Effect of buds removing and corm size on growth characteristics and yield of saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

The objectives of this research were investigated the effects of removal of lateral and main buds in different corm size on vegetative traits and yield of saffron. The research was conducted as factorial based on a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Research field of Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran-Iran, during growing season of 2012-2013. The first factor was corm size with two levels of corm weight (2-4 and 6-8 g) and the second factor was buds removal with nine levels included without bud removal, remove all lateral buds, remove all buds except main buds and one lateral bud, remove all buds except main buds and two lateral buds, remove all buds except main buds and three lateral buds, remove all buds except one lateral bud, remove all buds except two lateral buds, remove all buds except three lateral buds, remove all buds except four lateral buds. In this research, vegetative traits in the first year and reproductive traits in the second year were investigated. The results showed that by removing main bud from corm leaf length and root length were decreased. Also, there was most root length by removing all lateral buds. Overall, the results showed that bud removal could be produce large corm but main bud should not eliminated. The most appropriate the number of buds that could be remaining is 4 large buds on saffron corm.