The origin of saffron. Part 2: The role of polyploidy for saffron secondary metabolites

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Crocus sativus is the economically most important species within Crocus. Its long stigmas are used to produce saffron, the worldwide most expensive spice. During the last three years we were able to clarify the relationships of the crop within series Crocus and could identify C. cartwrightianus, sometimes called ‘wild saffron,’ as the only progenitor involved in the formation and domestication of saffron in southern Greece. Saffron is a male-sterile segmental allotriploid that can only be propagated vegetatively, which prevents all breeding approaches. Now that the progenitor and geographic origin of saffron is clear we want to explore the role of polyploidy in the formation of the crop and screen the naturally occurring diversity of genotypes and metabolites of C. cartwrightianus and C. sativus. Starting from aromatic chemotypes, which we already identified in southern Attica, we will (i) explore the influence of ploidy change on the metabolite content and (ii) compare transcriptional differences between individuals at different ploidy levels, (iii) we will proceed with first steps towards a C. cartwrightianus draft genome, and (iv) finally analyze the population structure of the worldwide grown C. sativus cultivars to understand their relationships and adaptation to the different climate conditions they experience in their cultivation areas. With the work of this second project phase we will open up the possibility for a pre-breeding (or synthesis) program for saffron and for a better understanding of the genetic basis of its valuable properties.