DETERMINATION OF YIELD AND QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME SAFFRON (CROCUS SATIVUS L.) ECOTYPES IN SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIAN CONDITIONS

The aim of the present work was to determine the yield and some quality characteristics of some saffron ecotypes (Turkish, Greek, Spanish, Indian, French). The experiment was run in the winter growing sessions of 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, in Harran University Faculty of Agriculture Research Field according to Randomized Block Design with three replications. Results showed that statistically significant difference between ecotypes was noted at P<0.001 level. In the experiment, phenological observations such as sprout time (day), sprout duration (days), flowering time (day), flowering period (days) and vegetation period (days) were determined. The following parameters including plant heights (30.00 - 45.67 cm), flower number per plant (3.00-3.50 flower/plant), saffron yields (2.04-2.55 g/m2), corm numbers per plant (4.00–5.50 corm/plant), corm yields (2630-3500 g/m2), safranal ratio (39.60-50.02‰), crocin ratio (226.00-291.50‰), picrocrocin ratio (87.80-101.00‰) were determined in the study. It was also seen that all experimental materials had a potential to adapt to Harran Plain ecological conditions. According to the results of this research, the highest quality stigmas were obtained from Greek ecotype saffron and the highest stigma yield was obtained from Spanish saffron in southeastern Anatolian conditions. It can be said that testing Indian ecotype saffron, which has lower yield and quality values compared to other ecotypes, in cooler regions of the country may yield positive results.