| Studying compounds like Safranal is essential to understanding saffron’s aroma, medicinal properties, and overall quality. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of salicylic acid (SA) and humic acid (HA) applications on the physiological and biochemical responses of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) under stress conditions, water deficit, and low soil organic matter, which are common challenges in Iranian agricultural soils. The experiment was conducted over two years (2018–2019) in Marvast, Yazd Province, using a split-plot design with three replications. Treatments included three levels of SA (0, 1, and 2 mM) and four levels of HA (0, 5, 10, and 15 kg ha⁻¹). The results demonstrated that both SA and HA significantly improved plant nutrition and stress tolerance, with combined applications being more effective than individual treatments. Notable increases were observed in key traits: 64% in relative water content, 83% in Proline, and 330% in catalase with 1 mM SA + 15 kg HA; 127% in chlorophyll with 2 mM SA + 10 kg HA; 49% in carotenoids, 77% in sugars, 220% in superoxide dismutase, 84% in Picrocrocin, and 100% in Safranal with 2 mM SA + 15 kg HA; 240% in ascorbate peroxidase and 500% in glutathione peroxidase with 1 mM SA + 10 kg HA; 370% in protein with 2 mM SA + 5 kg HA; 158% in polyphenol oxidase with 1 mM SA; and 45% in crocin with 2 mM SA + 15 kg HA. These findings highlight the synergistic role of SA and HA in enhancing saffron’s resilience and productivity, offering promising strategies for saffron cultivation in arid and semi-arid regions of Iran. |
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