Correlation between morphological parameters, yield attributes and corm rot incidence and severity in saffron (Crocus sativus L.): A two-year study (2022-2024)

Abstract

The present study analyzed the correlation between morphological parameters, yield attributes, and the incidence and severity of corm rot in saffron (Crocus sativus L.) during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 growing seasons. Results revealed significant relationships among these variables. Morphological traits, including the number of corms sprouted, number of flowers per corm, number of leaves, leaf length, stigma length, and yield, exhibited strong negative correlations with the severity of corm rot, with correlation coefficients (r) ranging from -0.81 to -0.94 in 2022-23 and -0.56 to -0.94 in 2023-24. A significantly positive correlation was observed between the incidence and severity of corm rot (r = 0.97 and r = 0.96, respectively). The incidence of corm rot showed negative correlations with key morphological parameters, including stigma length (r = - 0.97, -0.93), number of leaves (r = -0.96, -0.86), and number of corms sprouted (r = -0.93, -0.95). Yield, number of flowers per corm, and leaf length also exhibited negative correlations with incidence (r ranging from -0.89 to -0.92). Conversely, positive correlations were observed between yield and morphological parameters such as number of corms sprouted, number of flowers per corm, number of leaves, leaf length, and stigma length (r values ranging from 0.85 to 0.98).