Saffron Cultivation in Marginal Alpine Environments: How AMF Inoculation Modulates Yield and Bioactive Compounds

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) establish mutualistic symbiotic associations with plant roots and act as biofertilizers by enhancing plant nutrient and water uptake. Moreover, AMF colonization may influence the biosynthesis of plant bioactive compounds in medicinal and aromatic plants. There is limited information on AMF associations with Crocus sativus L. (saffron) roots and their effect on crop performances and spice quality. In the present work we verified the efficiency of root mycorrhization in potted conditions, then we evaluated the yield and quality of the saffron produced in two Alpine sites during two cultivation cycles with the application of AMF. Two inocula were applied, either a single-species (Rhizophagus intraradices) or a multi-species mixture (R. intraradices and Funneliformis mosseae). The trial conducted in potted conditions confirmed that both AMF commercial inocula established symbiotic relationships with saffron roots. The multi-species inoculation yielded the highest content of arbuscules in colonized portions of the root (100%), while the single-species was slightly less (82.9%) and no AMF were recorded in untreated control corms. In open-field conditions, AMF colonization of the root systems, flower production, and saffron yields were monitored, and bioactive compounds contents and antioxidant activity in the dried spice were analysed using spectrophotometry and high performance liquid chromatography. Overall, the saffron produced was high quality (ISO category) and had high contents of bioactive compounds, with very high total polyphenol content and elevated antioxidant activity. The use of arbuscular mycorrhizal symbionts as biostimulants positively affected saffron cultivation, improving the crop performances and the content of important nutraceutical compounds. In particular, the inoculum composed by R. intraradices and F. mosseae increased flower production and the saffron yield. R. intraradices alone enhanced the spice antioxidant activity and the content of bioactive compounds such as picrocrocin, crocin II, and quercitrin. Since saffron is the world’s highest priced spice, the increases in yield and quality obtained using AMF suggests that farms in marginal areas such as alpine sites can increase profitability by inoculating saffron fields with arbuscular mycorrhiza.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Modulate the Crop Performance and Metabolic Profile of Saffron in Soilless Cultivation

“…For all the analysed parameters, mean differences were computed using a one-way ANOVA with a Tukey post hoc test (p ≤ 0.05). Mean comparisons between data obtained in soilless and those from the first growing season of a previous work conducted in open field [12] cultivations were performed using an independent samples t-test. All analyses were performed using SPSS 24.0 Inc. software (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).…”

“…The saffron aqueous extracts were prepared according to Caser et al [12]. Briefly, 50 mg of powdered saffron were suspended into 5 mL of deionised water.…”

“…On the base of saffron highly mycorrhization level (70 to 90% mycorrhizal intensity) previously reported [12], we randomly selected saffron roots in April 2018. Then, the root segments were processed for observation in light and under transmission electron microscopy.…”

“…The positive effects of AMF on corm growth, spice yield, and the nutraceutical compound content of C. sativus have already been reported in open field trials [12,[40][41][42]. However, so far little is known of the proper saffron AMF inocula application and effects in soilless conditions, where plants are cultivated in pots filled with sterilised substrates that are free of AM fungal propagules or highly reduced in AMF diversity [43].…”

“…While, the effects of AMF-based biostimulants have been investigated only in open fields. To evaluate if saffron cultivation in soilless systems and AMF application may improve crop performance, spice yield and quality, and modulate bioactive compounds content, we cultivated saffron on soilless systems, applying two AMF inocula, and we compared results with those obtained in a previous open field-based trial [12].…”