PATENTS

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a cultivated plant that has been consumed by many civilizations from ancient times to the present day. Thanks to its rich bioactive compounds, it is widely used in the food, cosmetic, and textile industries, making it a versatile plant of high economic value.  At the same time, it is an important medicinal plant with various pharmacological effects, owing to its potent antioxidant and anticancer properties. Belonging to the Iris family (Iridaceae), this plant is a sterile triploid (2n=3x) species that blooms in the spring and fall. Because of its sterile nature, saffron cannot reproduce sexually; instead, it is passed on to future generations through vegetative propagation material known as “baby corms.” However, the formation rate of these daughter corms is quite low under natural conditions. Furthermore, the fact that its cultivation is only feasible in regions with specific soil and climate conditions, combined with the limited availability of propagation material, results in only limited-scale cultivation.  In this context, the aim of the patent in question is to develop an effective regeneration system by culturing different explants of the saffron plant under in vitro conditions and using plant growth regulators (PGRs) at various concentrations and combinations. It is expected that the protocol developed in this regard will contribute to and guide future research on saffron production.