EFFECT OF CORMS STORAGE CONDITIONS ON QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE TRAITS OF SAFFRON: AN AGRO-CHEMICAL STUDY

In order to evaluate the effects of different corm storage conditions on saffron (C. sativus L.) production and qualitative parameters, corms were subjected to several storage conditions sets. Total stigmas and corms production were evaluated. Stigmas production was significantly affected by different storage temperatures as well as corms production, increasing with the increase of temperature. Physicochemical properties of samples coming from different storage conditions were also evaluated, according to the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) normative, which allowed to rank the saffron samples in three different quality categories (I, II and III). The results of this study clearly demonstrate the importance of monitoring the storage conditions in order to improve saffron samples in terms of yield and quality.