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Abtracts <p>Saffron (<i>Crocus sativus</i> L.) is one of the most economically precious spices, with consistently high global demand. However, its cultivation is restricted to specific geographical regions due to stringent agro-climatic requirements. Being a subterranean crop, saffron is extremely vulnerable to various pathogenic diseases, which can cause significant losses in stigma yield, flower quality, and overall productivity. The viability of traditional breeding techniques for genetic improvement, particularly in boosting disease resistance, is restricted by the sterile nature of <i>C. sativus</i>. Tissue culture-based methods offer a viable way to overcome these obstacles by selecting and widely vegetatively propagating pathogen-free corms, thereby upgrading saffron agriculture. A variety of plant species can be effectively multiplied and conserved using plant tissue culture, especially those that are propagated vegetatively, have recalcitrant seeds, or are at risk of extinction. For species with low multiplication efficiency and modest development rates, this method is especially beneficial. Furthermore, this method reduces the space required for germplasm conservation by enabling maintenance of a large number of explants in aseptic conditions, ensuring their availability for future use. The groundwork for developments in saffron biotechnology was laid in the early 1980s by studies on somatic embryogenesis, plantlet regeneration, and in vitro mass production of pathogen-free cormlets; however, the ability to successfully induce flowering in regenerated corms remains a prerequisite for practical application. This review critically examines the progress, challenges, and future scope of saffron tissue culture, offering insights to guide research toward overcoming existing bottlenecks and advancing sustainable saffron cultivation.</p> Key message <p>The study found that the tissue culture offers a promising biotechnological approach to overcome saffron’s limitations of sterility, low multiplication, and disease susceptibility by enabling large-scale propagation of pathogen-free corms.</p>

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Biotechnological advances in saffron: tissue culture challenges and future scope

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月11日

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  • Vishal Gupta,
  • Mehak Gupta,
  • Sushil Kumar Gupta,
  • Shaily Javeria,
  • Ayushi Sharma,
  • Zakir Amin,
  • Vinod Pandit,
  • Mahima Sharma

摘要

Abtracts

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is one of the most economically precious spices, with consistently high global demand. However, its cultivation is restricted to specific geographical regions due to stringent agro-climatic requirements. Being a subterranean crop, saffron is extremely vulnerable to various pathogenic diseases, which can cause significant losses in stigma yield, flower quality, and overall productivity. The viability of traditional breeding techniques for genetic improvement, particularly in boosting disease resistance, is restricted by the sterile nature of C. sativus. Tissue culture-based methods offer a viable way to overcome these obstacles by selecting and widely vegetatively propagating pathogen-free corms, thereby upgrading saffron agriculture. A variety of plant species can be effectively multiplied and conserved using plant tissue culture, especially those that are propagated vegetatively, have recalcitrant seeds, or are at risk of extinction. For species with low multiplication efficiency and modest development rates, this method is especially beneficial. Furthermore, this method reduces the space required for germplasm conservation by enabling maintenance of a large number of explants in aseptic conditions, ensuring their availability for future use. The groundwork for developments in saffron biotechnology was laid in the early 1980s by studies on somatic embryogenesis, plantlet regeneration, and in vitro mass production of pathogen-free cormlets; however, the ability to successfully induce flowering in regenerated corms remains a prerequisite for practical application. This review critically examines the progress, challenges, and future scope of saffron tissue culture, offering insights to guide research toward overcoming existing bottlenecks and advancing sustainable saffron cultivation.

Key message

The study found that the tissue culture offers a promising biotechnological approach to overcome saffron’s limitations of sterility, low multiplication, and disease susceptibility by enabling large-scale propagation of pathogen-free corms.