Open AccessEffect of Drought Stress on the Growth and Development of Saffron (Crocus Sativus. L) in Eastern Morocco
Author(s) -
İbtissam Mzabri,
Manal Legsayer,
Fatimzahhra Aliyat,
Mohammed Maldani,
Nour Eddine Kouddane,
Azzouz Boukroute,
Ibtihal Bekkouch,
Abdelbasset Berrichi
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
atlas journal of biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2158-9151
DOI - 10.5147/ajb.2017.0150
Subject(s) - crocus sativus , crocus , drought stress , traditional medicine , biology , botany , geography , medicine
Saffron (Crocus sativus L.; Iridaceae) is the most expensive \udspice in the world. It has been cultivated in Morocco for \udcentu-ries and has represented a traditional staple for culinary, medical and cosmetic uses. The present work is about \udthe study of the effect of drought stress on Saffron’s mor-\udpho-physiological and biochemical param-eters. An experiment has been carried out on a 4-year-old saffron plantation \udplanted in an open field located in the experimental station of \udthe Faculty of Sciences of Oujda. The experimental treatment \udincluded three water regimes (T0: Control receiving 100% \udET0, T1: moderate water deficit receiving 60% ET0, T2: pronounced water deficit re-ceiving only 40% ET0). The results \udshow that the increase in drought stress levels has slightly \udinfluenced the different param-eters of saffron growth. At the \udfoliar level, the effect of stress has resulted in a de-crease in \udthe chlorophyll content, a slight decrease in the PSII quantum \udyield and a Proline content accumulation as soluble sugars \udand total phenols, which resulted in keeping the relative water content (RWC) and the Malondialdehyde (MAD) content at \uda level similar to that of the control. In gen-eral, the morpho-\udphysiological adaptation traits were observed even at severe \udlevel of water stress (40% ET0) which resulted in an acceptable decrease in stigmas yield