Hamid-Reza Fallahi - Saffron Research Group, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
Gholamreza Zamani - Saffron Research Group, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
Mahsa Aghhavani-Shajari - Departement of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
Alireza Samadzadeh - Saffron Research Group, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran
Ferdinando Branca - Department of Agriculture, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
Mokhadereh Mehrabani - Departement of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Sarayan Faculty of Agriculture, University of Birjand, Birjand, Iran

Saffron production will be increased in arid regions by providing sufficient water through appropriate agronomic strategies. Therefore, in this investigation the impact of different rates of super absorbent polymer (SAP) including ۰,۱۰, ۲۰, ۳۰, ۴۰ and ۵۰ kg ha-۱ was studied on saffron flowering traits during two growth cycles. Results showed that the influence of experimental factor was significant on almost all studied indices in both years. Number of flower was on average ۲۲% more than control when ۳۰-۴۰ kg ha-۱ SAP was used. Flower yield in the first growth cycle was higher in ۴۰ kg ha-۱ (۲۴.۹ g.m-۲) and in the second one in ۳۰ kg ha-۱ (۸۹.۴ g.m-۲) SAP application, while these values in control treatment were ۱۹.۷ and ۷۱.۲ g.m-۲ for the first and second seasons, respectively. Altogether in two years application of ۴۰ kg ha-۱ SAP produced the highest fresh stigma + style yield (۴.۵۴ g.m-۲) compared with the control (۳.۴۷ g.m-۲). SAP application at the rates of more than ۳۰ kg ha-۱ increased dry stigma yield in average of two years (۰.۴۵, ۰.۵۰, ۰.۴۹ and ۰.۴۴ g.m-۲ for ۰, ۳۰, ۴۰ and ۵۰ kg.ha-۱ treatments, respectively). In addition, SAP usage at the rate of ۴۰ kg ha-۱ produced the highest number (۱۲.۶) and weight (۸۶ g per plant) of replacement corms at the end of second growth season. In total, it seems that SAP consumption can be considered as a suitable option for improvement of saffron flowering in areas affected by drought stress.

Crocus sativus, Drought Stress, Sepal yield, Style yield, Water availability