Effects of 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Naphthaleneacetic Acid (NAA) on Selected Vegetative Growth Characteristics of Saffron Crocus sativus L¬

• Mohanad Ali Zwaid¹, Haider Aliwi Kassar², Hussein Ali Kadhim¹, Omar H. Obaid3

  Author

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a value medicinal and aromatic crop. However saffron production on a scale is slowed by the slow growth of saffron corms. This study looked at how 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) separately and together affect selected growth traits of saffron. The greenhouse experiment took place at Al-Musayyib Technical College, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University, Iraq between December 2025 and April 2026. Treatments followed a 4 × 4 factorial design in a Randomized Design with three replicates. BAP was sprayed at concentrations of 0.0, 1.0 1.5 and 2.0 mg L⁻¹ while NAA was sprayed at 0.0, 0.50 0.75 and 1.0 mg L⁻¹. All measured traits showed differences, between treatments and their interaction. The 0.0 mg L⁻¹ BAP and 0.50 mg L⁻¹ NAA treatment produced the corm diameter measuring 21.91 mm. The same treatment also produced the plants reaching 38.33 cm. The highest number of daughter corms 13.33, per plant was seen when 2.0 mg L⁻¹ BAP and 1.0 mg L⁻¹ NAA were used. The greatest fresh weight of daughter corms 3.31 g was recorded when 1.5 mg L⁻¹ BAP and 0.75 mg L⁻¹ NAA were applied. In general responses varied depending on the trait measured. This shows that the BAP–NAA mix depends on which growth characteristic is being considered in this experiment.

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