نشریه پژوهش های زعفران
سال پنجم شماره 2 (پاییز و زمستان 1396)

In addition to the economic advantages than other products saffron has significant role in the creation and management of water resources in arid and semi-arid Iran. In addition to quantity, special attention to the quality of this particular product, at least at the international level, can lead to a better exchange it. Zoning quality saffron production in the provinces of Razavi and Southern Khorasan using geostatistical method, check the main components determines the marketability and quality of saffron (crocin, picrocrocin and safranal) UV-visible spectrophotometry using standard ISO / TS 36322 the sampling of 14 major center for the production of saffron Safiabad, Shahn Abad, Chakhmaq and Abrood of Torbat heydarieh, Kashmar, Bardaskan, Torbt Jam, Faizabad, Sabzevar, Sarayan, Neyshabur and Birjand in autumn 2016was done. The results showed that geostatistical methods with acceptable accuracy crocin, picrocrocin and safranal estimated, while, in cokriging method, Picrocrocin, best auxiliary variables in determining crocins and safranal and safranal the best estimate covariate picrocrocin Obtained. In estimating crocin, picrocrocin and safranal respectively Gaussian models, linear and exponential regression models were best. The results showed that most areas of the province of Razavi and Southern Khorasan, the crocins and picrocrocin has the same quality is low and the safranal the north and southeast areas with better quality. Overall results of this study indicate suitability of geostatistical interpolation method, classification and identification of suitable areas for cultivation of saffron is qualitatively.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most valuable medicinal cash crops that mainly cultivated in arid and semi-arid areas. In order to study the effect of planting density on flower quality in Iranian and Spanish corms of saffron, an experiment was conducted as factorial layout based on a randomized complete block design with three replications during two growing seasons (2013-2014 and 2014-2015). Two corm types (a1: Iranian and a2: Spanish corms) and three planting densities (d1: 40, d2: 48 and d3: 60 corms.m-2) were considered as treatments. The results showed that the effect of different planting density on crocin, picrocrocin and safranal contents were significant (p≤0.01). The highest numbers of crocin (202.01), picrocrocin (72.23) and safranal (36.30) contents were obtained in 40 corms.m-2, moreover the highest number of crocin (200.73), picrocrocin (71.24) and safranal (28.91) contents were obtained in Spanish corm. However, the highest numbers of flower (27.21 flowers.m-2), flower fresh weight (13.58 g.m-2) and dry weight (stigma닜) (0.144 g.m-2) were obtained from Iranian corms. Spanish corm in comparison with Iranian corm was produced more crocin, picrocrocin and safranal contents. In contrast, Iranian corms produced the highest saffron dry weight.
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most valuable medicinal cash crops that cultivated mainly in arid and semi-arid areas. In order to study the Effect of planting density on flower quality in Iranian and Spanish Saffron (Crocus sativus L.), an experiment was conducted in factorial with randomized complete block design with three replications in two growing seasons (2013- 14 and 2014- 15). The saffron corm type considered in two levels (a1: Iranian corm and a2: Spanish corm) and the planting density were in three levels (d1:40, d2:48, d3:60 corm.m-2). Results showed that the effect of different planting density and saffron corms type on number of flowers, flower fresh and dry weight (stigma style) were significant. In addition the effect of different planting density on crocin, picrocrocin and safranal were significant (p

Saffron is an expensive and valuable crop among agriculture and export production of Iran. Crocin, picrocrocin and safranal contents are recognized as color, taste and aroma factors, respectively. Optimization during saffron drying process as the most important stage in post harvesting has a fundamental role in physicochemical properties of this crop. In this work, effects of temperature (at 40-70 oC), drying time (80-205 min) and saffron thickness (0.5-2 cm) for oven method and energy microwave (200-800 W), time (4-11 min) and saffron thickness (0.5-2 cm) for drying by microwave investigated on crocin, picrocrocin and safranal contents by response surface methodology (RSM). The results showed that the higher temperatures and shorter times in drying process were more effective on quality properties, while the saffron thickness had not significant effect on quality criteria. In microwave drying, the maximum energy and drying times were caused the highest destruction for crocin, picrocrocin and safranal contents. The best conditions for drying process by oven were determined at 51.2oC, 112.8 min and 0.5 cm thickness and the highest quality during microwave drying were obtained at 703 W, 6.9 min and 2 cm of thickness by appropriate desirability (> 80%).

The effects of applications of nitroxin and vermicompost on indicators of growth, flowering and chlorophyll of saffron were evaluated under field conditions. Treatments were there levels of nitroxin (0, 5, 10 liters.ha-1) and four levels of vermicompost (0, 5, 10 and 15 tons.ha-1). This experiment was carried out as factorial based on randomized completely block design with three replications in research farm of Birjand University, Iran, n two growing seasons of 2015 and 2016.The traits such as number of flowers and yield of fresh flowers and the dry stigmas. Leaves components (number, length and fresh and dry weight) and its pigments (chlorophyll a, b, total and SPAD) were studied. Number, flower yield and dry stigmawas influenced by nitroxin treatments.So that in the first year and the second Respectively The highest number flower (8.75 , 45.33 per Per.m-2), flower yield (2.76, 13.04 g.m-2),and dry Stigma yield (0.006, 0.03 g.m-2) was obtained in plants treated with 5 liter.ha-1 nitroxin,while the lowest values was recorded in the control. Results showed that nitroxin improved the leaf growth indices (number, dry Stigma yield, length, and fresh weight of leaf) and photosynthetic pigments (chl a, b, total chl and spad). Application of different levels of vermicompost had a positive effect on the leaf number, leaf length, fresh and dry weight of leaf and chlorophyll a, b, total and spad. The highest chlorophyll b, total and SPAD was obtained in plants treated with 10 tons.ha-1 vermicompost while the lowest values was recorded in the control. Interactive effects of nitroxin and vermicompost have a positive effect on the dry Stigma yield, number and length leaf of leaves, chlorophyll a, b, total and spad. Thus, results showed that nitroxin and vermicompost have strong impact on quantitative and qualitative characteristics of saffron under field conditions.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of hydroethanolic saffron petals’ extract (HSPE) on yield, carcass characteristics and blood biochemical parameters ofJapanese quail. A total of 120quails were arranged into 12 units with 3 treatments based on a completely randomized design. Each dietary treatment had 3 replications with 10 birds. Treatments were included 350 and 700 ppm of hydroethanolic saffron petals’ extract and control. The birds were received isocaloric and isonitrigenous diets. Water and diets were supplied ad-libitum. Two quails from each pen were selected and slaughtered. The carcass parameters were weighed and the relative weights of them were calculated. The data were analyzed by SAS software. The results revealed that inclusion of hydroethanolic saffron petals’ extract toquail diets were improved the body weight and FCR. The relative weight of breast, thigh, pancreases, and heart did not affected by dietary treatments. The relative weight of fabricus bursa was increased when birds received the HSPE. Addition of hydroethanolic saffron petals’ extract decreased serum cholesterol and triglyceride of quail. The HDL,LDLand total protein concentration were not affected by the treatments. Therefore, supplementation ofhydroethanolic saffron petals’ extract to diet may improve the yield and cholesterol of Japanese quail.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the Effect of Hydroethanolic saffron petals’ extract) (HSPE) on performance, carcass characteristics and blood biochemical parameters of Japanese quail. A total of 120 quails were arranged into 12 experimental units with 3 treatments in a completely randomized design. Each treatment had 3 replicates with 10 birds. The treatments were included control, 350 and 700 ppm Hydroethanolic saffron petals’ extract. The birds were received diets isocaloric and isonitrigenous. The water and diets were supplied ad-libitum. Two quails from each pen were selected, slaughtered. The carcass parameters were weighed and the relative weights of them were calculated. The data were analyzed by SAS software. The results were revealed that inclusion of Hydroethanolic saffron petals’ extract to quail diets were improved the body weight and FCR. The relative weight of breast, thigh, pancreases, and heart did not affected by dietary treatments. The relative weight of bursa of fabricus were increased when birds received the HSPE. Addition of Hydroethanolic saffron petals’ extract decreased serum cholesterol and triglyceride of quail. The HDL, LDL and total protein concentration were not affected by treatments. Therefore supplementation of Hydro ethanolic saffron petals’ extract to diet may be improved the performance and cholesterol of Japanese quail. Therefore supplementation of Hydro ethanolic saffron petals’ extract to diet may be improved the performance and cholesterol of Japanese quail. Therefore supplementation of Hydro ethanolic saffron petals’ extract to diet may be improved the performance and cholesterol of Japanese quail. Therefore supplementation of Hydro ethanolic.

Turnip mosaic virus is a member of family Potyviridae, genus Potyvirus, have the widest host range in Potyviruses. Weeds are reservoir plants for viruses and have an important role in this epidemiology. In order to identify the wild hosts of TuMV in saffron fields, 44 samples were collected during April 2017 from Ghaen, Ferdows, Sarayan and Birjand cities of South Khorasan province. TuMV were detected by ELISA and RT-PCR. Positive samples were sequenced and then analyzed by Phylogenetic software. Among 44 samples, Goldbachia laevigata was positive in ELISA and this isolate (KHo.IR) was amplified 864 bp of Coat protein gene using RT-PCR. In phylogenetic tree of KHo.IR and 29 isolates of gene bank, four groups were formed that KHo.IR was in Group Basal BR. Homology matrix of KHo.IR and 29 gene bank isolates showed that the closest gene bank isolate was from Italy with 93.6% homologies and the furthest isolate was from Canada with 87.6% homologies. According to the results, Goldbachia laevigata serves as a reservoir plant of TuMV in saffron fields. This is the first survey of TuMV on weeds of Iranian saffron fields.
Turnip mosaic virus is member of family Potyviridae, genus Potyvirus, have the widest host range in potyviruses. Weeds are reservoir plants of viruses and have an important role in epidemiology of viruses. In order to identify the wild hosts of TuMV in saffron fields, 44 samples were collected during April 2017 from Ghaen, Ferdows, sarayan and Birjand of South Khorasan provinces, TuMV were detected by ELISA and RT-PCR, then positive sample were sequenced and analyzed by phylogenetic software. Among 44 samples of weeds, Goldbachia laevigata was positive in ELISA and this isolate (KHo.IR) was amplified 864 bp of Coat protein gene using RT-PCR. In phylogenetic tree of KHo.IR and 29 isolates of gene bank, 4 groups were formed that KHo.IR was in Group Basal BR. Homology matrix of KHo.IR and 29 gene bank isolates showed that the closest gene bank isolate was from Italy with 93.6 % homologies and the furthest isolate was from Canada with 87.6 % homologies. According of the results of this study, : Goldbachia laevigata serves as a reservoir plant of TuMV in saffron fields. This is the first survey of TuMV on weeds of Saffron fields of Iran.

Nutrient management and mother corm weight are the most important factors in relation to quantitative and qualitative characteristics of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). In order to investigate the effects of municipal waste compost levels and maternal corm weights on yield and vegetative characteristics of saffron, an experiment was conducted as factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Agricultural Research Station, University of Birjand during growing season of 2015. Treatments were 4 levels of municipal waste compost (0, 5, 10 and 20 t.ha-1) and three levels of maternal corm weight (0.1-4, 4.1-8 and 8.1-12 g). Traits including flower numbers, flower yield and flower dry weight, flower number, leaf length and leaf dry weight and photosynthetic pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence. Flower fresh weight and stigma dry weight was influenced by municipal waste compost. The highest stigma dry weight was obtained in plants treated with 20 t.ha-1 municipal waste compost, but there was not significant difference with 10 t.ha-1 and the lowest observed in treatment control. Results showed that municipal waste compost improved the leaf growth indices (length, fresh weight and dry weight of leaf) and photosynthetic pigments (chl a, chl b, total chl and Carotenoid). The highest length, fresh weight and dry weight of leaf andphotosynthetic pigments (chl a, chl b, total chl and carotenoid) were obtained in plants treated with 5 and 10 t.ha-1 municipal waste compost respectively. So, corm weight had a significant effect on the leaf growth indices (number and photosynthetic pigments leaf) and yield of flower. Interaction effects of municipal waste compost and corm weight have a significant effect on the weight of fresh flower, chlorophyll (a, b and total) and carotenoid. Thus, results showed that municipal waste compost (10 t.ha-1) and corm weight (8.1-12 g) have strong impact on quantitative and photosynthetic pigments characteristics of saffron under field conditions.
The nutrient managment and mother corm size are the most important factors in relation of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). In order to investigate the effects of different levels of municipal waste compost and different maternal corm weight on yield and vegetative characteristics of saffron, an experiment was conducted as factorial based on a complete randomized block design with three replications and 12 treatments at the Agricultural Research Station, University of Birjand during growing season of 2015. Treatments were 4 levels of municipal waste compost (0, 5, 10 and 20 t.ha-1) and 3 levels of maternal corm weight (0.1- 4, 4.1- 8 and 8.1- 12 g). Flower fresh weight was influenced by municipal waste compost treatments. Results showed that municipal waste compost improved the leaf growth indices (lenght, fresh weight and dry weight of leaf) and photosynthetic pigments (chl a, chl b, total chl and cartenoid). The highest lenght, fresh weight and dry weight of leaf and and photosynthetic pigments (chl a, chl b, total chl and cartenoid) were obtained in plants treated with 5 and 10 t. ha-1 municipal waste compost respectivitly. So, corm weight had a significant effect on the leaf growth indices (number and photosynthetic pigments leaf ) and yield of flower. Interactive effects of municipal waste compost and corm weight have a significant effect on the weight of fresh flower, chlorophyll (a, b and total) and cartenoid. Thus, results showed that compost and corm weight have strong impact on saffron.

Weather, whether in terms of averages or events, is an important determinant of yields. Extreme weather events, already a significant challenge for crop producers, are predicted to increase under future. Extreme weather events are expected to increase worldwide, therefore, anticipating and calculating their effects on crop yields is important for topics ranging from food security to the economic viability of products. During recent years, monitoring of saffron has revealed that in spite of increase in Iranian cultivated areas in Iran. Its yield per unit area has decreased. Due to its importance and determinant that it is highly dependent on meteorological events, recognition and evaluation of extreme events and their influences on saffron yield can lead to a better utilization and management planning. To evaluate the extreme climate indices trend (during 1991-2015), 38 indices of rainfall and temperature that defined by the CCl/CLIVAR/JCOMM team were used. Afterward, using the stepwise regression analysis, the effects of weather extreme events were evaluated. Then, by selecting the best indices, saffron yield model was proposed. Analysis of indices demonstrate the trends of region warming and precipitation decrement. From the results of this study, it could be concluded that the incremental trend of warming extreme indices coupled with the negative trend of precipitation are the most significant factors in decrease of saffron yield.

To identify the strategies for enhancing the performance and development of saffron cultivation in arid and desert areas, an experiment was carried out as a split plot based on RCBD with three replications. Three levels of irrigation including 50%, 75% and 100% of total water requirements were applied to the main plots whereas 7 levels of a type of water superabsorbent which consisted of the control (no use of superabsorbent), three levels of uniform distribution of superabsorbent in 10, 30 and 50 grams per square meter before planting and three distribution levels of superabsorbent with the same amounts were applied to the sub plots. Results showed that as the irrigation volume increases, flower number, flower fresh weight, stigma dry weight, corms total weight, the biggest corm weight and corm number also increases, while the electrolyte leakage decreases. leaf length is gradually affected by irrigation 60 days after the start to become
To identify the strategies for enhancing the yield and development of saffron cultivation in arid and semi- arid areas, an experiment was carried out as split plot layout based on a RCBD with three replications in Charkhab village around the Yazd city during 2013-2014. Three irrigation levels including 50, 75 and 100% of water requirements were applied to the main plots whereas 7 levels of super-absorbent polymer which consisted of control (without super-absorbent polymer), three levels of uniform distribution of super-absorbent polymer in 10, 30 and 50 g.m-2 before planting time and three row distribution levels of super-absorbent polymer with the same rates under rows were applied to the sub plots. Results showed whereas the irrigation volume were significantly increased, flower number, flower fresh weight, stigma dry weight, corms total weight, the biggest corm weight and corm number increased, while the electrolyte leakage in leaf was decreased. Leaf length was gradually affected by irrigation 60 days after the start to become green. In addition, the application of super-absorbent polymer had behavior similar to irrigation and in most cases the application of 30 to 50 rf g of superabsorbent which were uniformly distributed over the ground surface and the use of 10 g of super-absorbent polymer in row cultivation had better effects. In some cases, 50 g super-absorbent polymer in rows had a negative effect on the measured features. Also, there is an interaction between irrigation and super-absorbent polymer. Therefore, this suggested that the damages caused by water deficit in saffron fields in arid and semi-arid areas can be reduced by using super-absorbent polymer.
. In addition, the use of superabsorbent has shown behavior similar to irrigation treatments and in most cases the use of 30 to 50 grams of superabsorbent which were distributed uniformly over the ground surface and the use of 10 grams of superabsorbent in row cultivation showed better results compared to the control and other treatments. In some cases, application of 50 grams of superabsorbent in the rows had a negative effect on the measured features. data analysis also showed that in some cases there is an interaction between irrigation and superabsorbent consumption. Therefore, this suggests that the damages caused by water deficit in saffron fields cultivated in arid areas can be reduced by using superabsorbent.

In order to study effects of moisture stress on saffron flowering, yield and quality this research was conducted in 2012 and 2013 at the Experimental Farm of Research Station of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Gonabad county. This experiment was arranged as RCBD with five treatments(70% field capacity,60% FC,50% FC,C1 and C2) and four replicates. Quantitative traits under study included no. of flowers, fresh weight of flowers, dry weight of stigma, no. of sister corms at the end of experiment, corm weights at the end of experiment, amount of corm covering and dry weight of leaves and qualitative traits were picrocrocin, crocin and safranal. Results showed that by increasing moisture stress, quantitative traits of saffron decreased and its qualitative indices increased. By increasing moisture stress rate of quantitative traits decreased that has been repeatedly reported in other crops. On the other hand, rise of moisture stress is along with accumulation of plant ingredients and it emphasizes on negative correlation between quantitative and qualitative traits and corm no. and weight have decreased by increasing moisture stress. Flower no./m2 in FC 70% was higher than other treatments. Dry weight of saffron that is economical saffron was also higher than other treatments in FC 70% that it has shown a significant difference with the treatment of four times of irrigation. In the treatment 70% most traits showed superiority relative to other treatments but was not significant and as four times of irrigation is more logical it is recommended to saffron farmers. Four times of irrigation is the local tradition from the past that is supplemented with a further irrigation in mid-summer that has beneficial effects on saffron yield.