Crocus sativus (L.) Grown in Pots with High Volume Capacity: From a Case of Study to a Patent

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) cultivation is widespread in different parts of the world, including various Mediterranean areas. The crop management techniques, requiring intensive manual labor from planting, weeding, flower picking to collecting stigmas, contribute greatly high price spice. Traditionally, corms are cultivated field soil and only stigmas collected obtain spice while flower’s remaining parts, corresponding about 90% total biomass, discarded thrown away. In this study, order overcome some difficulties occurring during whole cycle (pathogens, fungi, pests, weeds, etc.), as well ease increase floral bioresidue recovery, an alternative planting way for Crocus L. was proposed relying on use large pots. For aim, with 3.0–3.5 cm diameter size, two geographical origins (Spain, Holland), were planted plastic pots a volume 250 L or 350 L, placed areas Basilicata region (Italy). effect new growing condition dry stigma yield daughter corm size evaluated. Although system more expensive than traditional one, it offers numerous huge advantages. Among them, allows us maintain correct posture preserve integrity harvesting. structural tepals very important factor innovative dried flowers their original tridimensional shape (3D). Consequently, facilitates achievement real “niche product” added value (absence pollen grains). Moreover, qualitative analysis spice, performed according International Standardization Organization Normative 3632 (ISO 3632-2/1:2010/2011), classified all investigated saffron samples first category. results three trial years exciting promising they similar those literature carried out ground soil. However, Spain gave best results. Further investigations progress optimize system.