Influence of Corm Weight on Early Growth and Leaf Sprouting of Saffron in a Controlled Environment

Abstract

In saffron (Crocus sativus L.), flowering typically occurs before leaf emergence; however, in some cases, leaves may sprout simultaneously with flowering, causing difficulties during flower harvesting. Delaying leaf emergence in the field can therefore improve crop management. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of corm weight on early leaf emergence under controlled conditions. An experiment was conducted in a germinator at 15 °C, the temperature commonly recommended for saffron flower emergence. Corms weighing 2, 5, and 7 g were arranged in a completely randomized design with three replications in the Seed Laboratory of the University of Birjand, Iran. Mediumweight corms (5 g) showed the highest sprouting percentage (93.8%), while small (2 g) and large (7 g) corms exhibited lower sprouting percent of 70.5% and 60%, respectively. Leaf number and length were also greatest in the 5-g corms. The results suggest that small and medium corms, which have limited flowering capacity, sprout leaves earlier and may disrupt the harvest of flowers from larger corms when grown together. These results reflect only the initial growth stage under controlled conditions and cannot be directly generalized to the entire growing season and under field conditions.