ISHS Acta Horticulturae 850: III International Symposium on Saffron: Forthcoming Challenges in Cultivation, Research and Economics
EFFECT OF SAFFRON PETAL WATER EXTRACT ON WHEAT GERMINATION, SEEDLING GROWTH AND ESTABLISHMENT |
| Authors: | M. Tatari, M. Ahmadi, R. Abbasi Alikamar, A. Hosseini |
| Keywords: | allelopathy, Crocus sativus L., extraction, growth, saffron |
| Abstract:
Large amounts of saffron petals are disposed off every year while using them as an organic source can open a new approach on reusing them. In order to investigate the stimulatory or inhibitory effects of saffron’s petals on the emergence of wheat, an experiment was conducted on the basis of a complete randomized design with four replications in 2008 in the Dryland Research Station of North Khorasan. 5% concentration of saffron petals’ water extract (50 grams oven dried petals in 1000 ml water) was used to prepare 5 levels of treatment (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). These treatments were used to irrigate wheat seeds (20 ml each day), which were planted in plastic pots and were kept at 25°C in a germinator. Seedling height increased in 25% treatment significantly. Different concentrations had significant effects on seedling weight and the best result was obtained from the 25% treatment. The lowest height and also the lowest weight were observed in the 100% treatment which can be related to the suppressive effect of high concentration of saffron petals extract. On the other hand, because of the better growth rate obtained from the 25% treatment compared with the 0% treatment, it seems that a low concentration of saffron petals water extract promoted wheat seedling growth. | |
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