Ex Vitro Macropropagation of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Corms

Abstract Triploid saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is an important plant that is traded for its stigmas for use as spice, pharmaceutics, and dye. The stigmas and their extracts have great significance in some oriental religions in South Asia and South-East Asia. It is desirable to increase production of saffron and all related crocus species that have extremely slow rate of multiplication under field conditions to accelerate macropropagation. The study examines methods of saffron multiplication under cultivated conditions, natural conditions, hybridization and seed multiplications, cultivated conditions, and in vitro and ex vitro conditions to accelerate saffron propagation. The explanations and strategies described herein will have positive impacts on future designing and breeding for better production of saffron corms.