نشریه زراعت و فناوری زعفران
سال نهم شماره 2 (پیاپی 32، تابستان 1400)

Sustainable development of saffron production as one of the major and strategic goals of Iranian agriculture requires a well-defined and organized plan. Over the past half century saffron cultivation has increased 34-fold in Iran, more than any other crop. But the average yield did not follow this development and is reducing with slight negative slope; so, the average saffron production in Iran has reduced from 5.76 kg/ha in 1973 to 3.42 kg/ha in 2017. It is also estimated that there is a 90-70% yield gap in Iranian saffron farms. Saffron pests and diseases such as saffron mite (Rhizoglyphus robini), saffron corm rot, saffron dry rot (Burkholderia gladioli) and saffron viral diseases are also responsible for quantitative and qualitative reduction of saffron yields in farms. Saffron is propagated by its daughter corms, so increasing the yield of saffron is directly related to the quality of mother corm seed. This paper describes the criteria’s needs to generate and certify prebasic, mother corm and seed corm classes of saffron for standard saffron corm schedule. Production of standard pathogen-free seed corms as the only means of saffron propagation in nature is a prerequisite for any planning to increase saffron yield. Undoubtedly, application of standard free pathogen corms along with other ecological and physiological indices of saffron plant will increase yield and improve Sustainable development indicators.

In order to study the effect of different chemical and organic mulch types on density and biomass of weed and some agronomical characteristics of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), an experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Qaen region in during 2018-2019. The experimental treatments were application of various mulch types for weed control (no weed control, hand weeding, transparent polyethylene, black polyethylene, beeswax waste, residues of grape leaf, wheat straw, pomegranate leaf, pistachio leaf, barley straw and saffron corm dunnage). The results showed that all the treatments except transparent polyethylene significantly reduced the number of species, density, dry weight and shannon diversity of weed compared to no weeding treatment. The lowest dry weight of weed was related to black polyethylene (52.22 g m-2) and wheat straw (123 g m-2) mulches. Application of all the mulches except transparent polyethylene caused a significant increase in corm, flowers and stigmas yield of saffron compared to non-weeding conditions. Beeswax waste and wheat straw had the highest number of flowers (151 and 135 flowers m-2) and stigma yield (4.89 and 4.32 kg ha-1), respectively. Black polyethylene, pomegranate leaf and grape leaf did not show a significant difference with hand weeding in terms of growth and yield of saffron. In general, the results confirmed that the application of all the studied mulches with the exception of transparent polyethylene led to appropriate weed control and improving saffron yield characteristics compared to no weed control treatment and are recommended to farmers.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most expensive crop which is grown in restricted areas of the world. Due to its economic values, some farmers, based on similarities of climatic conditions have cultivated it in some regions of country regardless of land capability and suitability, which sometimes the result was not satisfactory. Saffron yield prediction based on soil properties enables us to assess the land suitably for cultivation of this valuable plant. For this purpose, 100 soil samples were collected from Vamenan Saffron fields in Golestan province and the soil chemical and physical properties including the percentage of constituents of the mineral part of soil texture (Sand, Silt, Clay), Phosphorus, potassium, Nitrogen, pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Organic matter and Calcium Carbonate Equivalent were measured. In addition, the weight of Saffron wet flower (kg.Ha-1) was measured. In the present study, various combinations of soil properties as input were applied and nine models were developed using artificial neural networks and multiple linear regression models for predicting the saffron yield. Performance of the models was validated using Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Correlation Coefficient (R) and Geometric Mean of Error Ratio (GMER) methods. The results of the correlation analyses showed phosphorus and organic matter are most effective factors in the production of Saffron. Results showed that performance of the models is much different where R2 value varies from 0.45 to 0.89. Comparing the performance of Saffron yield estimation models indicated the optimal model was obtained from the combination of phosphorous, organic matter, potassium and calcium carbonate equivalent as input and values of R2 and RMSE equal to 0.874 and 0.996 kg.ha-1, respectively.Evaluation of model results indicated that the coefficient varied was obtained from 0.45 to 0.89. The best model in saffron yield estimation was obtained when phosphorous, organic matter, potassium and electrical conductivity were as the input, so that values of R2 and root mean square error (RMSE) were obtained 0.891 and 0.89 kg.ha-1, respectively.

Saffron is a plant from Crocus Sativus species which is one of the most valuable indigenous herbs in Iran and is known as the most expensive spice and red gold. Saffron stigma consists of three major constituents including crocin (water soluble caretenoid pigments), picocrocin (bitter glycoside tasting) and safranal (the major volatile constituents in saffron aroma). The aim of this study was determination and comparison of existed metabolites in different types of saffron based on their geographical origins using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy techniques (GC-MS) and 13 volatile metabolites were determined and compared in different saffron samples from seven different regions of Khorasan Razavi province. These regions were Taybad, Neyshabour, torbate heydarieh, torbate jam, Zaveh and Kashmar.The results from statistical analysis (analysis of variance ANOVA followed by Duncan test) show that the level of metabolites were different in different regions and this can be the main reason of their discrimination against each other. These volatile metabolites were safranal, Megastigma-4,6(Z),8(Z)-triene, α-Guaiene, icosane and vitamine E. The results of this study show that in spite of similarities of constituents of these saffron samples, there are significant differences between the levels of metabolites in these regions although these region are close to each other. These differences show that these saffron can be applied in different purposes including pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and health industries depending on their origin. Saffron of Torbat-e-jam is proper for food industries since it is rich in aroma and Taibad is proper for pharmaceutical, cosmetic and health industries. The quality of Kashmar saffron is worse than other regions.

Saffron is one of the most valuable and important agricultural products in Iran, and, it is necessary to consider the preferences of consumers to develop its market. Consumers have different needs and wants, and by benefit segmenting the saffron market, companies can understand customers' preferences in each segment of the market correctly. Therefore, in this study, using the crisp and fuzzy clustering algorithms, the saffron market was divided into homogenous segments, and then, using the results of the conjoint analysis; consumer preferences, attitudes, and demographic characteristics were examined in each saffron market segment. The necessary data were collected from 400 respondents using a stratified sampling method from 13 districts of Mashhad, Iran. The results of this study showed that the saffron market could be divided into six homogeneous segments, and the fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm performs better at finding clusters than k-means, k-medoids, fuzzy Gustafson-Kessel and fuzzy Gath-Geva methods. According to the study findings, in most market segments, the weight of saffron and the packaging type are the most important attributes influencing purchase decisions. Based on the study results, it is suggested that saffron companies consider consumer preferences in different market segments when supplying saffron products and formulating marketing strategies.

Iran is the largest producer and exporter of saffron in the world, but in recent years, Iran's share of the global market for this national strategic product has been declining. Currently, Iranian saffron export brands do not have a good competitive position compared to brands in other countries, which are mainly importers of Iranian saffron. According to most experts, one of the main reasons for this is the lack of attention to the branding of Iranian export saffron in both theoretical and practical areas. The present study aimed to identify the causes and consequences of the core phenomenon of the Iranian saffron export branding model. In the present study, data collection tool was in-depth semi-structured interviews and its statistical population included members of the Khorasan Razavi Saffron Exporters Union. Purposive sampling method was used at the beginning and theoretical sampling was used during the research process and sampling continued until the theoretical saturation was reached. The Grounded Theory approach and three steps of open, axial and selective coding were performed for data analyzing. The results showed that the category of "Iranian Saffron Export Brands Coalition" is the Core phenomenon of this model. The results showed that the category of "Iranian Saffron Export Brands Coalition" is the core phenomenon of this model, the causes of the coalition include four categories: self-sanction, macro decision-making system, Iranian saffron industry disease and self-harm of exporters and its consequences including three categories of synergy in branding, stabilization and value creation. The achievements of the present study can be used as an indigenous model in decision-making of all stakeholders and policy makers of the Iranian saffron industry in terms of maintaining and developing the competitive position of Iranian saffron and saffron export brands.