Effect of Cold Storage on Saffron Flowers Shelf Life and Dried Stigma Quality

Abstract

ABSTRACT Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a valuable crop in Iran and worldwide. Due to a rising production rate of saffron flowers and limitation of harvesting time, the best storage conditions should be determined. In this research, saffron flowers were harvested at semi-bloom form stage, and placed in plastic baskets, in two different thickness accumulations (10 and 15 cm). The flowers were stored at 0, 4, 8 and 21˚C for after 2, 4, 7, 14 and 21 days. During storage period, weight loss percentage was calculated. In addition, the stigmas were separated from the styles and dried in an oven at 60 o C. Bioactive compounds such as crocin, picrocrocin and safranal, and coliform enumeration were evaluated. The result indicated that weight loss percentage increased with increasing storage thickness, temperature and storage duration; however bioactive compounds reduced. The crocin and picrocrocin content were registered 298.73 and 100, respectively, when flowers were stored at 0 o C for 21 days. These values at 8 o C and 21 o C were not in the standard range; therefore these temperatures were not found suitable for flower storing. Although coliform contamination increased during storage days, the value was acceptable after 7 days. According to the results, it is recommended to store saffron flowers in basket with 10 cm Thickness Accumulation (TA) at 0 o C for 7 days