Vegetative Growth and Productivity of Potted Crocus sativus in Different Growing Media

Saffron (Crocus sativus) is the most expensive spice in world and a valuable medicinal plant. In this study, flowering, vegetative growth performance, daughter corm formation of potted saffron were investigated six growing media: loamy soil, silty sandy peatmoss, peatmoss + foam. The highest values stigma fresh weight, root number diameter corms observed plants grown soil with light texture, i.e., or foam, although smaller produced by soil-grown plants. Compared (heavy soil), foam medium increased leaf pigment levels leaves corms, it diameters ≥2 cm. other media, had higher catalase peroxidase activities but lower polyphenol oxidase activity. Overall, could be cultivated media various pH (4.00–9.25), mixture was optimal for production. These findings are beneficial selecting media/soil cultivation farmlands.