Short communication. Phenological growth stages of saffron plant (Crocus sativus L.) according to the BBCH Scale

Abstract

Phenological studies are important for understanding the influence of climate dynamics on vegetative growth, flowering and fruiting on plants and can be used in many scientific subjects, such as Agronomy, Botany and Plant Biology, but also Climatology as a result of the current global interest in climate change monitoring. The purpose of the detailed specific culture descriptions of the principal growth stages in plants is to provide an instrument for standardization of data recording. To date, there was no coding method to describe developmental stages on saffron plant (Crocus sativus L.). Because of the increasing world-wide interest on this crop, a novel growth development code based on the BBCH extended scale is proposed in this paper. Six principal growth stages were set up, starting from sprouting, cataphylls and flowers appearance, plant appearance and development, replacement corms development, plant senescence and corm dormancy. Each principal growth stage is subdivided into secondary growth stages. Descriptive keys with illustrations are included to make effective use of the system.

Comparing annual and biennial crop cycle on the growth, yield and quality of saffron using three corm dimensions

“…Leaf number of the plants developed from corms planted in biennial crop cycle was increased by two folds as compared to those planted in annual crop cycle (Table 5). This finding is due to the increase of daughter corms and their buds during the previous crop cycle of saffron in according to literature (Douglas et al, 2014;Lopez-Corcoles et al, 2015).…”

“…C. sativus belongs to Iridaceae family and since it is a sterile plant, it propagates vegetatively only through daughter corms during every annual biological cycle (Grilli Caiola and Canini, 2010). The biological cycle of saffron lasts about 240 days and involves five major stages: sprouting (September-October), flowering (October-November), leaf development (October-April), growth and multiplication of daughter corms (November-April), and dormancy (May-August) (Lopez-Corcoles et al, 2015).…”

Phenological description and thermal time requirements for the seedling phase of three Brazilian native forest species

“…Using phenological scales, especially the BBCH scale, is recommended to standardize and provide detailed plant development phases (and stages) during their cycle. Scales like those used in this study enable better communication between forestry professionals and researchers, by unifying the criteria used to describe development stages, regardless of the planting area (Cavalcante et al, 2020; Liu et al, 2015; Lopez‐Corcoles et al, 2015). The BBCH scale is advantageous compared to others due to its simplicity and adaptability to agricultural and forest species with annual or perennial cycles (Finn et al, 2007; Kishore & Mahanti, 2016).…”

The emerging saffron value chain in the M’Zab valley – southern Algeria: an analysis of ongoing dynamics and strategic development options

“…Indeed, given its morphology and physiology, saffron is a rustic crop able to cope with severe weather conditions (Alizadeh et al, 2009;Molina et al, 2005). Its specific life cycle allows it to overcome the hostile season (summer), which coincides with its dormancy phase (Lopez-Corcoles et al, 2015;Alvarez-Orti et al, 2004). The interest in developing this crop is also explained by the possibilities it offers for using "marginal" or less fertile lands in fragile agro-ecosystems, such as those in rural and mountainous areas (Gresta et al, 2008).…”