Evidence from both ancient artworks as well as genetics suggests that saffron originated from Bronze Age Greece around 1700 BC or earlier, according to a new review of studies published in the journal Frontiers in Plant Science.
- Researchers said the species is difficult to study genetically since it has three copies of every chromosome – instead of the usual two – and a large genome containing a high percentage of difficult-to-sequence repetitive DNA.
- And since ancient Crocus remains are not preserved from historic and prehistoric times, researchers assessed ancient artworks that depict saffron-like plants hoping to find specific regions where the plant grew in the wild.
About Saffron
- saffron is the world’s most expensive spice. Saffron is extracted from the flowers of the saffron crocus, a species of flowering plant of the Crocus genus in the iris family Iridaceae.
- Between 15,000 and 16,000 flowers, requiring between 370 and 470 person-hours to collect, yield a single kilo of saffron, worth between $1,300 and $10,000.
- The first use of the word ‘saffron’ dates back to the 12th century to the old French term safran that consecutively originated from the Latin safranum, the Arabic za’farān, and the Persian zarparan with the meaning ‘gold strung.’
- Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) a perennial herb belongs to Iris family Iridaceae and is the most expensive spice in the world known for its aroma and colour and used for flavouring and colouring and in medicinal, pharmaceutical industries.
- Saffron is a legendary crop of Jammu and Kashmir produced on well drained karewa soils of Kashmir and Kishtwar where ideal climatic conditions are available for good growth and flower production.
- Total world production of saffron is around 300 tons per year. Iran, India, Spain and Greece are the major saffron producing countries with Iran occupying the maximum area and contributing about 88% of world’s saffron production.
- Though, India occupies the 2nd largest area but produces approximately 7 per cent of the total world production.
- Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in India where saffron is produced.
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