Study of Secondary Metabolites and Morphophysiological Characters of Saffron under Poly ethylene glycol Elicitor

Saffron is the most perennial plant species considered as valuable medicinal and aromatic plant worldwide. Dried stigmas (saffron) of Crocus sativus is commonly used as a flavor, food coloring and a drug and comprises several beta carotenes including a yellow pigment Crocins, a bitter-tasting substance Picrocrocin and a good perfume Safranal which not only exerts a hypoglycemic effect but also expressions antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. this study evaluated the effect of PEG 6000 on some secondary metabolite content and morphophysiological traits. The results showed that the highest and lowest levels of proline, relative water content, hydrogen peroxide and chlorophyll a, b and total pigments were obtained in 12% polyethylene glycol treatment and control treatment, respectively. The highest content of Crocins, Picrocrocin and Crocetin were obtained using PEG 12% by 29.04%,24.17% and 0.04% respectively. The highest and lowest IC50 inhibitory potency was observed in 12% polyethylene glycol and control treatments, respectively. The optimum enzyme activity (unit/mg) of superoxide dismutase, catalase and Ascorbate peroxidase were also triggered by the application of PEG 12%. The results of the present study showed that the application of polyethylene glycol elicitor improves the content of important secondary metabolites and morphophysiological characteristics of saffron plant and this solution can be suggested to increase the economic productivity of saffron.