Effects of Mother Corm Weights and Nutrients Solution and Methionine Concentrations on Emergence Rate of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

To evaluate the effect of nutrient elements, methionine amino acid and corm weight on the emergence of saffron, an experiment was conducted as a randomized complete block design in two years (2014-2015) in Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. Treatments were consisted of mineral nutrients in form of liquid fertilizer at four concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40 ml/L), Methionine amino acid at four concentrations (10, 20, 30, 40 g/L), distilled water, control treatment without water, corm weight at two weights small (3-5 gram) and large (7-9 gram). All corms were immersed 48 hours in nutrients or methionine (except control treatment) before planting. To study emergence percentage, a simulated exponential model or monomolecular model was used. The results of this study showed that emergence has increased in the second year compared to the first year that can be due to more compatibility by environmental conditions. In first-year of emergence, the process was parabolic shape, while the trend was linear in the second year. Emergence trend in large corms treatments was better and more productive than other treatments. In this study, the use of 10 gram per liter of methionine on big corms could increase emergence percentage in Saffron. .