Induction of stigma-like structures in saffron (Crocus sativus L.): Exploring factors and metabolite analysis.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has held significant cultural and medicinal value since the Greek-Minoan civilization. As a triploid spice with vegetative propagation from the Iridaceae family, the three-branch style of C. sativus flowers, known as saffron, constitutes the most economically valuable par...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Parvaneh Mahmoudi, Ahmad Moieni, Mojtaba Khayam Nekouei, Mohsen Mardi, Ghasem Hosseini Salekdeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317186
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832540231917633536
author Parvaneh Mahmoudi
Ahmad Moieni
Mojtaba Khayam Nekouei
Mohsen Mardi
Ghasem Hosseini Salekdeh
author_facet Parvaneh Mahmoudi
Ahmad Moieni
Mojtaba Khayam Nekouei
Mohsen Mardi
Ghasem Hosseini Salekdeh
author_sort Parvaneh Mahmoudi
collection DOAJ
description Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) has held significant cultural and medicinal value since the Greek-Minoan civilization. As a triploid spice with vegetative propagation from the Iridaceae family, the three-branch style of C. sativus flowers, known as saffron, constitutes the most economically valuable part of the plant, renowned for its diverse medicinal properties. This study explores the in vitro induction of stigma-like structures (SLSs) from various explants of the Ghaen ecotype flower. The study found that the optimal sampling time for the majority of explants was the third week of October. Ovary explants exhibiting a prolonged response to hormonal treatments for the production of SLSs. Furthermore, intact, and injury ovary explants were found to be the most effective explant types for inducing SLSs. The explants were cultured on MS, 1/2MS, LS and B5 basal media supplemented with various combinations and concentrations of plant growth regulators. The results indicated that the B5 medium, enriched with 5-10 mg/ L BAP and 5-10 mg/ L NAA was the most effective treatment for inducing SLSs in all types of explants. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of saffron compounds in SLSs indicated similarities with natural saffron, albeit at significant lower concentrations: crocin (up to 10.2 mg/g), picrocrocin (up to 4.8 mg/g), and safranal (up to 9.7 mg/g). The highest accumulation of the three studied secondary metabolites was observed in the SLSs of style (24.4 mg/g), stigma (28.3 mg/g), and ovary (21.4 mg/g) explants, respectively. This study introduces a comprehensive procedure for producing SLSs containing the three most important metabolites of saffron for the first time.
format Article
id doaj-art-19b78868a4c1439499b62abcc7814dd0
institution Kabale University
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-19b78868a4c1439499b62abcc7814dd02025-02-05T05:31:30ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031718610.1371/journal.pone.0317186Induction of stigma-like structures in saffron (Crocus sativus L.): Exploring factors and metabolite analysis.Parvaneh MahmoudiAhmad MoieniMojtaba Khayam NekoueiMohsen MardiGhasem Hosseini SalekdehSaffron (Crocus sativus L.) has held significant cultural and medicinal value since the Greek-Minoan civilization. As a triploid spice with vegetative propagation from the Iridaceae family, the three-branch style of C. sativus flowers, known as saffron, constitutes the most economically valuable part of the plant, renowned for its diverse medicinal properties. This study explores the in vitro induction of stigma-like structures (SLSs) from various explants of the Ghaen ecotype flower. The study found that the optimal sampling time for the majority of explants was the third week of October. Ovary explants exhibiting a prolonged response to hormonal treatments for the production of SLSs. Furthermore, intact, and injury ovary explants were found to be the most effective explant types for inducing SLSs. The explants were cultured on MS, 1/2MS, LS and B5 basal media supplemented with various combinations and concentrations of plant growth regulators. The results indicated that the B5 medium, enriched with 5-10 mg/ L BAP and 5-10 mg/ L NAA was the most effective treatment for inducing SLSs in all types of explants. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of saffron compounds in SLSs indicated similarities with natural saffron, albeit at significant lower concentrations: crocin (up to 10.2 mg/g), picrocrocin (up to 4.8 mg/g), and safranal (up to 9.7 mg/g). The highest accumulation of the three studied secondary metabolites was observed in the SLSs of style (24.4 mg/g), stigma (28.3 mg/g), and ovary (21.4 mg/g) explants, respectively. This study introduces a comprehensive procedure for producing SLSs containing the three most important metabolites of saffron for the first time.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317186
spellingShingle Parvaneh Mahmoudi
Ahmad Moieni
Mojtaba Khayam Nekouei
Mohsen Mardi
Ghasem Hosseini Salekdeh
Induction of stigma-like structures in saffron (Crocus sativus L.): Exploring factors and metabolite analysis.
PLoS ONE
title Induction of stigma-like structures in saffron (Crocus sativus L.): Exploring factors and metabolite analysis.
title_full Induction of stigma-like structures in saffron (Crocus sativus L.): Exploring factors and metabolite analysis.
title_fullStr Induction of stigma-like structures in saffron (Crocus sativus L.): Exploring factors and metabolite analysis.
title_full_unstemmed Induction of stigma-like structures in saffron (Crocus sativus L.): Exploring factors and metabolite analysis.
title_short Induction of stigma-like structures in saffron (Crocus sativus L.): Exploring factors and metabolite analysis.
title_sort induction of stigma like structures in saffron crocus sativus l exploring factors and metabolite analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0317186
work_keys_str_mv AT parvanehmahmoudi inductionofstigmalikestructuresinsaffroncrocussativuslexploringfactorsandmetaboliteanalysis
AT ahmadmoieni inductionofstigmalikestructuresinsaffroncrocussativuslexploringfactorsandmetaboliteanalysis
AT mojtabakhayamnekouei inductionofstigmalikestructuresinsaffroncrocussativuslexploringfactorsandmetaboliteanalysis
AT mohsenmardi inductionofstigmalikestructuresinsaffroncrocussativuslexploringfactorsandmetaboliteanalysis
AT ghasemhosseinisalekdeh inductionofstigmalikestructuresinsaffroncrocussativuslexploringfactorsandmetaboliteanalysis