Cytogenetics of saffron (Crocus sativus), a natural autotriploid species; an investigation on the reasons for its sterility

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 13145-1384, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

The red-orange-colored stigmas of saffron are one of the most expensive spices in the world. Meiosis processes in saffron showed that Crocus sativus L. is an autotriploid species with 2n=3x=8+8+8=24 chromosomes. The results obtained from the meiosis behavior indicated that the major role in the sterility of saffron is autotriploidy in this crop. Arrangement of chromosomes as trivalents in meiosis and formation of these trivalents in the forms of frying pan, chain type, Y type, V type, and triangle type at metaphase I, causes their imbalance junction at anaphase I. Unbalance disjunction of chromosomes at anaphase I and II with the occurrence of the lagging chromosomes in these phases, causes sterile gametes. Also, the formation of chromatid bridges at anaphase I and II with the occurrence of micronuclei at telophase II and tetrad stage are the other reasons for the sterility.

Keywords

Article Title [Persian]

سیتوژنتیک زعفران (Crocus sativus L. )، یک گونه اتوتریپلویید طبیعی و بررسی دلایل عقیمی آن

Author [Persian]

  • سید محمود غفاری
استاد مؤسسه تحقیقات بیوشیمی و بیوفیزیک دانشگاه تهران، تهران، ایران
Abstract [Persian]

یکی از گرانترین ادویه‌های جهان خامه و کلاله قرمز نارنجی خشک شده زعفران است. فرآیند میوز در زعفران نشان داد که Crocus sativus یک گونه اتوتریپلویید می‌باشد که واجد تعداد کروموزوم 2n=3x=8+8+8= 24 می‌باشد. نتایج بدست آمده از رفتار کروموزومها در تقسیم میوز نشان داد که نقش اصلی عقیمی در زعفران مربوط به همین اتوتریپلویید بودن آن است. چینش کروموزومها بصورت تری‌والان و تشکیل این تری‌والان‌ها به شکل ماهیتابه‌ای، زنجیری، Y شکل، V شکل و نوع مثلثی در مرحله متافاز اول باعث تفرق نامتعادل آنها در آنافاز اول می‌شود. تفکیک نامتعادل کروموزومها در آنافاز اول و دوم با بروز کروموزومهای عقب مانده در این مراحل ایجاد گامتهای عقیم می‌کند. همچنین تشکیل پلهای کروماتیدی در آنافاز اول و دوم و بروز هسته‌های کوچک در مراحل تلوفاز دوم و تتراد دلایل دیگری برای عقیمی هستند.

Keywords [Persian]

  • Saffron
  • Crocus sativus
  • cytogenetic
  • autotriploid
  • Iran

References

Abdullaev, F. 2007: Biological properties and medical use of saffron (Crocus sativus). -Acta Horticulturae 739: 339-345.
Aghamohammadi, Z. 1977: An investigation of asexual reproduction, induction of variability of mutagens and sexual sterility of saffron (Crocus sativus) as measured by pollen stainability and pollen germination in relation to chromosome pairing. M. Sc. Thesis, University of Tehran. Tehran, Iran.
Behdani, M. A. & Izanloo, A. 2019: Evaluation of genetic variations in saffron with more than three stigmas using SSR and ISSR molecular markers. -Saffron Agronomy & Technology 7: 347-357.
Behnia, M. R., Estilai, A. & Ehdaie, B. 1999: Application of fertilizers for increased saffron yield. -Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 182: 9-15.
Behzad, S., Razavi, M. & Mahajeri, M. 1992: The effect of various amounts of ammonium phosphate and urea on saffron production. -Acta Horticulturae 306: 337-339.
Brighton, C. A. 1977: Cytology of Crocus sativus and its allies (Iridaceae). -Plant Systematics and Evolution 128: 137-157.
Brandizzi, F. & Grilli Caiola, M. 1998: Flow cytometric analysis of nuclear DNA in Crocus sativus and allies (Iridaceae). -Plant Systematics and Evolution 211 (3-4): 149-154.
Brandizzi, F. & Grilli Caiola, M. 1996: Quantitative DNA analysis in different Crocus species (Iridaceae) by mean of flow cytometry. -Giornale Botanico Italiano 130: 643-645.
Cadone, L., Castronuovo, D., Perniola, M., Cicco, N. & Candido, V. 2020: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.), the king of species: An overview. -Scientia Horticulturae 272:109560.
Chen, Q. F., Hsam Sai, L. K. & Zeller, F. J. 2007: Cytogenetic studies on diploid and autotetraploid common buckwheat and their autotriploid and trisomics. -Crop Science 47: 2340-2345.
Chichiricco, G. 1984: Karyotype and meiotic behavior of the triploid Crocus sativus L. -Caryologia 37: 233-239.
Dafni, A. & Firmage, D. 2000: Pollen viability and longevity: ecological and evolutionary implications. -Plant Systematics and Evolution 222: 113- 132.
Diaom, W. P., Bao, SY., Jiang, B., Cui, L., Qian, CT. & Chen, JF. 2009: Cytogenetic studies on microsporogenesis and male gametophyte development in autotriploid cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.): implication for fertility and production of trisomics. -Plant Systematics and Evolution 279:87-92.
Estilai, A. 1978: Variability in saffron (Crocus sativus). -Experientia 34: 725
Estilai, A. & Aghamohammadi, Z. 1977: Pollen stainability and pollen germination in relation sterility of saffron (Crocus sativus). Bulletin Faculty of Science Tehran University 9: 10-15.
Fallahi, H. R., Abbasi Avval Bohlooli, S., Pahlavan, Z., Hosseini, S. M., Hosseini, SAH. & Ghohestani-Bojd, P. 2021: Saffron vegetative growth as affected by transplanting and direct corm planting under field conditions. Journal of Horticulture and Postharvest Research 4 (Special issue: Recent advances in saffron):1-10.
Ghaffari, S. M. 1986: Cytogenetic studies of cultivated Crocus sativus (Iridaceae). -Plant Systematics and Evolution 153:199-204.
Ghaffari1, S. M. & Bagheri, A. 2009: Stigma variability in saffron (Crocus sativus L.). -African Journal of Biotechnology 8: 601-604,
Grilli Caiola, M., Caputo, P. & Zaier, R. 2004: RAPD analysis in Crocus sativus L. accession and related Crocus species. -Biolgia Plantarum. 48: 375-380.
Harpke, D., Meng, S., Rutten, T., Kerndor, H. & Blattner, FR. 2013: Phylogeny of Crocus (Iridaceae) based on one chloroplast and two nuclear loci: ancient hybridization and chromosome number evolution. -Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 66: 617-627.
Harpke, D., Peruzzi, L., Kerndorff, H., Karamplianis, T., Constantinidis, T., Ranđelović, V., Ranđelović, N., Jušković, M., Pasche, E. & Blattner, FR. 2014: Phylogeny, geographic distribution and new taxonomic circumscription of the Crocus reticulatus species group (Iridaceae). -Turkish Journal of Botany 38: 1182-1198.
Himmerbaur, W. 1926: Zur Entwicklungsgeschichte von Crocus sativus L. Festschrift, Tschirch Taunitz, Leipzig. pp.335-350
Humphries, J. 1996: The essential saffron companion. Grub Street, London
Husaini, A. M., Nadiya Jan, K. & Wani, GA. 2021: Saffron: A potential drug-supplement for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (COVID) management. -Heliyon 7: e07068.
Jahan, M. & Jahani, M. 2007: The effect of chemical and organic fertilizers on saffron flowering. -Acta Horticulturae 739: 81-86.
Karasawa, K. 1932: Kariological studies of some flowering Crocus. -Botanical Magazine (Tokyo) 46: 800-802.
Karasawa, K. 1933: The triploidy of Crocus sativus L. and its high sterility. -The Japanese Journal of Genetics. 9: 6-8.
Karasawa, K.1943: Karyological studies in Crocus. III. -Journal of Japanese Botany 12: 475-503.
Mathew, B. 1982: The Crocus. A revision of the genus Crocus (Iridaceae). Batsford, B.T. Ltd., London.
Negbi, M. 1999: Saffron cultivation: past, present and future prospects. In: Negbi, M. (ed.). Saffron Crocus sativus L. Harwood Academy Publication, pp. 19-30. Amsterdam.
Nemati, Z., Harpke, D., Gemicioglu, A., Kerndorff, H. & Blattner, F. R. 2019: Saffron (Crocus sativus) is an autotriploid that evolved in Attica (Greece) from wild Crocus cartwrightianus. -Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 136:14-20.
Park, S. M., Wakana, A., Kim, J. H. & Jeong, C. S. 2002: Male and female fertility in triploid grapes (Vitis complex) with special reference to the production of aneuploid plants. -Vitis 41: 11-19.
Randelovic, N., Randelovic, V. & Hristovski, N. 2012: Crocus jablanicensis (Iridaceae), a new species from the Republic of Macedonia, Balkan Peninsula. -Annales Botanici Fennici 49: 99-102.
Rastegari, J., Vedadi, S, & Ghaffari S. M. 2007: Causing mutagenesis through the Gamma rays upon the saffron immature corm buds. -Journal of Nuclear Science and Technology (JonSat) 40: 41-46.
Rezaian, S. & Paseban, M. 2007: The effect of micronutrients and manure fertilizers on the quantity and quality of Khorasan saffron. -Acta Horticulturae 739: 155-158.
Rezvani-Moghaddam, P., Mohammad-Abadi, A. A. & Sabori, A. 2007: Effect of different animal manure on flower yield and qualitative and quantitative characteristic of forage production of saffron (Crocus sativus) in Mashhadconditions. -Acta Horticulturae 739: 159-163.
Rukšāns, J. 2017: The world of crocuses. The Latvian Academy of Sciences.
Tammaro, F. 1987: Notizie storico-colturali sullo zafferano (Crocus sativus L., Iridaceae) nellʼs area mediterranea. -Micologia e Vegetazione Mediterranea 2: 44-59.
Tyagi, B. R. & Dubey, R. 1989: Meiotic chromosome behavior and fertility in autotriploids of Egyptian henbane, Hyoscyamus muticus L. -Caryologia 42: 153-163.
Wilson, G. B. 1945: The Venetian turpentine mounting medium. -Stain Technology 20: 133-135.
The Iranian Journal of Botany
Volume 28, Issue 1
May 2022
Pages 57-63

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 08 January 2022
  • Revise Date: 10 May 2022
  • Accept Date: 07 June 2022

Share

How to cite

Statistics