Investigation of In Vitro Apocarotenoid Expression in Perianth of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) Under Different Soil EC

Crocus sativus is a triploid sterile plant with red stigmas belonging to family of Iridaceae, and sub Crocoideae. Crocin, picrocrocin, safranal are three major carotenoid derivatives that responsible for color, taste specific aroma Crocus. Saffron flowers harvested manually used as spice, dye or medicinal applications. The natural propagation rate most geophytes including saffron relatively low. An in vitro multiplication technique like micropropagation has been the saffron. To understand efficiency this alternative study molecular basis apocarotenoid biosynthesis/accumulation, RT-PCR method was performed on perianth explants were cultured MS medium observe level expression zeaxanthin cleavage dioxygenase (CsZCD) gene during stigma development, also impact soil EC its expression. present conducted at Plant physiology Lab, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran 2011-2013. Stigma-like structures (SLSs) calli collected from immature floral buds corms Ghaen city, compared (Torbat-e Haidariye, Mardabad Shahroud cities) investigating different CsZCD results indicated highly expressed fully developed SLSs samples highest salinity. In research, close relationship between second metabolites regulation studied. Overall, these will pave way understanding biosynthesis other aspects development C. sativus.