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Crocus: research into the origin of saffron
The genus Crocus has nearly 100 Processing and growth conditions do species, each with unique characters of vary - from sea level to more than a mile colour, flowering time or geographical high in Kashmir, or from moist to desert distribution. We are aiming to conditions, for example - so quality may understand the relationships of the vary. Adulteration of saffron with dyes different species, the diversity within and other fibres is also a big problem species, and in particular the origin and commercially, and our barcoding work diversity of the most valuable Crocus is helping develop tests for authenticity, species, the spice saffron. although not geographical origin!
Saffron is the dried stigmas of the flower We have analysed the DNA from 21 Saffron has three sets of chromosomes from Crocus sativus, which is grown species, representing the diversity of (illustrated below), so can be thought commercially in many countries, from Iran Crocus, and the 'barcodes' from the DNA of as having three parents (direct to Mediterranean Spain and Greece, with show substantial differences between ancestors)! Sequencing the three sets significant production also in Kashmir. It the species, shown in an example above of genes shows that two are like the is highly prized as a spice and colouring, where the code is different in each lane wild species Crocus cartwrightianus, used in both sweet and savoury dishes, (left and right and lane 13 are DNA while the other set is more similar to C. teas, and also with medical applications. reference markers). Analysis of several pal/asii ssp. pal/asii. These findings have About 200 stigmas from 70 flowers go wild accessions of species also shows given a strong indication of the answers into a gram of the spice. Flowers are considerable variation: lanes 3 to 5 are to questions about saffron's origin and picked in the early morning, and the different collections of the ornamental diversity that have been asked for one stigmas removed on processing tables species Crocus thomasii. and a half millennia! in the shade, before the drying process which differs between producers. Despite the high price, though, only a few stigmas are needed to flavour a dish. Saffron does
vegetatively, by separation of corms from the parent. Our research is asking the following questions. How many times has saffron originated in nature? What are the ancestors? How different is saffron from different geographical areas? Is it possible to resynthesize the species to breed In contrast, when we looked at saffron, Many of the plants grown in the botanic improved saffron with better disease each barcode was identical (above), gardens are used for research within the University. This work was conducted resistance, easier harvestability, and better whether the plant was obtained from in the context of the EU project use of water in dry areas? Spain, Iran, Holland, Greece, the UK Crocusbank.org and the ESFnetwork or Kashmir. We conclude, therefore, , , Many of the plants grown Saffronomics.org that there is very little, if any, genetic in the botanic gardens are variation in saffron from across the world Nouf Alsayied, Trude Schwarzacher used for research within and the cultivated species only arose & Pat Heslop-Harrison once before being distributed widely. (Department of Biology) the University"
Saffron Crocus, showing the dark orange stigmas (left) and the harvested stigmas (right).