Saffron (Crocus sativus L.), a monomorphic or polymorphic species?

Abstract

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) which contains exceptional anti-cancer properties is presently the world's most expensive spice. Iran is known as the original habitat of Crocus L. and a significant source of high-quality cultivated saffron production and export. Considering the importance of this species, we used 27 microsatellite markers to assess molecular variability and discriminating capacity of markers regarding their effectiveness in establishing genetic relationships in Iranian Crocus ecotypes. Thirty eight Iranian cultivated saffron ecotypes and 29 wild allies were evaluated in this research. The results from molecular analyses, including a molecular phylogenetic network and RB analysis, revealed two major groups and five subgroups, regardless of their geographical origins. Also, the results showed a clear distinction between C. sativus and other species of Crocus genus, taking into account their close relationship with C. speciosus and C. hausknechtii, which are assumed to be the two closest relatives of Iranian cultivated saffron among species studied. In this paper, we observed for the first time extensive genetic diversity among Iranian C. sativus despite their asexual reproduction. Considering suitable climatic conditions in Iran for cultivating saffron and the country’s leading high-quality production of Crocus sativus worldwide, studies on great genetic variability among Iranian C. sativus ecotypes as well as wild relatives native to Iran will further highlight the value of this crop. In addition, our results provide valuable information for genetic improvement, reduction of strong genetic erosion, and conservation of costly heritable resources of C. sativus in future breeding programs.

Deciphering genetic diversity analysis of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) using RAPD and ISSR markers

“…The mean values of discriminatory marker parameters were found as RP = 2.65, MI = 0.805, PIC = 0.195 and EMR = 3.98. Polymorphism information content (PIC) value estimates the informativeness of a marker and the value found by current study (0.195) is consistent with earlier studies by Nemati et al (2014 ) and Keify and Beiki (2012) as 0.1–0.54 and 0.15–0.82 respectively. Based on the cumulative data of RAPD and ISSR the various genetic diversity indices were calculated i.e.…”

“…The immense properties of this spice marks it as a red Gold for any country capable of growing this evocative spice as its commercialization would fetch tangible profits, that would in turn help in uplifting the socio-economic conditions of people and would pave a way to leverage the economy. There are numerous properties attributed to this delicate golden crop ranged including therapeutic medicinal benefits and capacity to be an agent for pharmaceutical industry ( Ferrence and Bendersky, 2004 , Hosseini et al, 2018 , Mir et al, 2020 , Nemati et al, 2014 , Razak et al, 2017 ). However, there are multitude of challenges which the current saffron industry is facing and to overcome these challenges to an extent, biotechnological interventions could play a crucial role to ameliorate this precious crop at the molecular level such as disease, abiotic stress resistant cultivars or cultivars with superior chemical profiling etc.…”

“…This is because if PhiPT > 0, it means there exists genetic difference among the populations ( Peakall and Smouse 2012 ). AMOVA is also calculated in previous studies ( Anabat et al, 2020 , Nemati et al, 2014 ) which have indicated that Crocus sativus showed higher levels of intra population variation as compared to variation among populations. In order to check correlation of markers, Mantel test (99 permutations) was performed to estimate the correlation between RAPD and ISSR using genetic distances based on matrix data of both markers and correlation coefficient (r) was determined.…”

AFLP and MS-AFLP Analysis of the Variation within Saffron Crocus (Crocus sativus L.) Germplasm

“…This can be expected considering that those Asian countries have an ancient history of saffron crocus cultivation and that the plant was likely reintroduced in Europe from those countries during the middle ages by crusaders and Arabs. More recently, some differences between Iranian accessions have also been highlighted also by using SSR [ 29 ]. Taken together, this information allows speculation on the reasons why no variations were found in previous studies.…”

Saffron (Crocus sativus) is an autotriploid that evolved in Attica (Greece) from wildCrocus cartwrightianus

“…Over time such continuous input of triploids into the saffron gene pool should have broadened the genetic diversity occurring in saffron. This is, however, not the case as saffron is genetically rather uniform (Nemati et al, 2014; Busconi et al, 2015).…”