. Bailly ◽  
R. Koller ◽  
L. Ley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Production Systems ◽  
Decision Rules ◽  
Minimal Risk ◽  
New Production ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Treatment Frequency ◽  
Protected Designation Of Origin ◽  
Input Use ◽  
System Experiment ◽  
The Cost

Reducing input use and in particular pesticide use is very important in OIV 2018 new resolutions. Also Europe and France promote research and co-design with winegrowers in more sustainable viticulture according to a combination of climate change. It is also very important to take into account soil diversity and Protected Designation Areas constraints to make sure that new wines will ensure the sustainability of the wineries. This study explores design, experiment and assess of new realistic viticulture production systems located in Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) areas and with already organic or biodynamic certification for six consecutive years, in winery production conditions. It also discusses the chosen assessment indicators and the adoption of such new production systems by winegrowers. Eleven cases were studied in a system experiment network in Alsace (France) and in six consecutive production years. Contrasted production years, PDO areas combined to organic or biodynamic certification allow testing the resilience of experimented systems over time. Combination of new practices are tested to drastically reduce input and in particular pesticide. Assessed performances of the systems deal with 14 main indicators: social acceptability (1) and economic viability (1), agronomy (yield (1), harvested berries quality (2), fungi damage (3), soil quality (1), and wine sensorial analysis (1) and environment (Frequency Treatment Index (1), Cupper rate (1), INDIGO® method (2)). Several innovations were selected by co-design with winegrowers: adding essential oil and Propolis to copper spraying; total grass cover of the vine site; new decision rules for rate and time pesticide spraying; decision aid tool; resistant grape varieties planted. The assessment results support that the performance of the 14 indicators is very good for most of the eleven systems during the six assessed years. Combinations of tested innovations are neither dangerous nor difficult to enforce in the field by the vineworkers. Innovations do not increase the cost of grape production. The yield ratios were satisfactory the 6-yeared of observation because calculated yield match with targeted yield. Harvested berries quality support that the 7 vine sites succeed in targeted total acidity and sugar rate according to the different PDO conditions every years. Wines were Alsace or Grand Cru PDO labelled and successful marketed. At least, the Treatment Frequency Index is reduced by an average of 40% for all vine sites and assessed years. TFI can be reduced at a maximum of 89% and TFI median is 38%. Cupper rate can be reduced at a maximum of 97% and Cupper rate median is 54%. I-pest from INDIGO® method indicate a minimal risk taking for groundwater, surface water, air and beneficial organisms contamination. And finally, flora richness indicator is stable or steadily increases during the 6 study years. In this study, we demonstrated that drastically monitoring reduction of pesticide and other inputs is possible. Chosen indicators allow a exhaustive assessment, but could also been aggregated all together to give a synthetic information to winegrowers and make them easier to adopt the innovative systems. Introduction of innovation combinations in highly sustainable organic and biodymanic systems are validated to produce high quality wines. Now, it is possible to serenely promote and disseminate these highly sustainable innovative systems, taking into account of course vineyard diversity.

scholarly journals Effect of Crocus sativus L. Stigmas Microwave Dehydration on Picrocrocin, Safranal and Crocetin Esters

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aarón García-Blázquez ◽  
Natalia Moratalla-López ◽  
Cándida Lorenzo ◽  
M. Rosario Salinas ◽  
Gonzalo L. Alonso
Keyword(s):  
International Standard Organization ◽  
Crocus Sativus ◽  
Dehydration Process ◽  
High Quality ◽  
International Standard ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Standard Organization ◽  
Crocus Sativus L ◽  
Suitable Process

The dehydration process is the basis to obtain high quality saffron and to preserve it for a long time. This process modifies saffron’s main metabolites that define its quality, and are responsible for the characteristic color, taste, and aroma of the spice. In this work, the effect of microwave dehydration on saffron main metabolites (picrocrocin, safranal and crocetin esters) from Crocus sativus L. stigmas at three determinate powers and different time lapses was evaluated. The results showed that this dehydration process obtained similar or lower crocetin esters content, and after three months of storage, higher concentration was shown in treatments at 440 W for 36 s, 55 s, and 73 s; at 616 W for 90 s; and at 800 W for 20 s. Picrocrocin content was lower and safranal content was higher in all treatments compared to the control both before and after storage. Regarding to commercial quality, microwave dehydration obtained Category I of saffron according to International Standard Organization (ISO) 3632. After three months of storage, treatments at 616 W for 83 s and 800 W for 60 s obtained lower categories. The results obtained suggest that microwave dehydration is a suitable process for obtaining high quality saffron, 800 W with 6 lapses of 20 s being the best conditions studied.

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