YIELD AND QUALITY OF RED STIGMAS FROM DIFFERENT SAFFRON STRAINS AT CONTRASTING MEDITERRANEAN SITES

Three different saffron strains (Crocus sativus, C. sativus var. ‘cashmerianus’ and C. cartwrightianus) were tested for two years in field experiments to study their red stigma yield and quality. The experiments were performed at a high-elevation (rainfed or irrigated) site and a coastal site in Leb...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental agriculture 2006-10, Vol.42 (4), p.399-409
Main Authors: YAU, S. K., NIMAH, M., TOUFEILI, I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
altitude
Biological and medical sciences
bitterness
color
Crocus
Crocus cartwrightianus
Crocus sativus
Crop science
crop yield
cultivars
Elevation
environmental factors
field experimentation
Field tests
flowers
Flowers & plants
food quality
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General agronomy. Plant production
Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development
Genetics and breeding of economic plants
genotype-environment interaction
irrigation
Mediterranean climate
odors
saffron
stigma
strains
Varietal selection. Specialized plant breeding, plant breeding aims
weather
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Summary:Three different saffron strains (Crocus sativus, C. sativus var. ‘cashmerianus’ and C. cartwrightianus) were tested for two years in field experiments to study their red stigma yield and quality. The experiments were performed at a high-elevation (rainfed or irrigated) site and a coastal site in Lebanon. On average, the two C. sativus strains gave more flowers and stigma yield than C. cartwrightianus. The former was more productive in the more favourable environments, especially at the warmer coastal site, than the latter. C. sativus ‘cashmerianus’, which yielded better at the coastal site in 2004 and gave a stronger colour strength and aroma, appeared to be the better choice for the area. Mean yield at the coastal site was twice that at the non-irrigated high-elevation site. On average, saffron produced at the coastal site had more colouring strength and bitterness than that produced at the high-elevation site. Nevertheless, viable commercial saffron production may still be possible in the semi-arid, high-elevation Bekaa Valley if irrigation can be provided.
ISSN:0014-4797
1469-4441
DOI:10.1017/S0014479706003632