Optimization of MS liquid medium to increase saffron cell biomass

Amini, Somaye; Ziaratnia, Seyed Mahdi; Adibpour, Nasim

doi:10.22077/jhpr.2025.8864.1473

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Horticultural Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

² Badiee Saffron Production Agricultural Company, Mashhad, Iran

³ Department of Food Biotechnology, Research Institute of Food Science and Technology (RIFST), Mashhad, Iran

⁴ Grownida Innovation Center, Mashhad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22077/jhpr.2025.8864.1473

Abstract

Purpose: The objective of this study was to enhance the MS-based medium to maximize cell biomass obtained from saffron corm within a liquid culture system. Research Method: The initial experiment employed a factorial design to examine three key factors influencing cell biomass: total nitrogen concentrations (20, 40, and 60 mM), ammonium/nitrate ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100), and sucrose concentrations (3, 6 and 9%). In the second experiment, we evaluated the effect of a basal liquid MS medium enriched with L-glutamine, L-cysteine, PVP, chitosan, and KH₂PO₄ on cell biomass. The optimized medium from Experiment 1 was further enhanced based on the results obtained from Experiment 2 in order to increase cell biomass. Its effects were then compared to those of the standard MS medium by measuring fresh weight of cells over a six-week period in Experiment 3. Findings: Results from the initial experiment demonstrated a significant increase in cell biomass (3.37 g) when using 3% sucrose with nitrate instead of ammonium. Lowering the nitrogen concentration from 60 mM to 40 mM significantly improved cell growth. Additionally, both PVP and KH₂PO₄contributed to increased saffron cell fresh weight in the second experiment. However, it was noted that even at low concentrations, chitosan application significantly enhanced cell death. The findings from the third experiment revealed that the modified MS culture medium, combined with potassium phosphate, significantly enhanced cell biomass growth compared to the standard MS medium. Research Limitations: No limitations were identified during this study. Originality/Value: This study evaluated key factors affecting cell biomass in saffron, but future research should explore the production of saffron metabolites under these influences.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Biotechnology and Tissue culture

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Optimization of MS liquid medium to increase saffron cell biomass

References

References

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof Available Online from 08 October 2025

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 08 October 2025