Tissue and cell culture of saffron

Abstract This chapter includes the methods for tissue and cell culture of saffron. Saffron is a triploid plant, and therefore vegetative reproduction is a common way for its propagation. In traditional culture, few cormlets are produced each year and thus the production rate is low. Tissue culture methods such as micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis, organogenesis, and in vitro cormogenesis are necessary for mass and free pathogen reproduction of this plant. All of these methods are discussed in the preliminary sections of this chapter. Tissue culture techniques can be very effective and useful methods for genetic modification and to produce new varieties of saffron. Protoplast culture to produce somatic hybrids and stigma-like structure culture to produce stigmas and their compounds that are used in saffron tissue culture and also related research is included at the end of this chapter.