C Karaoğlu - Parmaksız Department of Biologyv Faculty of Science and Arts University of Gaziosmanpaşa Tokat Turkey
S Uranbey - Central Research Institute for Field Crops Yenimahalle Ankara Turkey
E.O Sarıhan - Department of Field Crops Faculty of Agriculture University of Mustafa Kemal Hatay Turkey
N Arslan - Özcan B. Gürbüz, S. Mirici, C. Er, K.M. Khawar Faculty of Education University of Akdeniz Antalya Turkey

Saffron has been produced and exported from Turkey until nineteenth century. However, at the present time it is produced only in a few villages. Since saffron is sterile triploid, it is propagated by corms as the propagation through seed is impossible due to non setting of seeds. The natural propagation rate of most geophytes including saffron is relatively low. In vitro techniques have been used for the micropropagation of various plant species. In the present study various explants including floral and corm segments were cultured on different nutrient media supplemented with various concentrations of plant growth regulators. New corms were produced on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg l-1 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.5 mg l-1 -naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) after 6 months of culture. Regenerated corms were kept at 5 ºC for 5 weeks and then transplanted to a potting mixture.

Crocus sativus, surface sterilization