The Influence of Spermidine and Biofertilizer Application on the Growth, Yield and Some Active Constituents of Saffron Plant (Crocus sativus L.)

Abstract

A Filed experiment was conducted during the growing season of 2012-2013 to study the effect   of spraying spermidine at concentrations (0, 50 and 100 mg.L^-1) and Biofertilizer applications at levels  (0, 125 and 250 kg.ha^-1) and their interactions on (growth plant height, number of leaves , fresh and dry weight of herb, number of flowers and flowers fresh weight), yield (stigmas fresh and dry weight, stigmas yield, number of corms, corms weight and corms yield) and some active constituents (crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal) of saffron plant Crocus sativus L.. The treatments were distributed in a factorial experiment conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. The means were compared by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (P?0.05).Both the spermidine and the biofertilizer improved plant growth and yield parameters. Biofertilizer was more effective than spermidine. The concentrations of spermidine at 100 mg.l^-1 and biofertilizer level at 250 kg.h^-1 strongly affect growth and yield properties. Consequently, the active constituents of stigmas were increased (P?0.05). Active constituent’s content of stigmas was significantly improved by spermidine at 100 mg.l^-1×biofertilizer at 250 kg.h^-1. Biofertilizer was more effective than spermidine in increasing safranal content compared with crocin and picrocrocin.

Keywords: Saffron, Spermidine, Biofertilizer