Hadis Khoshkhoo - Genetic and Plant Production Department, Agricultural Faculty of Shirvan, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran
Ghorbanali Rassam - Genetic and Plant Production Department, Agricultural Faculty of Shirvan, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran
Mahdi Babaeian - Genetic and Plant Production Department, Agricultural Faculty of Shirvan, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran
Samaneh Rahban - Department of Agronomy, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran
Zahra Taghizadeh Tabari - Genetic and Plant Production Department, Agricultural Faculty of Shirvan, University of Bojnord, Bojnord, Iran
Manoj Kumar Dhar - Technology Development Board, Govt. of India, School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Road, Jammu- ۱۸۰ ۰۰۶, J & K, India

Both Foliar nutrients and phytohormones application have crucial roles in enhancing the yield of plants and meeting the increasing demand for food. To evaluate the effects of a foliar fertilizer and growth regulators on quality and quantity yields of saffron (Crocus sativus L.), a complete block randomized experiment was conducted on the experimental farm in Farooj in ۲۰۲۰-۲۰۲۱. This study consisted of seven treatments: ۱-Control, ۲- Gibberellin (۲۰۰ ppm), ۳-Auxin (۲۰۰ ppm), ۴- foliar spraying of Fruit Set (specific fertilizer containing ۸.۷۵% N as NO۳−, ۴.۳۷% Zn, and ۱۰% B, ۶%K, and ۶% sea weed extract at a rate of ۰.۵ L/ha + gibberellin (۲۰۰ppm), ۵-Fruit Set foliar fertilizer (۰.۵ L/ha), ۶- N-phenyl-phthalamic acid (۲۰۰ mg/L as irrigation), and ۷-N-phenyl-phthalamic acid (spraying with ۲۰۰ mg/L). It was found that the Fruit Set treatment resulted in the highest flower height (۱۰.۳۳ cm) and the auxin treatment resulted in ۴۶ % increase in leaf height over the control treatment. In the Fruit Set + gibberellin treatment, the highest flower weight (۲۷۹۰g) was achieved, and the highest number of mother corms (۱۵ pieces) was obtained in the auxin and gibberellin treatment. It also was observed that the mother corm weight (۴۴ grams) and diameter (۱۴ cm) were highest in gibberellin treatment (۴۷%), and auxin treatment produced the largest number of daughter corms (۳۲ pieces). Fruit Set + gibberellin, Fruit Set, auxin, and gibberellin significantly increased flower weight by ۹۳%, ۶۷%, ۷۸%, and ۷۷%. The Fruit Set treatment was found to be most effective in terms of crocin levels. Overall, the results of this research showed positive effects of gibberellin on quantitative yield and auxin on the number of daughter corms. In addition, the application of the Fruit Set improved the flowering and quality characteristics of saffron.

Safranal, Yield, Auxin, Regulators, Mother corm, Picrocrocin