Effects of Altitude on Anatomy and Concentration of Crocin, Picrocrocin and Safranal in 'Crocus sativus' L

Abstract

Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. It is made from the dried stigmas of the saffron flower (Crocus sativus L). This species is cultivated in environments with very different climatic conditions. In this study, saffron samples from different altitudes, Ghaen with altitude of 1400m (samples A) and Tabas with altitude of 700m (samples B), were collected from 3- and 6-year-old saffron plants repeatedly in the years 2007-2008. Then, three major metabolites (crocin, picrocrocin and safranal) were quantified in 3- and 6-year-old plants in both altitudes by high performance liquid chromatography. The results indicated that saffron samples A had higher concentration of these constituents in comparison to that of samples B. Also, comparative study of these metabolites between 3- and 6-year-old plants in each region revealed increased amounts of saffron components in 3-year-old plants in comparison to 6-year-old ones. Anatomical studies of leaves showed significant differences between two reigons characteristics including thickness of cuticle, width of epidermis outer cell wall, diameter of cortex and palisade cells, trichomes, and depth of crypts. Scanning results of leaves and stigmas by SEM also showed different characteristics in the two regions.