Research Projects

Crocus sativus L. is a cost-effective spice used in various pharmaceutical, neutraceutical, and cosmaceutical combinations. However, saffron cultivation areas and production in traditional growing regions of J&K have decreased due to lack of quality corms, inadequate R&D, urbanization, and climate change. The current global saffron production in J&K is between 9.46 to 18.5 MT, which is significantly lower than market demand, which is expected to increase by over 13.0% in the next decade. The lack of cheap, efficient, and economically viable mass multiplication techniques is hindering the demand for healthy saffron corms for maximum yield and profit. saffron mother corms have 12-20 later bud spots, each capable of forming daughter saffron corms. Understanding the transcriptional dynamics of candidate genes during different stages of the saffron life cycle is crucial for developing sustainable and commercially viable cormogenesis technology. The proposed research proposal aims to identify crucial genes involved in saffron cormogenesis, elicitation of each dormant bud, and the use of potent elicitation nutrient media consortium in the form of fog under appropriate lightening systems (Red:Blue) for growth chamber operation through solar energy. The proposed technology, known as sCT (saffron Corm Technology), is expected to produce six times more good quality corms, which could be channeled to farmers to ensure sustainability in the commercial saffron industry.