Evaluation of planting date and corm weight effects on flower, stigma and doughter corms characters of saffron(Crocus sativus L.) under South Kerman climatic conditions

In order to investigate planting date and corm weight Effects on flower characters and saffron(Crocus sativus L.) yield, an experiment as a factorial was carried out based on randomized complete blocks design with three replications in research station of South Kerman Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center at Sfadagheh during 2017-2018 growing season Two factors, planting date (Jun, August and September) and corm size (6-8, 8-10, 10-12 and >12g) were evaluated in this experiment. Related traits with flower and Stigma and cormwere measured during growing season. Results showed that planting date have significant effect on all of traits except of dry weight of stigma. Also, the effects of corm weight and interaction of planting date×corm weight were significant on all of traits. So, the highest number of flower and the stigma yield were observed in the planting date of June and the corm weight more than 12 g. Therefore, for achieving high saffron yield, it is recommended planting date of June and the use of corms with more than12 g. Investigating the characteristics of the doughtercorms in the first year of the experiment showed that all studied traits were influenced by the planting date and the effect of the corm weight was not significant on the characteristics of the number of doughter corm over 6 g, the average weight of the doughter corm more and less than 6 g. According to the results of the traits related to the doughter corm, it can be anticipated that in the following year there is no difference in yield and its components among the different levels of maternal corm. Results in the second year showed that yield and yield components were only affected by the planting date and the corm weight had the same effect on them. The planting date of June 5th was the highest in the second year. According to the results and low price of saffron in June, in Southern Kerman foothill areas, cultivation of saffron should be done on June 5th. Since in the first year of the experiment, the yield don't achieved even from great mothernal corm, and given the fact that the mother corms of different weights in the second year have the same role in determining the stigma yield, in order to reduce the production costs, the 6 -8 g recommended for cultivation.