Criteria for production of standard pathogen-free saffron corms

Sustainable development of saffron production as one of the major and strategic goals of Iranian agriculture requires a well-defined and organized plan. Over the past half century saffron cultivation has increased 34-fold in Iran, more than any other crop. But the average yield did not follow this development and is reducing with slight negative slope; so, the average saffron production in Iran has reduced from 5.76 kg/ha in 1973 to 3.42 kg/ha in 2017. It is also estimated that there is a 90-70% yield gap in Iranian saffron farms. Saffron pests and diseases such as saffron mite (Rhizoglyphus robini), saffron corm rot, saffron dry rot (Burkholderia gladioli) and saffron viral diseases are also responsible for quantitative and qualitative reduction of saffron yields in farms. Saffron is propagated by its daughter corms, so increasing the yield of saffron is directly related to the quality of mother corm seed. This paper describes the criteria’s needs to generate and certify prebasic, mother corm and seed corm classes of saffron for standard saffron corm schedule. Production of standard pathogen-free seed corms as the only means of saffron propagation in nature is a prerequisite for any planning to increase saffron yield. Undoubtedly, application of standard free pathogen corms along with other ecological and physiological indices of saffron plant will increase yield and improve Sustainable development indicators.