Micropropagation of Saffron (crocus Sativus L.): a Review

Tissue culture is useful method for large scale production of healthy corms and also avenues for creating variability through in vitro use of mutagens and polyploidizing agents. Induction of callus and subsequent regeneration of plants is suggested as possible means of introducing new variation. In vitro micropopagation for product formation its utility is increasing the amount of crocin, picrocrocin and safranal. Selection at cellular level is likely to help in isolating cell lines rich in these three chemical compounds which account for popularity of saffron stigma. Like many other cormous and bulbous plants, meristem culture and regeneration through tissue culture is the most effective method for mass production of healthy and pathogen-free saffron plant materials. In vitro corm production through somatic embryogenesis as an effective method for plant regeneration could be one of the important aspects of tissue culture application in saffron.