Effects of Corm Treatment with Cold Plasma and Electromagnetic Field on Growth and Production of Saffron Metabolites in .

Abstract

L. is a widely cultivated traditional plant for obtaining dried red stigmas known as "saffron," the most expensive spice in the world. The response of to pre-sowing processing of corms with cold plasma (CP, 3 and 5 min), vacuum (3 min), and electromagnetic field (EMF, 5 min) was assessed to verify how such treatments affect plant performance and the quality and yield of herbal raw materials. The results show that applied physical stressors did not affect the viability of corms but caused stressor-dependent changes in the kinetics of sprouting, growth parameters, leaf trichome density, and secondary metabolite content in stigmas. The effect of CP treatment on plant growth and metabolite content was negative, but all stressors significantly (by 42-74%) increased the number of leaf trichomes. CP3 treatment significantly decreased the length and dry weight of flowers by 43% and 60%, respectively, while EMF treatment increased the length of flowers by 27%. However, longer CP treatment (5 min) delayed germination. Vacuum treatment improved the uniformity of germination by 28% but caused smaller changes in the content of stigma compounds compared with CP and EMF. Twenty-six compounds were identified in total in stigma samples by the HPLC-DAD method, including 23 crocins, rutin, picrocrocin, and safranal. Processing of corms with EMF showed the greatest efficiency in increasing the production of secondary metabolites in saffron. EMF increased the content of marker compounds in stigmas (crocin 4: from 8.95 to 431.17 mg/g; crocin 3: from 6.27 to 164.86 mg/g; picrocrocin: from 0.4 to 1.0 mg/g), although the observed effects on growth were neutral or slightly positive. The obtained findings indicate that treatment of corms with EMF has the potential application for increasing the quality of saffron by enhancing the amounts of biologically active compounds.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

Physical stressor treatments (cold plasma, vacuum, EMF) did not affect corm viability but produced stressor-dependent changes in sprouting, growth, trichome density, and stigma secondary metabolites. EMF treatment (5 min) increased flower length by 27% and showed the greatest efficiency for increasing secondary metabolite production, increasing marker compounds in stigmas (e.g., crocin 4 from 8.95 to 431.17 mg/g; crocin 3 from 6.27 to 164.86 mg/g; picrocrocin from 0.4 to 1.0 mg/g), with growth effects described as neutral or slightly positive.

Outcomes measured

• Corm viability
• Sprouting/germination kinetics and uniformity
• Growth parameters (including flower length, flower dry weight)
• Leaf trichome density
• Secondary metabolite content in stigmas (crocins, rutin, picrocrocin, safranal) measured by HPLC-DAD

Limitations

• EMF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength, waveform) not reported in the abstract
• Sample size and study design details not provided in the abstract
• Findings are from a plant model (saffron corms), limiting relevance to human health EMF questions

{
    "study_type": "other",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "pre-sowing electromagnetic field treatment of saffron corms",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "5 min"
    },
    "population": "Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) corms/plants",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Corm viability",
        "Sprouting/germination kinetics and uniformity",
        "Growth parameters (including flower length, flower dry weight)",
        "Leaf trichome density",
        "Secondary metabolite content in stigmas (crocins, rutin, picrocrocin, safranal) measured by HPLC-DAD"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Physical stressor treatments (cold plasma, vacuum, EMF) did not affect corm viability but produced stressor-dependent changes in sprouting, growth, trichome density, and stigma secondary metabolites. EMF treatment (5 min) increased flower length by 27% and showed the greatest efficiency for increasing secondary metabolite production, increasing marker compounds in stigmas (e.g., crocin 4 from 8.95 to 431.17 mg/g; crocin 3 from 6.27 to 164.86 mg/g; picrocrocin from 0.4 to 1.0 mg/g), with growth effects described as neutral or slightly positive.",
    "effect_direction": "benefit",
    "limitations": [
        "EMF exposure parameters (e.g., frequency, field strength, waveform) not reported in the abstract",
        "Sample size and study design details not provided in the abstract",
        "Findings are from a plant model (saffron corms), limiting relevance to human health EMF questions"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "electromagnetic field",
        "EMF",
        "cold plasma",
        "vacuum",
        "pre-sowing treatment",
        "corm",
        "Crocus sativus",
        "saffron",
        "secondary metabolites",
        "crocins",
        "picrocrocin",
        "safranal",
        "HPLC-DAD",
        "trichomes",
        "germination",
        "growth"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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