Table 1.
Effect of B. subtilis FZB24 on growth and stigma yield of saffron during two successive growing seasons
| Treatments | Days to sprout | No. of sprouts/corm* | Leaf length* (cm) | No. of flowers/corm | 1st flower stigma FW (g) | Total FW yield/corm (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First season – 2004 | ||||||
| Control | 22.1 ± 0.1 | 5.5 ± 0.10 | 24.4 ± 0.15 | 3.3 ± 0.26 | 0.051 ± 0.001 | 0.139 ± 0.002 |
| T2 | 18.5 ± 0.1 | 4.4 ± 0.15 | 25.2 ± 0.32 | 3.1 ± 0.38 | 0.057 ± 0.004 | 0.128 ± 0.003 |
| T3 | 22.8 ± 0.1 | 5.4 ± 0.10 | 23.4 ± 0.15 | 2.9 ± 0.44 | 0.059 ± 0.003 | 0.127 ± 0.004 |
| T4 | 22.6 ± 0.1 | 4.7 ± 0.06 | 22.5 ± 0.06 | 2.3 ± 0.32 | 0.061 ± 0.002 | 0.110 ± 0.002 |
| T5 | 20.6 ± 0.1 | 4.9 ± 0.15 | 23.3 ± 0.26 | 3.1 ± 0.44 | 0.054 ± 0.004 | 0.135 ± 0.004 |
| Second season – 2005 | ||||||
| Control | 22.3 ± 0.1 | 5.8 ± 0.11 | 24.7 ± 0.16 | 3.6 ± 0.27 | 0.048 ± 0.002 | 0.136 ± 0.003 |
| T2 | 19.1 ± 0.1 | 4.7 ± 0.16 | 25.5 ± 0.33 | 3.4 ± 0.39 | 0.054 ± 0.005 | 0.125 ± 0.004 |
| T3 | 23.2 ± 0.1 | 5.7 ± 0.11 | 23.7 ± 0.16 | 3.2 ± 0.45 | 0.056 ± 0.004 | 0.124 ± 0.005 |
| T4 | 22.8 ± 0.1 | 4.9 ± 0.07 | 22.8 ± 0.07 | 2.5 ± 0.33 | 0.057 ± 0.003 | 0.107 ± 0.003 |
| T5 | 21.2 ± 0.1 | 5.2 ± 0.16 | 23.6 ± 0.27 | 3.4 ± 0.45 | 0.052 ± 0.005 | 0.132 ± 0.005 |
Control = corms soaked in water for 15 min before sowing, T2 = corms soaked in B. subtilis FZB24 spore solution at 2 g/1000 mL water for 15 min before sowing, T3, T4 and T5 = T2 + corms soil drenched with FZB24 spore solution at 0.2 g/L after 6, 10 or 14 weeks of sowing date, respectively.
*
Recorded after 16 weeks of planting date.