Radiation Physics and Engineering
A peer-reviewed journal published by K. N. Toosi University of Technology

Analysis of flower phenology, flowering and stigma performance of saffron as a result of indirect treatment with DBD surface plasma under salt stress

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Razieh Khalilzadeh 1
Elnaz Khalilzadeh 2
Zohreh Dehghani 2
Alireza Pirzad 3
Mahnaz Abdollahi 2
Nayereh Abdollahi 2
Narges Beigmohammadi 2

1 Department of Plant Production and Genetics Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, Khorramabad, Iran

2 The Plasma Physics and Fusion Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22034/rpe.2024.467848.1221
Abstract
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is cultivated in environments with very different climatic conditions and with very different corm rates from place to place, and it is appreciated for its red dried stigmas used as cooking spice and flavoring agent. To enhance the flower morphological and colorimetric traits under environmental stresses, the applications of non-thermal plasma based techniques are increasingly being investigated in the field of agricultural science as an alternative to conventional pre-germination treatments. Therefore, a field study was conducted to compare four levels P1 (no treatment), P2 (5 minute treatment), P3 (10 minute treatment), P4 (20 minute) and the salinity stress factors in three levels were 2, 4 and 6 dS.m-1 according a factorial design with 3 replications. Flowering beginning in saffron seems to be influenced by the combination of plasma and salinity stress. High concentration of salinity (6 dS.m-1) resulted in a lower flower and stigma production. The highest number of leaf per plant was found when corms treated to P4 and 2 dS.m-1 6 salinity stress condition. Exposure of saffron corn to plasma treatments of 20 minutes showed the most stimulating effect regarding the flower phenology and stigmas yield in saffron under salinity stress.

Highlights

  • Applications of non-thermal plasma-based techniques are increasingly investigated in the field of agricultural science.
  • Flowering beginning in saffron seems to be influenced by the combination of plasma and salinity stress.
  • Saffron plants exposed to different time of plasma affect cellular physiology and improving immunity and plant growth.
  • Plant exposed to plasma for 10 min can be an option to improve the saffron stigma DW in medium salinity level.

Keywords

Cold plasma
Flowering
Saffron corn
Salinity
Stigma yield
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Radiation Physics and Engineering
Volume 5, Issue 4
Autumn 2024
Pages 41-45

  • Receive Date 22 July 2024
  • Revise Date 26 August 2024
  • Accept Date 07 September 2024

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