Saffron, a spice revered for its vibrant colour and unique flavour, is one of the most precious commodities worldwide.
Besides its culinary appeal, saffron also holds significant medicinal value, including anti-depression, anti-carcinogenic,
and anti-tumour properties. Consequently, maximizing saffron production is a key objective for many in the culinary and medicinal industries.
Recent research titled "Blue Light Improves Photosynthetic Performance and Biomass Partitioning Toward Harvestable
Organs in Saffron (Crocus sativus L.)" offers remarkable insights into how to enhance saffron growth and productivity,
especially for those interested in indoor farming of saffron in India. The crucial ingredient for saffron robust growth? Blue Light Spectrum.
The researchers extensively explored the effects of different light spectra, including blue light (400-500 nm), red light (600-700 nm), a combination of both, and white light on saffron plants. Consistent light intensity at 150 μmol/m2/s was maintained across all treatments and found Blue Light Spectrum to be most effective in bringing out the right quality of stigma and daughter corms.
The study reveals that saffron plants nurtured under blue LED grow lights demonstrate
significantly improved growth in flower, root, and corm—the bulb-like structure essential for the plant's
vegetative growth. These plants also showcased higher photosynthetic efficiency, more effective electron transport,
and lesser energy dissipation than those grown under red light.
In the context of indoor farming of saffron in India, the role of blue light in directing more
biomass towards the corms and floral organs is crucial. It contrasts with red light, which channels
the biomass towards the leaves—making blue light a more effective choice for growing saffron in indoor farms.
Blue LED grow lights have a remarkable influence on flower production. Saffron plants grown under
these lights yielded almost four times more flowers compared to those under red light. Moreover,
both the fresh and dry weight of the flowers were significantly higher.
Most importantly, for saffron cultivators, the stigma—the saffron spice itself—also benefitted
from the blue LED grow lights. The fresh and dry weight of the stigma were highest in these plants,
enhancing the final yield.
As the ratio of blue to red light increased, so did the weight of the daughter corms.
Notably, the heaviest daughter corms were produced under 100% blue LED grow lights, suggesting potential
strategies for boosting new corm biomass in indoor saffron farms.
Furthermore, plants exposed to blue light also showed higher concentrations of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids.
Interestingly, the research found that plants grown under 100% blue light demonstrated
higher antioxidant capacities, making it a compelling proposition for optimizing the indoor farming of saffron in India.
Blue Light Improves Photosynthetic Performance and Biomass Partitioning Toward Harvestable
Organs in Saffron (Crocus sativus L.)
available at https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353719332
_Blue_Light_Improves_Photosynthetic_
Performance_and_Biomass_Partitioning_toward
_Harvestable_Organs_in_Saffron_Crocus_sativus_L.
Read more about how to choose a perfect LED Grow light.