Method for promoting saffron progeny corm weight increase by enhancing light
By increasing light intensity to 20,000 Lux and implementing periodic maintenance management, the problem of insufficient bulb weight in saffron offspring was solved, significantly increasing bulb weight and flowering quantity, thus improving saffron yield.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HUZHOU CENT HOSPITAL
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-29
AI Technical Summary
The low annual yield of saffron is mainly due to insufficient weight of the progeny bulbs, resulting in a limited number of flowers that cannot meet market demand.
By increasing the light intensity to 20,000 Lux and combining it with periodic maintenance management, the vegetative growth of saffron progeny bulbs was promoted, and the bulb weight was controlled within the range of 25±1g. The bulbs were then cultivated in a greenhouse environment at 17℃ until flowering.
It significantly increases the weight of progeny corms, improves the number of flowers, solves the bottleneck problem of low saffron yield, enhances light exposure, reduces the expression level of CsCCD2L in leaves, increases the content of zeaxanthin in maize, promotes photosynthesis, and provides sufficient nutrition for the development of progeny corms.
Smart Images
Figure CN120092616B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of traditional Chinese medicine cultivation technology, and relates to a method for promoting the increase of saffron progeny corms weight by enhancing light exposure. Background Technology
[0002] Saffron, a widely used and valuable traditional Chinese medicine, is used medicinally for its dried stigmas, which have the effects of promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, cooling the blood, detoxifying, relieving depression, and calming the mind. Due to problems such as germplasm degeneration and low bulb propagation rate, the annual production of saffron is only about 3,000 kilograms, which is far from meeting the huge domestic market demand. More than 70% of saffron still relies on imports. Therefore, increasing saffron production is an urgent task.
[0003] The cultivation of saffron in China employs a two-stage method: from December to May of the following year, mother bulbs are planted outdoors for vegetative growth to propagate daughter bulbs; from May to November, the daughter bulbs are moved indoors, where they undergo a short summer dormancy period before flower buds develop and bloom in October and November. After harvesting the flowers, the bulbs are then replanted outdoors. The weight of the saffron bulb is closely related to the number of flowers. Bulbs weighing less than 6g do not flower; bulbs weighing 24-28g can produce 1-3 flowers per bud; bulbs weighing over 40g can produce 3-4 flowers per bud; and bulbs weighing over 50g can produce up to 5-6 flowers per bud. Therefore, increasing the weight of the daughter bulbs is expected to improve saffron yield. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a method for increasing the weight of saffron progeny corms by enhancing light exposure.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:
[0006] Methods to promote the increase of saffron progeny bulb weight by enhancing light exposure include: after harvesting the filaments, transplanting the mother bulbs into the soil for vegetative growth, providing a light intensity of 20,000 Lux, implementing periodic maintenance management, supplementing water every two weeks and observing the morphological indicators of the progeny bulbs, and harvesting the progeny bulbs after all the leaves have withered.
[0007] Preferably, the above method further includes: controlling the bulb weight within the range of 25±1g and cultivating it in a greenhouse environment at 17℃ until flowering.
[0008] More preferably, select saffron bulbs with smooth surfaces and no disease spots.
[0009] Preferably, the mother bulb is transplanted into a planting container with a soil depth of 15-20cm for vegetative growth.
[0010] Preferably, the mother bulb is placed in an adjustable light incubator and treated with 20,000 Lux of light intensity.
[0011] Preferably, increasing light intensity can significantly reduce the expression level of CsCCD2L in leaves, leading to an increase in the content of zeaxanthin, which in turn is beneficial for photosynthesis and provides nutrition for the development of offspring corms.
[0012] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:
[0013] This invention provides a method for increasing the weight of saffron progeny corms by enhancing light intensity. Experimental results show that increasing light intensity reduces the expression level of CsCCD2L in leaves, leading to an increase in the content of zeaxanthin, which in turn promotes photosynthesis and provides nutrition for the development of progeny corms. The increase in the weight of progeny corms can significantly increase the number of flowers and improve saffron yield, which is expected to solve the bottleneck problem of low saffron yield. Attached Figure Description
[0014] Figure 1 The process of enhancing light treatment on saffron plants, MC: Mother corm; DC: Daughter corm.
[0015] Figure 2 Saffron plants in the reproductive and vegetative growth stages, saffron flower buds in the flowering induction stage (A) and the flower organ differentiation stage (B), Bar = 0.5 mm; (C) saffron plants on the day of flowering, leaves gradually emerge from the bud sheath; (D) saffron plants in the vegetative growth stage, leaves fully emerge from the bud sheath, Bar = 1 cm.
[0016] Figure 3 Expression levels of CsCCD2L during reproductive and vegetative growth stages: (A) White: White pistil stage, (B) Yellow: Yellow pistil stage, (C) Orange: Orange pistil stage, (D) Red: Red pistil stage, (E) Blooming: Blooming day, (F) Vegetative growth: Vegetative growth period, (G) Expression levels of CsCCD2L during reproductive growth stages (yellow pistil stage, red pistil stage, Blooming day, and vegetative growth period).
[0017] Figure 4 Effects of strong light on the expression level of CsCCD2L (A), zeaxanthin and its conversion products (B).
[0018] Figure 5 Increased light exposure promotes an increase in the weight of offspring bulbs. (A) Saffron plant, red five-pointed stars represent the offspring bulbs formed; (B) Offspring bulbs, Bar = 1 cm; (C) Weight of offspring bulbs; (D) Number of flowers from offspring bulbs of different weights. Detailed Implementation
[0019] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to specific embodiments. The following specific embodiments will help those skilled in the art to further understand the present invention, but do not limit the present invention in any way.
[0020] Example
[0021] like Figure 1 As shown, the method of promoting the increase of saffron progeny corms weight by enhancing light exposure in this invention mainly includes the following steps:
[0022] 1. Select saffron bulbs with smooth surfaces and no disease spots, control the weight of the bulbs within the range of 25±1g, and cultivate them in a greenhouse environment at 17℃ until flowering.
[0023] 2. After harvesting the filaments, transplant the mother bulbs into planting containers with soil depth of 15-20cm for vegetative growth.
[0024] 3. The mother bulbs were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group. The treatment group was placed in an adjustable light incubator and treated with a light intensity of 20,000 Lux, while the control group was treated with a light intensity of 3,000 Lux. Each group had no fewer than 200 bulbs.
[0025] 4. Implement periodic maintenance management, replenish water every two weeks and observe the morphological indicators of the offspring bulbs, continuing until the leaves completely wither, which marks the end of the vegetative growth period.
[0026] 5. The expression level of CsCCD2L was detected under different developmental stages and different light intensities, and the content of maize xanthine and its conversion substances was detected under different light intensities.
[0027] 6. Once all the leaves have withered, the vegetative growth period of saffron ends. Harvest the daughter corms, weigh them precisely, record the weight, and analyze the data.
[0028] The results are as follows:
[0029] (1) The growth cycle of saffron
[0030] The terminal bud of saffron is a mixed flower-leaf bud; under normal conditions, both floral and leaf organs develop. After dormancy is broken, the development of floral and leaf primordia begins, entering the flowering induction period. During this period, the shoot apical meristem transitions from a vegetative to a reproductive state, the surface area of the growth cone increases, and it transforms from a smooth state into a flattened spherical protrusion. The development of floral primordia then begins. Figure 2 A); then it undergoes the differentiation of floral and leaf organs (A); Figure 2 B), as the floral and leaf organs elongate and grow, a mixed floral-leaf bud is formed, enclosed by a coleoptile, until the flowering leaves gradually emerge from the coleoptile. Figure 2 C), entering the vegetative growth stage ( Figure 2 D) In the initial stage of vegetative growth, the mother bulb provides nutrients to the daughter bulbs. As the leaves fully emerge from the coleoptile, they begin to provide nutrients to the daughter bulbs through photosynthesis.
[0031] (2) During the vegetative growth period, the expression level of CsCCD2L in leaves decreased.
[0032] The reproductive growth stages of saffron include the white pistil stage, the yellow pistil stage, the orange pistil stage, the red pistil stage, and the day of flowering. Figure 3 (AE). Reproductive growth occurs indoors, with saffron leaves encased in the coleoptile, receiving relatively weak light. Vegetative growth occurs outdoors, where the leaves receive relatively stronger light, at which point they fully extend out of the coleoptile to photosynthesize. Figure 3 F). The expression level of CsCCD2L throughout its life cycle was detected using qPCR. It was found that the expression level of CsCCD2L gradually increased during the reproductive growth stage, reaching its maximum on the day of flowering, and then significantly decreased during the vegetative growth stage. Figure 3 (G). This result suggests that the expression level of CsCCD2L in leaves may change in response to light intensity.
[0033] (3) Increased light exposure during the vegetative growth period leads to a decrease in the expression level of CsCCD2L and an increase in the content of maize xanthine.
[0034] To further verify whether the expression level of CsCCD2L is affected by light intensity, saffron plants in the vegetative growth stage (with leaves fully emerging from the coleoptile) were treated with light intensities of 3000 Lux (control group) and 20000 Lux (strong light group), respectively. It was found that increasing light intensity could significantly reduce the expression level of CsCCD2L in the leaves. Figure 4 A). The CsCCD2L gene encodes a carotenoid dioxygenase that cleaves zeaxanthin at the 7' and 8' positions. Zeaxanthin participates in light absorption and photoprotection pathways, contributing to efficient photosynthesis in plants. UPLC-MS / MS analysis of zeaxanthin content in leaves under different light intensities revealed a significant increase in zeaxanthin and its conversion products, antheroxin and purpuroxanthin, under strong light treatment. Figure 4 B). In summary, these results suggest that increasing light intensity reduces the expression level of CsCCD2L in leaves, leading to an increase in the content of maize xanthine, which in turn promotes photosynthesis and provides nutrition for the development of offspring corms.
[0035] (4) Increase light exposure during the vegetative growth period to increase the weight of offspring bulbs.
[0036] About two weeks after harvesting saffron stamens, when the leaves had fully emerged from the bud sheath, 200 saffron plants were transferred to a greenhouse for a 20,000 Lux light intensity treatment, and another 200 plants were transferred to a greenhouse for a 3,000 Lux light intensity treatment. After the vegetative growth period ended, i.e., when the leaves withered, the progeny corms were dug up from the substrate soil, and the weight of the progeny corms under different treatments was recorded. The results showed that the weight of the progeny corms under the 20,000 Lux light intensity treatment was significantly higher than that under the 3,000 Lux light intensity treatment. Figure 5 A, B, C). Increased bulb weight in offspring can significantly increase the number of flowers (A, B, C). Figure 5 D) Increasing saffron production is expected to solve the bottleneck problem of low saffron yield.
[0037] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples to illustrate the present invention more clearly, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is impossible to exhaustively list all implementation methods here. Any obvious variations or modifications derived from the technical solutions of the present invention are still within the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. Methods to promote the increase of saffron progeny corm weight by enhancing light exposure include: After harvesting the silks, the mother corms, which are in the vegetative growth stage and whose leaves have fully emerged from the coleoptile, are transplanted into the soil for vegetative growth under a light intensity of 20,000 Lux. Periodic maintenance management is implemented, with water replenished every two weeks and morphological indicators of the offspring corms observed. After all the leaves have withered, the offspring corms are harvested. Increasing the light intensity can significantly reduce the expression level of CsCCD2L in the leaves, leading to an increase in the content of zeaxanthin, which is conducive to photosynthesis and provides nutrition for the development of the offspring corms.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The bulb weight was controlled within the range of 25±1 g, and cultivated in a greenhouse environment at 17℃ until flowering.
3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, Choose saffron bulbs with smooth surfaces and no disease spots.
4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Transplant the mother bulbs into planting containers with soil depth of 15-20cm for vegetative growth.
5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mother bulbs were placed in an adjustable light incubator and treated with 20,000 Lux light intensity.