Influence of Gibberellic Acid (GA₃) and Zinc on Growth Dynamics and Yield of Saffron (Crocus Sativus L.) : Under the Agro-Climatic Conditions of District Bajaur

Aziz Ullah; Zubair Shah; Hammad; Muhammad Tahir; Zakirullah Jan

Influence of Gibberellic Acid (GA₃) and Zinc on Growth Dynamics and Yield of Saffron (Crocus Sativus L.)

Under the Agro-Climatic Conditions of District Bajaur

Authors

Aziz Ullah Research Officer, Agriculture Research Sub-Station (MA), District Bajaur, KP, Pakistan
Zubair Shah Department of Botany, Hazara University Mansehra, KP, Pakistan
Hammad Agriculture Research Sub-Station (MA), District Bajaur, KP, Pakistan
Muhammad Tahir Directorate of Agriculture Research (MAs), ARI, Tarnab Peshawar, Pakistan
Zakirullah Jan Agriculture Research Sub-Station (MA), District Bajaur, KP, Pakistan

Keywords:

Saffron, , Corms, , GA₃, , Zn, , Stigma , Flower

Abstract

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the world’s most valuable spice, yet its productivity in Pakistan remains low, largely due to inadequate management of PGRs and micronutrients. Despite their recognized role in enhancing crop performance, limited empirical evidence exists on their impact on saffron in Pakistan. Therefore, the present study evaluated the effects of GA₃ and Zn on the growth and yield attributes of saffron. A field experiment was conducted using GA₃ at 0, 50, 100, and 150 ppm and zinc at 0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6%, with corms immersed in the respective solutions before planting. Recommended spacing (15 cm × 20 cm) was maintained in 1.0×1.0 m² plots. Growth and yield parameters, including number of corms per mother plant, corm weight per mother plant, leaf length plant^-1, total corm weight plot^-1 and number of flowers, were recorded. The highest number of corms per mother plant (5.8), corm weight (55.5 g), leaf length (16 cm), total corm yield (1558.3 g plot⁻¹) and flowers (56) were obtained with GA₃ application at 150 ppm. Similarly, zinc application up to 0.6% improved corm number (8.8), corm weight (52.8 g), leaf length (18 cm), total corm yield (1603.4 g plot⁻¹) and flowers (58). GA₃ × Zn interactions were non-significant. Optimum levels of GA₃ and Zn were 150 ppm and 0.6% respectively, and significantly showed better performance. Further studies with GA₃ concentrations above 150 ppm are recommended to identify the optimal dose for maximizing yield.

References

Akhondzadeh, B. A., Ghoreishi, S. A., Noorbala, A. A., Akhondzadeh, S. H., & Rezazadeh, S. (2008). Petal and stigma of Crocus sativus in the treatment of depression: A pilot double-blind randomized trial. Journal of Medicinal Plants, 7(4), 29–36.

Alloway, B. J. (2008). Zinc in soils and crop nutrition (2nd ed.). International Zinc Association; International Fertilizer Industry Association.

Azizbekova, N. S. H., Milyaeva, E. L., Lobova, N. Y., & Chailakhyan, N. K. H. (1978). Effects of gibberellin and kinetin on the formation of flower organs in saffron crocus. Soviet Plant Physiology, 25, 471–476.

Azizbekova, N. S. H., & Milyaeva, E. L. (1999). Saffron cultivation in Azerbaijan. In Saffron: (Crocus sativus L.) (pp. 63–71). Harwood Academic Publishers.

Azizbekova, N. S., & Milyaeva, E. L. (1982). The effect of gibberellin on the functional activity of dormant saffron buds. Soviet Plant Physiology, 29(6), 895–900.

Behnia, M. R. (1996). Saffron: Botany, cultivation and production. University of Tehran Press.

Broadley, M. R., White, P. J., Hammond, J. P., Zelko, I., & Lux, A. (2007). Zinc in plants. New Phytologist, 173(4), 677–702. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.01996.x.

Cakmak, I. (2008). Zinc deficiency in wheat in Turkey. Plant and Soil, 302(1–2), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-007-9433-4.

Chrungoo, N. K., & Farooq, S. (1989). Influence of GA3 and NAA on certain carbohydrate fractions in corms of saffron crocus (Crocus sativus L.) during development. Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae, 58(2), 237–246.

Dar, M. H., Groach, R., Razvi, S. M., & Singh, N. (2017). Saffron crop (golden crop) in modern sustainable agricultural systems. International Journal of Research in Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, 5, 247–259.

DeJuan, J. A., Córcoles, H. L., Muñoz, R. M., & Picornell, M. R. (2009). Yield and yield components of saffron under different cropping systems. Industrial Crops and Products, 30(2), 212–219.

DeMastro, G., & Ruta, C. (1993). Relation between corm size and saffron (Crocus sativus L.) flowering. International Symposium on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 344, 512–517.

Fageria, N. K., Baligar, V. C., & Clark, R. B. (2002). Effect of zinc and potash on growth and yield of saffron. Advances in Agronomy, 77, 185–268.

Fallahi, H. R., & Mahmoodi, S. (2018). Impact of water availability and fertilization management on saffron (Crocus sativus L.) biomass allocation. Journal of Horticulture and Postharvest Research, 1(2), 131-146.

Hafeez, B., Khanif, Y. M., & Saleem, M. (2013). Role of zinc in plant nutrition: A review. American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 3(2), 374–391.

Harrington, R., Rutter, M., & Fombonne, E. (1996). Developmental pathways in depression: Multiple meanings, antecedents, and endpoints. Development and psychopathology, 8(4), 601-616.

Harrington, J. F., Rappaport, L., & Hood, K. J. (1996). The influence of gibberellins on stem elongation and flowering in endive. Science, 125, 601.

Jhon, A. Q., Paul, T. M., & Siddique, M. M. A. (1997). Nutritional studies in gladiolus: Corm and cormel production. Advances in Plant Sciences, 10(1), 45–49.

Karimmojeni, H., Rezaei, M., Tseng, T. M., & Mastinu, A. (2022). Effects of metribuzin herbicide on some morpho-physiological characteristics of two Echinacea species. Horticulturae, 8(2), 169.

Koocheki, A., Seyyedi, S. M., & Nassiri Mahallati, M. (2013). Effect of corm size and plant density on saffron (Crocus sativus L.) yield and yield components. Industrial Crops and Products, 42, 454–460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.06.036.

Kumar, R., Singh, V., & Singh, M. (2009). Saffron (Crocus sativus L.)—A unique agronomic crop. Indian Journal of Agronomy, 54(3), 239–248.

Mandal, B., Hazra, G. C., & Mandal, L. N. (2000). Soil management influences on zinc desorption for rice and maize nutrition. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 64(5), 1699–1705.

Mollafilabi, A. (2004). Experimental findings of production and ecophysiological aspects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). Acta Horticulturae, 650, 195–200. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2004.650.30.

Naservafaei, S., Sohrabi, Y., Moradi, P., Sweeney, E. M., & Mastinu, A. (2021). Biological response of Lallemantia iberica to brassinolide treatment under different watering conditions. Plants, 10, 496.]

Noryan, M., Hervan, I. M., Sabouri, H., Kojouri, F. D., & Mastinu, A. (2021). Drought resistance loci in recombinant lines of Iranian Oryza sativa L. in the germination stage. BioTech, 10(4), 26.

Omidbaigi, R. (2005). Effect of corm weight on quality of saffron (Crocus sativus Linn.). Natural Product Radiance, 4, 193–194.

Rad, S. V., Valadabadi, S. A. R., Pouryousef, M., Saifzadeh, S., Zakrin, H. R., & Mastinu, A. (2020). Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of Sorghum bicolor L. under intercropping with legumes and different weed control methods. Horticulturae, 6, 78–84.

Renau-Morata, Begoña, et al. "Effect of corm size, water stress and cultivation conditions on photosynthesis and biomass partitioning during the vegetative growth of saffron (Crocus sativus L.)." Industrial Crops and Products 39 (2012): 40-46.

Rengel, Z. (2015). Availability of micronutrients in the rhizosphere and nutrient uptake by plants. In H. Marschner (Ed.), Marschner’s mineral nutrition of higher plants (3rd ed., pp. 347–366). Academic Press.

Roy, C. N., & Sarker, S. (1995). Influence of chemicals on the vase life of gladiolus. In the Sixth International Symposium on Post-Harvest Physiology of Ornamental Plants. Journal of Agriculture, 20(2), 17–22.

Taiz, L., & Zeiger, E. (2015). Plant physiology and development (6th ed.). Sinauer Associates.

Turhan, H., Kahriman, F., Egesel, C. O., & Gul, M. K. (2007). The effects of different growing media on flowering and corm formation of saffron (Crocus sativus L.). African Journal of Biotechnology, 6, 2328–2332.

Yousefi, A. R., Rashidi, S., Moradi, P., & Mastinu, A. (2020). Germination and seedling growth responses of Zygophyllum fabago, Salsola kali L., and Atriplex canescens to PEG-induced drought stress. Environments, 7, 10

Influence of Gibberellic Acid (GA₃) and Zinc on Growth Dynamics and Yield of Saffron (Crocus Sativus L.)