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Functional Plant Science and Biotechnology ©2010 Global Science Books

Looking for Saffron’s (Crocus sativus L.) Parents

Maria Grilli Caiola* • Antonella Canini

Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 1 – 00133 Rome, Italy
Corresponding author: * grilli@[Link]

ABSTRACT
The authors analyze the archeological, historical, botanical, cytological, geographic, molecular and reproductive biology of saffron and
allied species in order to establish its site and parent origin. The authors have studied saffron, Crocus sativus and the diploid species C.
cartwrightianus, C. thomasii, C. hadriaticus and compared them with what was previously known from the literature. When saffron
originated is still open to dispute. It has been widely known since the pre-Hellenic and Hellenic periods, but it is impossible to detect if
was C. sativus or other Crocus species such as C. cartwrightianus. Concerning the site origin the research indicates two possible sites: one
in Greece in the Mediterranean area, the other at East in Turkey-Iran-India. In both areas, records and place names connected with various
species of Crocus constitute an important information source for the presence of saffron. Cytological, DNA, and reproductive studies on
the allied species of C. sativus such as C. cartwrightianus, C. thomasii, C. hadriaticus, indicate a more likely parent of saffron may be C.
cartwrightianus or C. thomasii. Both these species are diploid with a karyotype similar to saffron. In addition, their pollen can fertilize the
egg cell of saffron, giving rise to seeds which are viable, germinate and form new corms. Thus, saffron can originate through fertilization
of a normal reduced egg cell with an unreduced male gamete of the same Crocus species or by crossing between an egg cell and the male
unreduced gamete of another species. The origin of Saffron by allopolyploidy seems more probable considering the recent data on its
karyotype and molecular biology.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Keywords: Crocus cartwrightianus, C. thomasii, C. hadriaticus, progenitor/s of saffron

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................................................... 2
MORPHOLOGY AND SYSTEMATICS OF CROCUS SATIVUS AND ALLIED SPECIES........................................................................ 3
CYTOLOGY AND CYTOGENETICS.......................................................................................................................................................... 5
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION ................................................................................................................................................................. 6
BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR DNA ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................................ 6
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY....................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Vegetative multiplication........................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Sexual reproduction................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Pollination ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9
Compatibility and incompatibility ............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Fruit set, seed set and seed coat microstructure ....................................................................................................................................... 10
CHROMOPLAST STRUCTURE AND PIGMENT COMPOSITION ........................................................................................................ 10
CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 12
REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................................................................. 12
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION nology held respectively in Spain (2003), in Iran (2006), in

Greece (2009). The research presented and discussed in
Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae) is a small geophyte, cultivated these symposia forms a basis for the guidelines for the
worldwide and known as a source of the spice saffron that management of saffron plant and for amelioration prog-
is used for cooking, staining, medicine, cosmetics and some rammes based on vegetative or crossing reproduction. The
other purposes. Saffron is obtained from the dried stigmas increase in grown saffron is related to the possibility of
of flowers and marketed as saffron filaments or as powder obtaining higher yields per hectare and the high quality of
from milled stigmas. It is the most expensive spice. Saffron commercial saffron. The solution to these two problems
cultivation areas as well as the produced amount have needs genetic amelioration of the plant, the amelioration of
decreased worldwide, particularly last century, due to high cultivation practices, as well as controlled conditions during
costs for the production of the spice. By contrast the use of the preparation, storage and marketing of the spice. Suc-
and demand for saffron have increased in recent years due cessful experiments based on the clonal selection of the
to the promotion of new products containing saffron and to more productive corms of saffron (Agayev et al. 2009) have
improvement in the spice’s quality and its conditions of recently been carried out. Extensive labour will result in
cultivation (Winterhalter and Straubinger 2000; Fernández higher yield production in future years with the conse-
2004, 2007). quence that saffron growth and production will increase.
The interest in saffron studies and application has been The genetic amelioration of saffron by crossing requires
reported in three symposia on Saffron Biology and Tech- knowledge of the original species or wild relatives as well

Received: 24 March, 2010. Accepted: 15 May, 2010.

Invited Review
 Functional Plant Science and Biotechnology 4 (Special Issue 2), 1-14 ©2010 Global Science Books

as of the ways and site of origin of the cultivated plant.

Many studies have been dedicated to solving this puzzle
although with disputed results, the exact parents of saffron
remaining an open question.
Most of these studies centre round the question as to
whether saffron is a true species or whether it should be
considered a triploid mutation derived from a wild species
by autotriploidy (Chichiriccò 1984; Mathew 1982, 1999;
Negbi and Negbi 2002). According to Negbi and Negbi
(2002) saffron parent should be C. cartwrigtianus and the
Aegean islands site origin where this species occurs and is
still used today by inhabitants. Alternatively it is the result
of allotriploidy obtained by crossing process between two
wild species (Feinbrun 1958; Brighton 1977; Agayev 2002;
Castillo et al. 2005). In the first case research is engaged in
detecting the living or remote wild saffron progenitor. Alter-
natively we may have to search for more than one possible
progenitor (Grilli Caiola 2006). In all these cases we have
to establish the possible site of origin of the progenitor by
comparing saffron to species which are genetically and
geographically close to Crocus sativus. Such work needs
the cooperation of many disciplines such as archeology,
classic literature, botany, cytology, genetics, phytogeog-
raphy, biochemistry, molecular biology. Fig. 1 Gatherers of Crocuses on Wall paintings from Xeste 3 building,
Thanks to the work produced in various saffron- Akrotiri, Thera. With kind permission from the Thera Foundation –
growing countries, a large amount of information has been Petros M. Nomikos.
accumulated on saffron biology and cultivation. Here we
will review these studies on saffron parentage and origin by
considering studies on archaeological and historical records used in ritual ceremonies in the pre-Hellenic and Hellenic
as well those on cytological, systematics, geographic distri- ages, in medicine (Forsyth 2000; Ferrence and Bendersky
bution and utilization of saffron and allied Crocus species. 2004) and as fine dye (Sarpaki 2000). Interesting is the
contribution by Sarpaki (2000) on the way of collecting,
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND preparing and using wild C. cartwrightianus in Thera in the
past. They are similar to those adopted today in the same
The archaeological and historical records are important for Island. In addiction any other Crocus was grown during
establishing the presence of saffron in a area as well for Minoan and Cycladean era. Miniature frescos of the seven-
tracking its spread elsewhere and, finally, for arriving at a teenth century B.C. representing saffron flowers were found
conclusion about the possible progenitor of saffron present in Syria-Palestina, suggesting that this plant was known and
in the same areas. used in the Near East (Niemeier and Niemeier 2000).
The presence of saffron is very ancient in the Mediter- Saffron-based pigments have been found in 50,000
ranean area as is testified by records, pictures, written year-old depiction of prehistoric beasts in the region that
throughout the region. now is Iraq. Later Sumerians used wild growing saffron in
Saffron is a very charm fascinating plant, the long his- their remedies and magical potions (Willard 2001). Ancient
tory of which fluctuates between myth, legend and history. Persian cultivated Persian saffron C. sativus hausknechtii in
According to the mythology Krokos was a beautiful boy in Derbena, Khorasan by the Xth century B.C.
love with the nymph Smilax. At least until Hera, out of Toponimy suggests the presence of saffron in sites such
jealousy, transformed Krokos into the flower Crocus and as Krocos at Kozani in Greece and in Safranbolu (Turkey),
Smilax into the climbing plant Smilax (Cattabiani 1996). the town chosen as a World Heritage City by United
According to a legend the Greek god Zeus slept on a National Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization
bed of saffron. Another legend relates how Alexander The (UNESCO) in 1994 due to its well-preserved Ottoman
Great, during the campaign to the East, when he reached houses and architecture. This is a site where saffron is grown
Kashmir, settled his army on a plain. The following mor- and every year around the city the Festival of Harvest
ning he saw an ocean of violet flowers around his tents and Saffron is celebrated. Another site is the unknown town
under the hooves of his horses. The flowers could only have Azupirano, “The City of Saffron”, on the banks of river
been saffron (Aucante 2000). Euphrates, Iran. It is the city where Sargon, founder of
Archaeological studies carried out on Crete, Cyclads Akkadian Empire, is born about 2300 BC. By 1000 B.C.
Islands, and mainland Greece have revealed the presence of saffron was being widely used in Iran where it was a
saffron in all these areas. Crocus was known in the Minoan symbol of love and luxury (Basker and Negbi 1983). In the
period in Crete three thousand years ago. On the wall of the 4th century B.C. a main cultivation area of saffron was
Minos Palace, at Knossos (Crete), (1700-1600 B.C.) are Corycos in Cilicia, the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. It is
frescoes depicting crocus-gatherers. Crocus flowers are also probable that the name of Corycos derives from Crocus.
observable on the skirts and belts of small statues and other Other toponimy is Saffron-Walden in England.
objects found in the same Palace (Chirassi 1968). Over 150 Many Greek, Roman, and Egyptian historians, reported
bossom bowls were widely distributed in both settlements the use of saffron as a precious component to stain cloth, to
and tombs throughout Crete, the Aegean and Byblos and give special colour and taste to food and drink, and for use
Troy. These vessels were more popular during the Neopala- in medical therapy (Basker and Negbi 1983; Tammaro
tial period (1700-1425 BC) and were made of serpentine 1987; Porter 2000). Authors such as Aeskylus (525-456
carved with a decoration of six broad petals. Such a design B.C.), Sophocles (497-406), Hippocrates (460-370), Aristo-
suggests a flower of saffron Crocus commonly depicted in phanes (445-384 B.C), Theophrastus (371-287 B.C),
Cretan wall paintings (Bevan 2007). Other important rec- Plautus (255-184B.C.), Varro (116-27 B.C.), Celsus (14-37
ords are found in the Palace of Akrotiri in Thera (now San- A.C.), Pliny the Elder (23-79 A.C.), Galen (129-200 A.C.),
torini) where frescoes represent young women collecting and Petronius (?-66 A.C.) cited the use of crocus in their
crocuses (Fig. 1) and offering them to a divinity (Douskos works. In “Oedipus at Colonus” Sophocles wrote that “the
1980; Marinatos 1984; Amigues 1988; Nugent 2009). Ar- bodies of Demetra and Core were embellished by a crown
cheologists interpret the depicted flowers as crocus saffron of Narcissus and Crocus”. Aeschylus in “Persea” describes

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 Possible progenitor (s) of saffron. Grilli Caiola and Canini

the Queen invocating her husband King Dario with “shoes phological, flowering period and growing characteristics.
dyed with Crocos”. Plautus (255-184 B.C.) in “Aulularia” The name Saffron was used by Gerarde in 1597, when the
mentions “the dyers of crocos”. first edition of his “The Herball or Generall Histories of
From the above reported information it turns out that Plants” appeared. This Author in the edition of 1636 des-
use of crocus was widespread and perhaps grown in the past. cribed cultivated saffron, C. sativus and other wild spring
Greece is today the homeland of around 40% of the world’s flowering saffron afterwards identified as C. flavus, C.
wild Crocus diversity (Tsoktouridis et al. 2009). It is pos- vernus, C. versicolor, C. nudiflorum.
sible that among the numerous species, saffron also ori- The scientific name of saffron, is due to Linneaus who
ginated. However the word “Crocus,” or “Krocos” does not in 1762 named Crocus sativus var. officinalis, a cultivated
guarantee the identification of the crocus flower with Crocus of Family Iridaceae. The species Crocus sativus L.
saffron, the plant nowadays used and cultivated. In fact it is is now recognized by Mathew (1982, 1999; Frello et al.
possible that other Crocus species could be used for similar 2004). The systematics and taxonomy of C. sativus has
purposes. At Santorini, in the Cyclads Isles (Greece) Crocus been complicated by synonyms appeared in the literature as
cartwrightianus occurs as a wild plant which the local C. sativus var. cashmirianus Royle (1836); C. orsini Parl.
habitants use as saffron. (1858); C. sativus var. orsini (Parl.) Maw (1886). Until to
Theophrastus (Historia plantarum) and Pliny (Naturalis arrive to Paradies (1957) who considered C. thomasii a
Historia) described many types of crocus. Theophrastus geographical subspecies of C. sativus L. Then, Tutin et al.
said “In autumn bloom the crocus, both the scentless moun- (1968) in Flora europaea described the species C. sativus
tain form and the cultivated one (saffron-crocus); for these as C. cartwrightianus, whereas Pignatti (1982) in Flora
bloom directly the first rains come; crocus is reproduced by d’Italia reports C. sativus in C. thomasii Ten. and as C.
roots”. Pliny wrote: “Among the crocum types the wild is medius Balbis.
the best but it is not convenient for growing in Italy in that However, many other Crocus have been found in the
it reduces its growth. Crocum cultivated is larger, and more wild and cultivated for ornamental purposes. This induced
fine but more delicate; it easily degenerates and does not some authors to give a systematic order to the numerous
produce much. The most appreciated crocum is from Cilicia, recognized species and intraspespecific taxa within the Cro-
mainly that from Mount Corico, then that from Licia of cus genus, taking into account the flowering period and the
Mount Olympus, and after that of Sicily. According to some plant’s morphological and geographical features (Herbert
authors second place for saffron quality goes to crocus from 1847; Maw 1886).
Thera”. Varro (De re rustica) suggests “sowing lilium and In the “Crocus” 1982 edition Mathew enumerated 80
crocum” during the period of Pleiads, around October”. species, of which 6 were identified in 1700, 54 in 1800, 20
Similar suggestions occur in “Res Rustica” of Columella in 1900. Recently Petérsen et al. (2008) listed 88 species, 8
(second century A.C). new species being added to the previous ones from 1983 to
From the above reported citations it is possible to 2007. According to Nørbaek et al. (2002) more than 100
deduce that the Mediterranean region is one of the probable cultivars of Crocus are known today, these being selected
sites of saffron origin; another site could being in the East, by means of hybridisation between relatively few species.
in Turkey-Iran- India, where saffron cultivation is reported Probably the list of Crocus species is far from closed and
to be thousands of years old. According to some Authors new taxa will be added in the future.
(Alberini 1990; Winterhalter and Straubinger 2000) saffron Mathew (1982, 1999) distinguished the Crocus genus
originated at first in Iran and Kashmir from where Phoeni- into subgenus Crocus and Crociris. In subgenus Crocus are
cians introduced it to the Greek and Roman world. Later the sections: A) Crocus; B) Nudiscapus. The morphology of
(about 960 A.C.) it was brought by the Arabs and Moors to the corms, tunics, bracts, bracteols, leaves, flowers and
Spain. In effect the term in ancient Greek is “koricos”; the seeds, the flowering period, cytological and ecological fea-
Roman’s used the term “crocum”; by contrast saffron prob- tures have been used by Mathew to divide the Crocus genus
ably originates from the Arabic word Zafaran, zaafar (Ger- into a hierarchy of sub-genus, sections and series and to
arde 1636). The Arabic “safran” is quite similar in various define the species within those infrageneric groupings.
other languages: English, saffron; Italian, zafferano; French, Anthers with extrorse dehiscence characterize the sub-
safran; Spanish, azafran; German, saffran; Russian, shafran; genus Crocus. Scapes subtended by a membranous prophyll,
Turkish, zaferen. This consideration suggests how ancient is enclosed and ridden within the sheathing leaves or cata-
its use worldwide. phylls distinguish the section Crocus. Corm tunics finely
In Europe, the diffusion of saffron was thanks to the fibrous usually reticulatae; flowers autumnal, leaves rather
Arabs who brought it to Spain and other territories such as numerous usually 5-30, appearing with the flowers or
Sicily. In France, it appears during the Crusades at the end shortly after; bracts flaccid, usually not closely sheathing
of the 1300s A. D. In Provence, the major development of the perianth tube membranous, white or transparent with no
saffron occurred in XI and XVII centuries. In Great Britain, markings; anthers yellow; style branches 3, usually and
it was introduced in XIV century from Kashmir and then often expanded at the apex, entire or not at most fimbriatae;
from Tripoli in 1582. It was grown in Saffron-Walden in seed coats covered with a dense mat of papillae. All these
Essex for colouring and medicine, but others sites of saffron features characterize the series Crocus. To series Crocus
cultivation such as Cambridge are reported (Gerarde 1636). belong: C. sativus, C. asumaniae, C. oreocreticus, C. moa-
In Italy, saffron cultivation was introduced between 800 biticus, C. cartwrightianus, C. mathewii, C. hadriaticus, C.
and 900 A.D., at first in Sicily, then in Calabria, Umbria, thomasii and C. naqabensis.
Tuscany and Abruzzo (about 1400 A.D.). Navelli, L’Aquila, C. sativus L. (1762) according to Mathew 1982, 1999,
for many centuries has been the main saffron cultivation (Fig. 2A) is “a geophyte with depressed-globose corms,
centre in Europe, till at least to the 1960s and 70s when the flattened at the base, with fibrous tunics, finely reticolate,
production cost caused a decrease in the plant’s cultivation. extending at the apex of the corm into a neck up 5 cm long
Recently, after appropriate cooperative organization the saf- (Table 1). Cataphylls are membranous, the leaves are usu-
fron grown has increased in Abruzzo and been extended to ally synanthous, erect, green, glabrous or ciliate. Flowers
many other Italian regions including Tuscany, Liguria, are fragrant, deep-lilac purple, with darker veins and a
Umbria, Sicily, Calabria, and Sardinia (Gresta et al. 2007). darker violet stain in the throat which is white or lilac, and
pubescent. Perigonium tube is with segments subequal. Sta-
MORPHOLOGY AND SYSTEMATICS OF CROCUS mens are purplich, glabrous and anthers exceeding at least
SATIVUS AND ALLIED SPECIES half the length of the perianth. Perigonium segments arise at
a point below the base of the anthers in the throat of the
Until Linnaeus saffron was referred to as “cultivated cro- flower. Capsules and seeds have been only rarely reported,
cus”. It was known for its morphology, infertility and uses, saffron being considered a sterile species. It is known only
being distinct from wild crocus mainly on the basis of mor- as a cultivated plant”.

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 Functional Plant Science and Biotechnology 4 (Special Issue 2), 1-14 ©2010 Global Science Books

above the ground level at maturity. It produces seeds (Table

1). It is known wild and cultivated plant”.
C. thomasii Tenore (1826) (Fig. 2C). Description by
Mathew (1982, 1999) is: “depressed globose corms with
fibrous finely reticulated tunics extended at the apex of the
corms into a neck up to 1 cm long. Synanthous leaves, usu-
ally equaling the flower at the anthesis, but sometimes only
the tips showing, are green, glabrous or papillose at the
margins. Fragrant flowers, generally not strongly veined are
darker but sometimes veined or, stained violet towards the
base of the segments; throat pale yellow, pubescent. Perigo-
nium is elliptic, obovate or oblanceolate, acute or obtuse.
Filaments usually pale yellow are glabrous or finely pubes-
cent at the base; anthers yellow. Style divided at a variable
point, usually ranging from just below or level with the base
of the anthers to about a quarter of the way up the anthers,
into 3 bright red branches, half or less than the length of the
perigonium segments, expanded gradually to the apex.
Capsules ellipsoid raised on a pedicel above ground level at
maturity; seeds are globose, with poorly developed raphe
and pointed caruncle (Table 1). It is known wild and cul-
tivated plant”.
C. hadriaticus Herbert (1845) (Herbert 1847) (Fig. 2D).
Description by Mathew (1982, 1999) is: “Corms depressed
– globose with tunics fibrous finely reticulated extended at
the apex of the corm into a short neck. Cataphylls white,
membranous. Leaves are normally synanthous, sometimes
equaling the flower at the anthesis but sometimes very short
and occasionally absent, but then appearing immediately
after the flowers, grey-green, ciliate. Fragrant flowers are
often stained externally brownish, yellowish or violet at the
base of the segments; throat yellow or rarely white, pubes-
cent. Perigonium tube is white, yellow, brownish or violet;
segments equal or the inner slightly smaller, elliptic-oblan-
ceolate, obtuse. Filaments yellow or white, glabrous or
sparsely and minutely pubescent just at the base; anthers,
yellow. Style divided into 3 slender branches, each branch
Fig. 2 Flowers of Crocus (A) C. sativus; (B) C. cartwrightianus; (C) C. slightly shorter than or exceeding the anthers, less than half
thomasii; (D) C. hadriaticus. the length of the perigonium segments, arising at a point
above the throat of the flower. Capsule are ellipsoid and
raised on a pedicel above ground level at maturity; seeds
C. cartwrightianus Herbert (1843) (Herbert 1847), (Fig. are reddish-brown, sub-globose” (Table 1).
2B). Description by Mathew (1982, 1999) is: “depressed- C. moabiticus Bornmüller & Dinsmore ex Bornmüller
globose corms, with tunics fibrous, are finely reticulated, (1912) (Kerndorff 1988). Description by Mathew (1982,
extended at the apex of the corms. Fragrant flowers are 1999) is: “corms sub-globose with fibrous tunics parallel at
strongly veined darker, sometimes stained darker at the base the base and weakly reticulate at the apex extending into a
of the segments and on the tube, sometimes pure white with neck. Cataphylls are white, membranous. Leaves are usu-
no veining in the albinois. Throat white or lilac, pubescent. ally present but short at flowering time, grey-green, sparsely
Perigonium tube is oblanceolate or obovate. Stamens are papillose on the margin of the keel. Flowers are fragrant,
glabrous or slightly papillose at the base and anthers are veined purple to varying degrees on all six segments on a
yellow. Style is equaling or exceeding the anthers and at white ground colour, sometimes so heavily as to appear
least half the length of the perigonium segments, arising at a purple, sometimes stained darker at the base of the seg-
point well below the base of the anthers and usually in the ments and on the tube; throat white or purple, pubescent.
throat of the flower. Ellipsoid capsule raised on a pedicel Perigonium tube white or purple; segments sub-equal,

Table 1 Features of Crocus sativus and allied species.

Csa Ccb Ctc Chd Cme Cof Cag Cmah
corm (mm) 50 ± 1.0 12 ± 2.0 10 ± 2.0 12 ± 4.0 23 ± 8.0 12 ± 2.0 12 ± 2.0 16 ± 1.0
neck (mm) 50 ± 1.2 27 ± 3.0 15 ± 3.0 8.0 ± 1.0 70 ± 10 - 12 ± 1.0 19 ± 2.0
leaves (number) 8.0 ± 1.0 9.0 ± 1.0 8.0 ± 2.0 7.0 ± 2.0 19 ± 6.0 12 ± 2.0 5.0 ± 1.0 7.0 ± 1.0
flowers (number) 3.0 ± 1.0 3.0 ± 0.5 2.0 ± 1.0 2.0 ± 1.0 5.0 ± 2.0 2.0 ± 1.0 2.0 ± 1.0 2.0 ± 0.5
perigonium l. (cm) 4.0 ± 1.0 3.0 ±1.0 4.0 ± 2.0 6.0 ± 3.0 4.0 ± 2.0 4.5 ± 1.0 6.0 ± 0.5 7.0 ± 1.0
p. segments l. (cm) 4.0 ± 1.0 1.4 ± 0.5 2.0 ± 1.0 2.0 ± 1.0 1.5 ± 1.0 1.4 ± 1.0 2.5 ± 1.0 x 1.9 ± 1.0 x
x 1.5 ± 1.0 x 3.2 ± 1.0 x 4.5 ± 2.0 x 4.5 ± 1.0 x 3.2 ± 2.0 x 3.3 ± 0.5 3.0 ± 1.0 3.0 ± 1.0
stamens: filaments length (mm) 1.0 ± 0.5 5.0 ± 1.0 6.0 ± 2.0 7.0 ± 4.0 2.5 ± 2.0 6.0 ± 2.0 4.0 ± 1.0 3.5 ± 1.0
stamens: anthers length (mm) 20 ± 5.0 10 ± 1.0 12 ± 2.0 9.0 ± 2.0 13 ± 4.0 13 ± 2.0 15 ± 3.0 11± 1.0
stigmas length (mm) 24 ± 2.0 16 ± 5.0 13 ± 2.0 13 ± 3.0 18 ± 7.0 17 ± 3.0 16 ± 2.0 -
capsule length (cm) 1.90 ± 1.0 2.0 ± 1.0 1.5 ± 0.5 1.5 ± 0.5 1.5 ± 1.0 1.5 ± 2.0 1.9 ± 1.0 2.0 ± 0.5
x 1.40 ± 0.2 x 1.2 ± 1.0 x 0.6 ± 0.2 x 0.7 ± 0.1 x 2.5 ± 1.0 x 7.0 ± 0.5
pedicel length 4.0 ± 1.0 4.0 ±1.0 3.5 ± 2.0 4.0 ± 1.0 very short at ground level n.d. short
seed diameter (mm) 4.4 ± 0.2 3.4 ± 1.0 3.0 ± 1.0 2.0 ± 1.0 3.5 ± 1.0 3.0 ± 2.0 2.5 ± 1.0 4.0 ± 1.0
x 3.2 ± 0.6 x 2.3 ± 0.5 x 1.8 ± 1.0 x 3.0 ± 2.0 x 3.0 ± 1.0
flowering Oct-Nov Oct-Dec Oct-Nov Sept-Nov Nov-Dec Oct-Dec Oct-Nov Oct-Nov
a
Crocus sativus; bC. cartwrightianus; cC. thomasii; dC. hadriaticus; e C. moabiticus; f C. oreocreticus; gC. asumaniae; hC. mathewii.; n.d.= not detected

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 Possible progenitor (s) of saffron. Grilli Caiola and Canini

narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate or obovate, acute to obtuse. sativus. Section of C. cartwrightianus. The comparison of
Filaments are white ageing to purple, glabrous; anthers are the autumnal flowering Crocus spp. indicates a strong simi-
yellow. Style divided into 3 deep red clavate branches, larity of C. sativus to C. thomasii and C. cartwrightianus
equaling to/or much exceeding the anthers and at least half (Table 1). Their morphology and dimensions are smaller
the length perigonium segments, arising at a point well than in triploid C. sativus. However comparison of the
below the base of the anthers in the throat of the flower. species on the basis of morphological characters does not
Capsule are ellipsoid, carried on a very short pedicel at allow a precise distinction of the taxa. In polyploids in fact
maturity, sometimes not exceeding the ground level; seeds each member of a gene pair do not contributes equally to
dark brown, irregularly sub globose” (Table 1). expression level in the new phenotype (Osborn et al. 2003;
Crocus oreocreticus B. L. Burtt (1949) (Burtt 1948). Otto 2003). And the analysis of flower pigment composition
Description by Mathew (1982, 1999) is: “corms are ovoid, of Crocus spp. and cultivars used as chemotaxonomy (Nør-
depressed-globose with fibrous tunic finely reticulated. baek et al. 2002) generally supports the classifications of
Cataphylls are membranous. Leaves, subhysteranthous or Mathew.
synanthous but if absent at anthesis then developing after
the flowering, are green or slightly grayish and glabrous. CYTOLOGY AND CYTOGENETICS
Flowers are mid-lilac to purple with darker veining, the
external pale silvery or buff coloured throat lilac, glabrous. The first cytological studies aimed at investigating rela-
Perigonium tube, white or lilac; segments sub-equal, oblan- tionships among C. sativus and related wild species date
ceolate, obtuse, the inner usually slightly smaller than the back to 1931 (Table 2). In a list of chromosome number
outer. Filaments, glabrous; anthers yellow. Style divided Sugiura (1931) reported Crocus sativus with 2n=24 chro-
into 3 red thickened branches, and about equaling the tips of mosomes; the same number of 24 somatic chromosomes
the anthers, arising at a point at or just above the throat of was detected by Morinaga and Fukushima (1931), in the
the flower, below the base of the anthers. Capsule oblong, root-tip cells of C. sativus. Subsequently, Mather (1932)
on a short pedicel just above ground level; seeds reddish- found in saffron 2n=15 and 2n=14. Karasawa (1933, 1940)
purple, sub globose” (Table 1). for chromosome number of Crocus including C. sativus and
Crocus pallasii Gold. (1817). It is rather a variable related species, reported 2n=24 for C. sativus which proved
species with pale lilac flowers and rather short, inconspicu- to be autotriploid 2n=3x, x=8. Pathak (1940), Feinbrun
ous style branches, less than half as long as the perigonium (1958), Brighton (1977), Mathew (1977), Chichiriccò
segments. It occurs from the Balkans to Iran and from the (1984), Ghaffari (1986), Ebrahimzadeh et al. (1998) carried
Crimea to S. Jordan. Over this large area, it varies conside- out numerous studies on chromosome number and karyo-
rably, four subspecies being recognized. type of C. sativus and on the allied species chromosome
Crocus asumaniae B. Mathew et al. (1979). Corms are behaviour at meiosis as well as on chromosome morphol-
ovoid with tunic fibrous extending at the apex of the corm ogy and composition. The results of these studies confirmed
into a neck. Cataphylls are membranous. Leaves are hyste- C. sativus as triploid with 2n=3x=24, x=8. A similar basic
ranthous or with the tips just showing at anthesis, slightly genome x=8 but with 2n=16 has been found in C. cart-
greyish-green, glabrous. Flowers are white, occasionally wrightianus, C. thomasii, C. hadriaticus (Table 3). The
with dark veins near the base of the segments, rarely very karyotype construction on the basis of chromosome mor-
pale lilac; throat whitish or pale yellow, glabrous. Perigo- phology and their DNA content made it possible to interpret
nium tube white; segments sub-equal, oblanceolate or the genome structure as that of an autotriploid (Chichiriccò
narrowly elliptic, obtuse to acute, the inner slightly smaller 1984). However, more recent contributions on the chromo-
than the outer. Filaments white or pale yellow, glabrous; some structure of C. sativus accessions from different culti-
anthers yellow. Style divided into reddish-orange clavate vation areas combined with the use of markers and fluoro-
branches, each considerably exceeding the anthers and at chromes to prove the chromosome base composition con-
least half the length of the perigonium segments, arising at a cluded with the hypothesis that saffron may be an allopoly-
point well above the base of the anthers. Capsules are ploid (Agayev 2002; Nørbaek et al. 2002; Fernández 2004).
ellipsoid; seed reddish-purple, subglobose. In addition, Agayev et al. (2010) comparing karyograms
Crocus mathewii Kerndorff and Pasche (1994). Corm structure evidenced differences between C. sativus L.
16-mm in diameter depressed globose, with tunics fibrous “Kashmirianus” 2n=24 and usual C. sativus 2n=24, as-
extended into a neck. Cataphylls are silver-white, membra- suming that the first is a cultivar genetically not identical to
nous. Leaves are hysteranthous dark green, sparsely ciliate. the latter.
Fragrant flowers are white or rarely pale lilac-blue, often All these studies were important in discriminating the
stained deep violet at the base of the segments inside and diploid Crocus species autumnal flowering from the diploid
outside; throat violet, pubescent. Prophyll, bract and brac- spring flowering. To autumnal flowering Crocus are diploid
teole present. Perigonium tube, usually violet in the upper species with genome 2n=16, x=8, as C. cartwrightianus, C.
part, paler to almost white lower down; segments sub-equal, thomasii, C. hadriaticus, C. oreocreticus, C. moabiticus, C.
ovate to obovate, obtuse to slightly acuminate, the inner
slightly smaller than the outer. Filaments, white, glabrous;
anthers, usually clearly exceeding but sometimes equaling
or rarely shorter than the anthers and less than half as long Table 2 Chromosome number in Crocus sativus L.
as the length of the perigonium segments, arising at a point Chromosome References
well above the base of the anthers. Ellipsoid capsule raised 2n = 24 Morinaga and Fukushima 1931
on a short pedicel above ground level at maturity; seeds 2n = 24 Sugiura 1931
purplish-brown, globose. 2n = 14, 15 Mather 1932
C. naqabensis Al-Eisawi and Kisawi (2001). Species 2n = 3x = 24 Karasawa 1940
nova for Jordan Flora (Al-Eisawi 1985, 2001) has features 2n = 3x = 24 Pathak 1940
similar to C. pallasii but its corms have reduced tunics that 2n = 16, 20, 24, 40 Karasawa 1943
do not form a neck. Moreover, flowers have a globous 2n = 20, 22, 28 Pogliani and del Grosso 1971
throat. C. naqabensis is also closely related to the endemic 2n = 3x = 24; x = 8 Mathew 1977, 1999
C. moabiticus and C. cartwrightianus from which it differs 2n = 24 Estilai 1978
for the style branches which are not more than half as long 2n = 3x = 24; x = 8 Chichiriccò 1984
as the perianth segments, for the absence of tunic necks and 2n = 3x = 24; x = 8 Ghaffari 1986
the glabrous throat. 2n = 24 Dhar et al. 1988
According to the above reported systematic criteria C. 2n = 24 Khan 1996
sativus belongs to Family Iridaceae, genus Crocus, sub- 2n = 16, 24 Ebrahimzadeh et al. 1988
genus Crocus, section A, Series Crocus, Series type: Crocus 2n = 3x = 24; x = 8 Agayev 2002

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 Functional Plant Science and Biotechnology 4 (Special Issue 2), 1-14 ©2010 Global Science Books

Table 3 Cytology of the species in Crocus sativus series.

Crocus species Author’s name year Chromosome number Reference
C. asumaniae B. Mathew & T. Baytop 1979 2n = 26 Mathew 1999
C. cartrwrightianus W. Herbert 1843 2n = 16 Brighton 1977
C. hadriaticus W. Herbert 1845 2n = 16 Brighton et al. 1973
C. mathewii H. Kerndorff & E. Pasche 1994 2n = 16 Mathew 1999
C. moabiticus F. Bornmuller & J.E. Dinsmore 1912 2n = 14 Kerndorff 1988
C. naqabensis D. Al-Eisawi 2001 2n = 14 Al-Eisawi 2001
C. oreocreticus B. L. Burtt 1949 2n = 16 Brighton et al. 1973
C. pallasii subsp. pallasii K. L. Goldbach 1817 2n = 14 Mathew 1999
dispataceus E.A. Bowles 1982 2n = 14 Mathew 1999
haussknechtii (E. Boissier & Reut. x Maw) B. Mathew 1977 2n = 16 Jacobsen and Ørgaard 2004
turcicus B. Mathew 1977 2n = 12 Mathew 1999
C. sativus C. Linnaeus 1753 2n = 3x= 24 Agayev 2002
C. thomasii M. Tenore 1826 2n = 16 Brighton et al. 1973

Fig. 3 Geographical distribution of diploid autumnal flowering Crocus species to C. sativus allied.

pallasii var. haussknechtii, C. mathewii, others as C. pal- pallasii has a wide distribution in South Turkey and Nord
lasii with 2n= 12, 14, 16, C. naqabensis with 2n=14, C. Syria, as do the four subspecies; C. asumaniae, Turkey.
asumaniae with 2n=26. Comparison of the karyotypes of Included among the Mediterranean Crocus is also C. mathe-
the allied C. sativus species demonstrated that C. cart- wei, recently identified and distributed in a small region in
wrightianus is one progenitor only in the case of autotrip- southwest Turkey.
loid (Mathew 1982, 1999; Grilli Caiola et al. 2004; Zubor Greece and Turkey (Baytop et al. 1975; Mathew and
et al. 2004; Frizzi et al. 2007), or C. thomasii (Chichiriccò Baytop 1976) are the richest countries with the highest
1984) or more than one species. In the hypothesis of allo- number of Crocus taxa. Among the 80 species listed in
polyploidy e.g. C. cartwrightianus, C. hadriaticus, C. oreo- Mathew (1982) 40% of total Crocus diversity is in Greece
creticus (Jacobsen and Orgaard 2004; Agayev et al. 2010); (Tsokdouridis et al. 2009; Valamoti and Sarpaki 2009). The
or C. thomasii and C. pallasii or C. cartwrightianus and C. other centre rich in Crocus is Turkey whose flora comprises
pallasii (Tammaro 1990) are the candidates as progenitor by 32 Crocus species; 18 of them are endemic while 30 are
cross processes. species cultivated as ornamental plants (Arslan et al. 2007).
Combining the historical records with systematic,
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION cytogenetic and geographic distribution data (species with
2n=16, x=8) it is possible to identify the saffron cited by
Further insights into saffron’s origin arise by comparing the ancient historians as most probably being C. cartwrighti-
geographic distribution of the allied species of C. sativus. anus or C. thomasii or C. hadriaticus.
As shown in Fig. 3 many diploid species of Crocus occur in
the Mediterranea area (Baytop et al. 1975; Burtt 1948; BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR DNA ANALYSIS
Feinbrun and Shimida 1977; Jacobsen and Orgaard 2004;
Kerndorff 1988; Mathew and Baytop 1976; Mathew 1982, The systematics of Crocus genus based on morphological,
1999). Among them are C. thomasii Ten., C. cartwrighti- geographical, cytological data does not allow a precise
anus Herb., C. hadriaticus Herb., C. oreocreticus B. L. separation of some taxa and phylogenetic relationships.
Burtt, C. pallasii Gold, C. naqabensis Al-Eisawi. C. cart- This is complicated by hybridization and mutation pro-
wrightianus is distributed in south eastern Greece, C. hadri- cesses resulting from different karyotypes obtained in C.
aticus is western Greece; C. oreocreticus is endemic to sativus and other species from different countries. Since
Crete in limestone formations up to 200 m high; C. thomasii 2000, molecular studies have been undertaken both on C.
occurs in Italy and in mountains of the Adriatic coast; C. sativus aggregate and on phylogeny of Crocus genus (Frello

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 Possible progenitor (s) of saffron. Grilli Caiola and Canini

et al. 2004). The above division has undergone revision, by reported in nature (Piccioli 1932; Di Crecchio 1960), des-
means of DNA analysis using the cytofluorimetric method pite the abundant production of sexual reproductive struc-
(Brandizzi and Grilli 1998), and by sequence data from five tures such as pollen and ovules.
plastid regions (Petérsen et al. 2008), Amplified Fragment Saffron has a life cycle characterized by a long summer
Length Polymorphism (AFLP) (Zubor et al. 2004), and break and vegetative activity from autumn to spring. The
Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) plant, after the loss of leaves, survives the summer as an
(Grilli et al. 2004). underground corm. During this period the corm prepares the
Cytofluorimetric analyses of nuclear DNA of different buds that will originate the new leaves and flowers. The
C. sativus accessions, from Italy, Spain, Israel, and Holland leaves sprout from apical buds on a short stem and are em-
have revealed some morphological differences but no dif- bedded by whitish bracts. From other apical buds originate
ferences in DNA content and base composition (Brandizzi the flowers, which are frequently hysterantic or appear just
and Grilli Caiola 1998). In addition triploid content and after the leaves do. At the base of mother corms smaller
DNA quality of C. sativus was compared to that of diploid new corms also occur, creating a new plant which normally
C. cartwrightianus, C. thomasii, C. hadriaticus. The analy- produces only leaves. The number of new leaves, flowers
ses performed by flow cytometry and by zymograms of and daughter corms depend on the dimensions and age of
SOD and peroxidases have indicated that there is a scarse the mother corms, on cultivation methods, and on environ-
intra-specific variability among the analysed species and mental conditions. The number and quality of buds origi-
that C. sativus could originate from cross-phenomena in C. nating leaves, flowers or young corms depends on the
cartwrightianus with another fertile species. Nuclear DNA amount of resources that the mother corm is able to ac-
analyses by RAPD technique on leaves of the above-listed cumulate during the vegetative period. Recent research
C. sativus accessions and diploid Crocus species in plants (Agayev et al. 2009) considers the saffron as a bulk of
grown in the same site and utilizing 21 (10-mer) primers clones accumulated during the millennial cultivation of the
did not identify any genomic redundant differences. No plant by man. The selection of the bigger corms is proposed
differences in corms of saffron from l’Aquila were detected. as a system for improving cultivated saffron (Agayev et al.
DNA polymorphism-based taxonomy with the use of AFLP 2009). Although the selection of the bigger corms is a
method has provided further results to confirm that the common practice carried out by saffron farmers over many
closest relative among the allied of C. sativus is C. cart- countries, a clonal selection of corms with high yield capa-
wrightianus. However C. thomasii also shows similarity to city is a programme with great potential. In fact, the corm
C. sativus and C. cartwrightianus. Thus, the AFLP method after some years of cultivation in the same field does not
proves that out of six species from series Crocus, it was C. produce flowers (Tammaro 1987, 1990). The number of
cartwrightianus and C. thomasii which showed an over flowers depends on various factors including the age of the
70% similarity to C. sativus and to each other. This value corms. Such considerations date back to the law according
suggests that among the members of the Crocus genus, the which, in a plant, the allocation of resources between vege-
closest relationship is between these three species. tative and reproductive phase are correlated. If the plant
Studies by RAPD and microsatellite analysis of DNA in uses more resources in producing flowers, in the following
forty three isolates of C. sativus from 11 different countries years it will have fewer resources for vegetative production
have confirmed that C. sativus accessions result identical such as corm, stem, leaves, flowers, and fruits. More re-
clones at molecular level (Rubio-Moraga et al. 2009). The cently Schnittler et al. (2009) described the bulbils versus
tandemly repeated DNA sequence family (Frello et al. seed production in the liliacean Gagea. These observations
2004), the internal transcribed nuclear ribosomal regions shed light on the very difficult conditions that saffron has to
(ITS1 and ITS2), internal trnH and psbA genes of cpDNA, overcome in surviving as a wild plant in the natural state.
as well as the 5.8S and 16S ribosomal genes (Tsoktouridis Observations on corms left in field for 10 years without
et al. 2009) were all used to investigate the phylogeny of cultivation practices (Grilli Caiola 2005) demonstrated that
the genus Crocus. Frello et al. (2004) have based their the corms decreased their dimensions and flower production
phylogenetic studies on sequences from five plastid regions. over the years. The smaller corms had only one leaf, whilst
They examined 86 of 88 recognized species of Crocus and larger corms had 2-8 leaves. Thus, after ten years without
the analysis of a total of 222 phylogenetically informative cultural intervention, saffron corm loses its vigor and dege-
characters. A clonal origin has recently evidenced by Fluch nerates (Grilli Caiola 2005), giving rise to smaller corms
et al. (2010) showing a same alleles by Iranian and Spanish unable to flower and produce new corms. As far back as
whereas samples from Germany, Austria, Italy and France Herbert (1847) hypothesized that wild saffron disappeared
shared an other allelic combination. Most of these studies as a consequence of changes occurring in its natural habitat.
have been carried out to establish the possible genetic vari-
ations among different C. sativus accessions as well as to Sexual reproduction
establish both the phylogenetic relationships of C. sativus to
other Crocus species of the same group, the autumnal The triploid condition of saffron causes an anomalous
flowering diploid with a base genotype x= 8, similar to that pairing of the chromosomes at the prophase of meiosis, and
of C. sativus. an irregular distribution of chromosomes at methaphase
Results of the DNA studies have revealed small or no with a consequent infertile gametes production (Chichiriccò
differences between C. sativus DNA and that of the allied 1987). However, often in the triploids, pollen and ovules do
species C. cartwrightianus, C. thomasii and C. hadriaticus. not exhibit the same behaviour. Generally infertility in un-
However C. cartwrightianus is considered the most prob- even polyploids is much higher in the pollen when com-
able parent of the triploid C. sativus (Frello et al. 2004). pared to the ovules. This aspect has been studied in saffron
Similar results have been obtained by Frizzi et al. (2007) on and compared to the behaviour of the allied diploid species
analyzing the allozyme differentiation in Crocus species by focusing on the structural organization of the reproduc-
genome. Phylogenetically C. sativus appears closer to C. tive structure as well as on the process of compatibility and
cartwrightianus, although definitive conclusions are lacking. incompatibility among species of the Crocus group.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY a) Microsporogenesis and pollen. Studies on pollen have

demonstrated the high number of anomalous pollen grains
Vegetative multiplication of C. sativus in terms of both grain dimensions and shape.
During meiotic division in saffron many abnormalities
Many studies have been dedicated to the biology of saffron occur which are also commonly found in other triploid spe-
reproduction. Due to its triploidy saffron is usually multi- cies (Chichiriccò 1984). Microspores often display cyto-
plied by means of selected corms. This process is carried plasmic degeneration or cellular deformation; consequently
out by man. Only rarely have seeds in Crocus sativus been they do not complete meiosis or produce anomalous micro-

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 Functional Plant Science and Biotechnology 4 (Special Issue 2), 1-14 ©2010 Global Science Books

Fig. 4 Pollen grains at SEM (A) C. sativus; (B) spinulae on pollen of C.

sativus; (C) C. cartwrightianus; (D) C. thomasii.

spores. Afterwards many spores are aborted or the pollen

grains are of different size and also often malformed (Chi- Fig. 5 Ovary and ovules at LM (A) Ovule in longitudinal section of C.
chiriccò 1987). Observed at SEM (Grilli Caiola et al. 1985; sativus; (B) Ovary with ovules and (D) a single ovule in C. cartwrighti-
Grilli Caiola 1999; Grilli Caiola et al. 2001; Grilli Caiola anus; (C) stigma of C. sativus with autopollen.
2004), saffron pollen is an elliptical shape with variable size
(65-140 μm) and lacking germinative pores or furrows (Fig.
4A). About 40% of pollen grains are anomalously shaped,
collapsed or broken. The exine surface shows many ran- introvarian nectaries. Along the axial region of the locules
domly-disposed spinulae (Fig. 4B) and lipid droplets as are placentae on which the ovules are obliquely attached,
well numerous perforations of varying size and form. two rows of 9 ovules for each locule. Ovules are anatropous
Microsporogenesis and pollen organization in the diploid and bitegmic with a large hypostase. The external integu-
allied species are generally regular and shape and structure ment extends beyond the internal one and forms a narrow
of pollen is similar. Inaperturate pollen is also common in micropilar canal. Megasporogenesis occurs during early
other Crocus species (Grilli Caiola et al. 1993; Grilli Caiola upper sprouting and an embryo sac appears in the ovules of
1994, 1995). young flowers still enveloped by cataphylls, so there are no
By comparing generative cell structure, viability and differences between embryo sacs of young and open
germination in vitro and on stigma (Table 1), it turns out flowers (Grilli Caiola et al. 2001). In C. sativus during
that saffron has a higher percentage of anomalous pollen meiotic division an irregular assortment of chromosomes
grains as well as a lower percentage of viable and germi- was observed and the resulted megaspores were numeric-
nating ones, both in vitro as well in vivo, when compared to ally variable (4-6) and genetically unbalanced. About 90%
the diploid species C. cartwrightianus (Fig. 4C), C. thoma- of ovules developed an embryo sac which is broad and 7-
sii (Fig. 4D) and C. hadriaticus. The percentage of germi- nucleate (Polygonium type) (Fig. 5A). Frequently the
nation pollen in vitro of C. sativus proves to be 20% (Grilli ovules do not reach a fertilizable stage due to unsuccessful
Caiola 2005) higher as opposed to the 10% reported in megasporogenesis or megaspore development. About 12%
Karasawa (1933). Only 0.4% of in vitro germinating pollen of ovules develop a small embryo sac with variable number
grains showed regular pollen tubes, most of the others being of cellular nuclei, often no more than four; around 18% of
accompanied by numerous morphological anomalies such ovules are lacking an embryo sac, and show proliferation of
as forked tube, sister-shaped tube, swelling at their base and nucellar tissue which increases up to the micropyle.
apex, spiraled pollen tubes and thinning at their ends (Grilli Degeneration of the embryo sac is not frequent and in this
Caiola and Chichiriccò 1982). Significant differences were case the embryo sac contains abundant granular material
observed in the viability and germination of pollen col- and sometimes micronuclei also (Chichiriccò 1987). Mega-
lected from flowers at different developmental stages such sporogenesis in C. sativus is similar to that reported in other
as in cataphyllic flowers, young flowers and open flowers Crocus species (Rudall et al. 1984). The embryo sac is 7-
(Grilli Caiola et al. 2001). The highest germination percen- nucleate when mature and contains a substance which stains
tage turned out to be from pollen taken from anthers of red with Poinceau especially during the initial develop-
mature flowers, at the anthesis. mental stages. The ovary of C. cartwrightianus contains
two rows of 9-10 ovules for each locule and the inner inte-
b) Megasporogenesis and embryo sac. At anthesis gynoe- gument is made up of 4-5 layers (Figs. 5B, 5C); C. thomasii
cium of the above considered Crocus species have stigma ovary contains two rows of 12-14 ovules for each locule
of dry type, with papillae covered by a thick continuous and each ovule has an integument 4-5 cell layers thick at the
cuticle. Stigmas are erect until anthesis but as the flower micropyle; C. hadriaticus ovary has 6-9 ovules for each
opens they bend downwards. The style is internally made locule (Grilli Caiola and Chichiriccò 1991; Grilli Caiola et
up of three separate channels, forming a single cavity which al. 2001). In all the three diploid species the megasporoge-
in the main tract is lined with a layer of secretory cells nesis and embryo sac development is regular with a normal
extending to the ovary where the stylar cavity opens into development of a female gametohyte including an egg cell,
three locules, being the ovary tricarpellar and trilocular with synergids, a central cell, and an antipodal apparatus (Chi-

8
 Possible progenitor (s) of saffron. Grilli Caiola and Canini

chiriccò 1989a, 1999; Grilli Caiola et al. 2001). ing out-crossing. However out-crossing is limited by in-
Our recent SEM observations of the ovule surface of C. compatibility between different species. The mechanisms of
sativus, C. cartwrightianus and C. thomasii (unpublished intra- and inter-specific breeding are regulated in different
data) have shown that the ovule has smooth epidermal. In C. ways in different plants. Sometimes structural mechanisms
sativus ovule has dimensions similar to C. cartwrightianus regulate autogamy as in plants with different floral morphs.
but longer and larger than in C. thomasi. In addition in these In other cases self-incompatibility is based on signals at the
two species the ovule surface is formed of larger cells, level of the pro- or postgamic phase. The responsibilities for
swollen or sunken. In C. thomasii (Grilli Caiola, pers. the inhibition of pollen germination or pollen growth inside
comm.) epidermal cells are smaller, with parallel transversal the stigma or style vary according to the group of angio-
walls, and a rather flat surface. sperms. In some cases the cause is the Ca2+ ions, in others
RNAse, and in still others compounds secreted by cells of
Pollination the stylar canal. Inside Crocus genus SI systems have been
investigated in species of the C. sativus group, such as C.
At anthesis the saffron flower shows adhering tepals, closed sativus, C. thomasii, C. cartwrightianus, C. hadriaticus, C.
anthers and initially erect red stigmas. When the flower oreocreticus, the goal being to ascertain the mechanism of
opens the stigmas downland and the anthers dehisce. self-incompatibility (Chichiriccò 1989b, 1996) and estab-
During anthesis the tube of perigonium up to the throat is lish the relationships within the different species of the
filled with a liquid nectar originating from intraovarian group. Overall the results of this research are important for
secretory canals. The secretion rises to the upper part of the verifying the possibility of establishing the genetic compati-
ovary and accumulates inside the perigonium tube during bility of C. sativus with one or more diploid species. In
the night. During the morning, at increasing temperature, addition the analysis of seeds obtained by means of crossing
the tepals separate and expose the style with the stigmas saffron with pollen of diploid allied makes it possible to
downlanding. Our observations from 2000 to 2006 con- compare the possible similarities to or differences from the
firmed that insects visiting the flowers of C. sativus can be maternal plant (Grilli Caiola et al. 2010). Results of these
Bombus sylvestris and Apis mellifera. These pronubes seem experiments have indicated that C. sativus is self-and allo-
to work in various ways according to the environment. sterile (Fig. 5D); C. thomasii is self-incompatible but in
Initially we studied the activity of Bombus in a small area outcrossing produces 86% fertilization and 84.5% seed set;
where Crocus sativus and C. cartwrightianus, C. hadriati- C. cartwrightianus is self-sterile but out-fertile with a high
cus, C. oreocreticus were grown in soil and C. thomasii in percentage of fertilization; C. hadriaticus shows the highest
pots. Usually a Bombus group of ten or more individuals percentage of ovules with embryo sac and 87% fertilisation
appeared at noon of sunny days when the temperature had after outcrossing, but 0% fertilization after self-pollination.
risen, so facilitating the opening of the flowers and the C. oreocreticus has a low percentage of ovules lacking
anthers and the emission of an intense perfume. In these embryo sac and has 70% fertilization in out-cross and 40%
conditions Bombus flew from flower-to-flower collecting in self-cross, the highest value observed in the tested spe-
pollen. On visiting flowers of different Crocus, Bombus cies. As regards the interspecific crossing it turns out that
collected mainly pollen, not nectar. From this point of view pollen of C. sativus does not germinate or grow in any of
it seems a good pollinator. Apis have been observed on bal- the tested stigmas, but is fertilized by pollen of C. thomasii
conies of a private home in the city-center where a series of (16.8%), C. hadriaticus (8.5%), C. oreocreticus (11.0%), C.
pots with saffron and allied Crocus species were cultivated. cartwrightianus (10.2%). C. sativus seed sets after crossing
Bees arrived in the early morning when flowers were still pollination with C. thomasii or C. cartwrightianus. The
closed. They were able to separate the adhering tepals and seeds of C. sativus x C. cartwrightianus were grown for 4
get down into the style to collect the secreted liquid. The years and their germination and development was studied
bee’s main interest was in collecting nectar. They are quick and compared to seeds obtained from C. cartwrightianus
and very active on visiting numerous flowers, when the outpollinated by hand (Grilli Caiola 2005). Regarding ger-
anthers are still closed. We followed the activity of these mination, seedling, and young corms formation, the beha-
insects for many days, ascertaining that bees are able to viour of the seeds of both the species is very similar.
overcome heavy difficulties represented by flower-covers On the whole the results of the numerous experiments
applied to prevent free pollination. No fruit was obtained performed on the species of C. sativus group and on species
from saffron plants visited by bees. These observations of other Crocus group indicate that the ovarian self-incom-
seem to indicate that bees are not as good pollinators for patibility (SI) is widespread within the genus Crocus, this
Crocus as Bombus are. It is impossible to establish if these resulting in a partial or complete suppression of self-ferti-
observations could indicate a different territory occupation lization. Moreover the post-zygotic SI mechanism as well
by different pronubes or other mechanisms as those indi- as post-zygotic mechanisms of unknown nature seem to be
cated by Dudareva et al. (2006). It is noteworthy that the recurrent and both are responsible for seed abortion. The
same insects prefer saffron and C. cartwrightianus to other interspecific ovarian incompatibility concerns only unrelated
allied species. The absence of pollen transport from bees is crosses. Crosses between related fertile species succeed
revealed by the absence of pollen in honeys from regions both in fertilization and seed-set (Grilli Caiola and Zanier
where saffron grows such as Aquila in Italy. In Italy only a 2005).
few Crocus pollen have been found in the honey from some Regarding the mechanisms of incompatibility, studies
Alpine, North and Central regions (Ferrazzi 1991). This con- on RNase activity indicate that in Crocus RNases are not
tradicts what Columella reports in Res Rustica according to responsible for mechanisms of rejection of incompatible
which “The cultivation of Crocus from Corycius and Sicily pollen tubes. Similar results have been obtained in studies
is useful in dying and perfuming the honey”. In open fields on stylar peroxidase activity against the incompatible pollen
it may be possible that bees or bumble-bees carry out pol- tubes (Zanier and Grilli Caiola 2001). The Ca2+ also seems
lination in saffron with consequent formation of capsules not to be responsible for stylar incompatibility (Brandizzi
and seeds as reported by Piccioli (1932) in saffron culti- and Grilli Caiola 1996). Investigations using various
vations of L’Aquila. According to our observations free methods seem to confirm that the cause of arrest of pollen
fertilizations could have occurred in saffron grown near C. tubes in the examined Crocus species is localized at the
cartwrightianus, as well in C. cartwrightianus and C. tho- level of lower part of stylar and upper part of the ovary.
masii when visited by Bombus. Concerning the composition of this mechanism, it seems
most probable that it is a glycosilate compound.
Compatibility and incompatibility Pollen grains of C. sativus germinate in a low percen-
tage on the stigma, and pollen tubes do not reach the ovary.
Spermatophyta have evolved a genetic system of self-in- These results could be proved for the triploid condition of
compatibility (SI) in order to prevent inbreeding so favour- this species which would negatively condition the correct

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 Functional Plant Science and Biotechnology 4 (Special Issue 2), 1-14 ©2010 Global Science Books

Fig. 7 C. sativus x C. cartwrightianus: (A) 1) small roundish corm from

germinated seed; 2) Long corms from seed after three years grown. (B) C.
cartwrightianus: 1) small roundish corm from germinated seed; 2) Long
corm form from seed after three years grown; 3) Cormlets formed at the
basis of the corm in 2 B).

derives from an anatrope ovule which is curved and the

micropyle occurs near the funicle (Grilli Caiola and Chichi-
riccò 1991; Grilli Caiola et al. 2001). Due to this position,
the seed carries a linear lateral wing-like protrusion known
as raphe that appears as a double sheet open along the side
length revealing a small opening. The raphe departs from
the basal funicle and extends longitudinally along a side of
the seed until the apex. The ovule is bitegmic and its inner
integument protrudes as a multilayered structure. At this
point in the mature seed, a caruncle is more o less evident in
different Crocus species. The outer tegument proves to con-
sist of seven to ten cell layers. The seed epidermis is cov-
Fig. 6 Capsules (A) C. sativus x C. cartwrightianus; (B) C. cartwrighti- ered by a mass of hairs of cylindrical shape, erect or curved
anus; (C) C. thomasii; (D) C. hadriaticus. or elongated. Endosperm has thin epidermal layer with
small cells and the parenchyma with large cells radially
elongated, with walls thickened by pectic, giving the seed a
pollen germination and pollen tube development. C. cart- hard structure. Storage reserves consist of lipid drops, rare
wrightianus proves to be mostly an out cross-fertile. This is starch granules and abundant proteic granules. Seeds of C.
because, firstly, the pollen germinates on the stigma in a sativus have the higher dimensions respect to the diploid
higher percentage after out cross-pollination in respect to allied species. This is in according with the triploid condi-
self-pollination. Secondly the self-pollen tubes are blocked tion of the saffron. The seed coat surface has hairs which
in the basal part of the style. Finally, the capsules are pro- are similar in C. sativus and C. cartwrightianus but dif-
duced only by out cross-pollinated flowers. ferent from those of C. thomasii and C. hadriaticus (Grilli
Saffron, although sterile, produces a very high amount Caiola et al. 2010). The seeds of C. sativus obtained as
of pollen and floral structures which are ineffective for the reported above were germinated and grown in pots for four
purposes of seed production. This is unintelligible if we years. The same treatment was used to germinate and grow
consider the high amount of energy allocated to produce the seeds of C. cartwrightianus and C. thomasii (Grilli
floral organs and function (Cruden 2000). Production of Caiola 2005). Results of the observations indicated that
bulbils versus seeds has been detected in Gagea (Liliaceae) saffron seeds were viable and germinated in as high percen-
(Schnittler et al. 2009). tage as those of diploid species. In addition, the morphology
and growth behaviour of the germling and seedling were
Fruit set, seed set and seed coat microstructure similar in C. sativus and C. cartwrightianus. Seedlings of
the first year had a short white prophyl from which a green
The successful pollination in Crocus produces a capsule leaf emerged. During growth a small roundish corm, with-
maturing at soil level. Crocus sativus hand-pollinated with out tunic, formed at the base of the green leaf. This corm
pollen of C. cartwrightianus originated a large capsule after a dormant period produced a new green leaf and at the
maturing in May and visible above ground. The capsule is end of growth formed a larger new corm with reticulate-
erect and provided with a peduncle which connects the fruit fibrous tunic. After three years of growth the corm formed
to the basal underground corm (Fig. 6A). When mature the three new cormlets at the base. The corms from the second
capsule opens by means of apical breakings and the seeds year were small, ovoid in shape, and protected by reticulate
are dispersed on the soil after the capsule has dried. Similar tunics (Figs. 7A, 7B).
behaviour is detected in the capsules of the diploid C. cart-
wrightianus (Fig. 6B), C. thomasii (Fig. 6C), C. hadriaticus CHROMOPLAST STRUCTURE AND PIGMENT
(Fig. 6D). Seed surface microstructure has been used in COMPOSITION
many angiosperms to discriminate critical taxa (Barthlott
1981; Karcz et al. 2000; Zeng et al. 2004). Seeds from C. The commercial product and use of saffron comes from the
sativus pollinated with C. cartwrightianus were analysed dried stigmas, appreciated for a special colour, taste and
under a light and scanning electronmicroscope in order to aroma (Carmona Delgado et al. 2006). Saffron spice gives
establish the similarities to or differences from the seeds of dishes and other material the yellow colour, bitter taste and
diploid C. thomasii, C. cartwrightianus, C. hadriaticus intense aroma. Although the main use of saffron is culinary,
grown in a similar site and hand out-pollinated. The seed also important are its pharmacological properties and role in
surface morphology, the inner structure and the dimensions medicine (Abdullaev 2003). The characteristic of colouring,
of the compared species are all reported in Grilli Caiola et flavouring, and aromatising are related to the presence in
al. (2010). The seeds differ in dimension, colour, and raphe the red stigmas of glycosyl compounds, esters of crocetin
development. However, the basic morphology and structure carotenoids, picrocrocin, and an extensive group of cetons
organization are similar in all the considered species. Seed and terpenic aldehydes, safranal being the most outstanding.

10
 Possible progenitor (s) of saffron. Grilli Caiola and Canini

Saffrons colour is due mainly to carotenoids, molecules

generally insoluble in water but capable of generating an
intense colour when in hot water. Carotenoids form a group
of pigments very common in plants. They are formed of a
long aciclic chain with double conjugate bonds such as
lycopene, or, more frequently, of a chain terminated by six
or five rings on one or both ends. Due to numerous double
bonds carotenoids present various geometric isomers. They
can exist as apocarotenoids in a short chain after elimina-
tion of some terminal rings and reduction in size of the
molecule. In addition acid molecules of crocetin can be
exterified by glucose, gentibiose and neapolitanose, giving
rise to numerous esters of crocetin present in saffron.
According to a hypothesis (Bouvier et al. 2003) crocetin in
saffron derives from zeaxanthin precursor which breaks at
both ends to generate crocetinaldehyde which is oxidized to
give rise to crocetin. Subsequently the glycosylation occurs
through the action of a glycosyltransferase.
Saffron’s characteristic bitter flavour is due to the pre-
sence of picrocrocin, a flavonoid compound. It originates
through oxidative degradation of zeaxanthin and is in turn
the precursor of safranal, the main compound of the saffron Fig. 8 Chromoplasts (A) from stigma of C. sativus; (B) Cells with
aroma. Picrocrocin is present in saffron in high amounts, chromoplasts from stigma of C. cartwrightianus; (C) C. cartwrightianus;
about 13% of the dry weight. (D) C. thomasii.
Saffron’s aroma was for a long time attributed to safra-
nal generated from picrocrocin, but recently many other
minor compounds are considered responsible for the saffron
aroma. The aroma is the most appreciated component of the vesicles. In the stroma of these plastids one or more elec-
saffron spice, although the methods to reveal the presence trontransparent areas are always present. A comparison of
of such compounds are still ongoing. plastids from the white part of style, ovary, corm and leaf
The above reported compounds are sited in organelles, indicated that plastids with a structure similar to that in
the chromoplasts, occurring in the epidermal and paren- chromoplasts or red and yellow part of stigma and style are
chyma cells of stigma and the coloured upper part of the never present. In the leaf plastids only some plastoglobules
style. The structure of chromoplast have been examined in occur together with starch granules and tylakoids. Thus the
C. sativus (Fig. 8A) (Grilli Caiola and Caprilli 1983; Grilli particular structure of saffron red stigma is the presence of
Caiola 2004; Grilli Caiola and Canini 2004) as well as in tubules, plastoglobules and vesicles. Comparing the ultra-
the related species C. cartwrightianus and C. thomasii structure of chromoplast of fresh to dried and untreated
(Grilli Caiola and Canini 2005). In saffron the chromoplasts stigmas to those after extraction of water soluble pigment,
occur only in the red-coloured parts of stigmas and style. we can conclude that apocarotenoids are localized in the
They appear in the red stigma of very young floral buds, tubules and plastoglobules whereas the vesicles can be the
and originate from amyloplasts, the only plastids present in site of glycosylate derivatives of crocetin. Tubules in fact
the colourless basal portion of the style as well as in the disappear in plastids of decoloured stigmas. By contrast
parenchyma of ovary and resting corm. Transitional forms plastoglobules, which contain mainly neutral lipids and caro-
of amylo-chromoplasts occur in the yellow parts of the tenoids (Deruère et al. 1994), persist in all these organelles
stigma and style. Saffron chromoplasts in red stigma of as well in chloroplasts. They are also widespread in the
open flowers are roundish or elongated with tubules for- green and yellow leaves of saffron. In addition, the chromo-
ming an electron-opaque reticulum. Some tubules are plast membranes have a high permeability to allow the dif-
dilated and form vesicles at the periphery of the plastid. fusion of overproduced pigment into cytoplasm (Emes and
Among the network of numerous tubules are plastoglobules. Tobin 1993) or in autophagic vacuoles (Mesquita 1972).
All plastids contain one or more electron-transparent Finally, the water soluble pigment crocetin can be accumu-
regions not positive to PATAg staining. Stigmas at anthesis lated in the central vacuole of the cell as already hypothe-
show chromoplasts resulting in mainly vesicles and plasto- sized by Bouvier et al. (2003) and Dufesne et al. (1999).
globules and are found close to small or large vacuoles. A C. cartwrightianus chromoplasts (Fig. 8C) show many
few mature chomoplasts show bundles of long parallel plastoglobules, tubules and one or more electron dense body,
membranes crossing or encircling the plastidial area. In red spiral like, often crossing the plastid similar to crystal body
stigmas from flowers open for two days, the chromoplasts occurring in carrot roots (Trabucchi 1964) and in tomato
have only peripheral vesicles and plastoglobules scattered fruits (Grilli 1965). C. thomasii chromoplasts (Fig. 8D) have
in an electron-transparent stroma. In these cells small or mainly plastoglobule electrontransparent vesicles encircled
large vesicles in central vacuoles near to the tonoplast mem- in a thin envelope, some thin fibrils and characteristic
brane are also detected. Chromoplasts in dried stigmas tubules heavy twisted.
show mainly plastoglobules and empty vesicles spread in The comparison of chromoplasts of the Crocus species
plastid, whereas in decoloured stigmas only small plasto- related to C. sativus suggests that despite the similarity is
globules, a few vesicles and short thin membranes are ob- the basic organization of these plastids, however each spe-
served. On the stigma surface are yellow-coloured papillae, cies has some different elements and on the whole chromo-
different from the red colour of the stigma. Papillae showed plasts of C. sativus prove to be similar to those of C. cart-
a very large central vacuole and scarce peripheral cytoplasm wrightianus and C. thomasii.
in which numerous chromoplasts with tubulous reticulum Parallel to the study of chromoplast structure an analy-
and plastoglobules occur. In the cytoplasm surrounding sis of pigment of stigmas of C. sativus, C. cartwrightianus,
these chromoplasts there are always vescicles apparently C. thomasii was carried out in order to detect possible
empty except for small vacuoles adhering to the plastids. differences in pigment quality and composition amount.
The chromoplast structure of papillae is similar to that of Among the pigments separate from crocin, crocetin, picro-
the plastid present in the yellow part of style. In this part of crocin and safranal we also analysed the presence of lyco-
the style there are plastids with some small starch granules, pene. This pigment is usually considered to be localized
large plastoglobules and extended system of tubules which within the chromoplast as tubules due to the thickening of
at the periphery of the plastid are dilated and form enlarged the intraplastidial membranes (Grilli 1965). The preliminary

11
 Functional Plant Science and Biotechnology 4 (Special Issue 2), 1-14 ©2010 Global Science Books

data indicate that pigment composition and amount are very 167-169
similar in C. sativus and C. cartwrightianus. Not lycopene Amigues S (1988) Le crocus et le safran sur une fresque de Théra. Revue
has been detected in stigmas of flowers at anthesis. Archeologique 2, 227-242
Arslan N, Gürbüz B, Ipek A, Ozcan S (2007) The effect of corm size and dif-
ferent harvesting times on saffron (Crocus sativus L.) regeneration. Acta Hor-
CONCLUSION ticulturae 739, 113-117
Aucante P (2000) Le Safran, Artes Sud, Arles, France, pp 16-28
The data obtained to date from archeology, systematic, Basker D, Negbi M (1983) Uses of saffron. Economic Botany 37, 228-236
cytology, molecular biology, physiology and biochemistry Baytop T, Mathew B, Brighton C (1975) Four new taxa in Turkish Crocus
are still insufficient to establish a precise place and moment (Iridaceae). Kew Bulletin 30, 241-246
for the origin of saffron or its parents. However, the infor- Barthlott W (1981) Epidermal and seed surface characters of plant systematic
mation accumulated in recent years offers further indica- applicability and some evolutionary aspects. Nordic Journal of Botany 1,
tions about the probability that one of the diploid Crocus is 345-355
Bevan A (2007) Stone Vessels and Values in the Bronze Age Mediterranean,
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origin of saffron is considered by autotriploidy or together of chromoplast carotenoids: identification of the carotenoid dioxygenase
with C. thomasii, if the origin is due to allotriploidy. In fact: CsCCD and CSZCD genes involved in crocus secondary metabolite biogene-
z remote archeologist and historical records suggest that a sis. Plant Cell 15, 47-62
Crocus has been known and widely used since pre- Brandizzi F, Grilli Caiola M (1996) Calcium variation in pistil of Crocus cart-
Hellenistic and Hellenistic times. All authors agree on wrightianus Herb. and Crocus sativus L. Journal of Trace and Microprobe
considering C. cartwrightianus as the crocus used in Technology 14, 415-426
therapy and other fields; wild and cultivated forms are Brandizzi F, Grilli Caiola M (1998) Flow cytometry analysis of nuclear DNA
in three species of Crocus (Iridaceae). Plant Systematics and Evolution 211,
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which morphologically is very similar to C. thomasii Systematics and Evolution 211, 149-154
with which it has been confused in the past; Brighton CA, Mathew BF, Marchant CJ (1973) Chromosome counts in the
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