Saffron hybrids

General Gardening
#1

Saffron is a pollen sterile triploid that does not produce seed.

While it is given its own species name, from what I have read it is most likely a form of Crocus cartwrightianus. There are a few papers where pollen from C cartwrightianus produces viable seed in saffron. I have seen pictures of the hybrid plants.

Has anyone tried to make this cross? Is it difficult to achieve? Are the threads of the hybrids any good? Are the hybrids sterile or are they able to set seed? I have a lot of questions if anyone knows more about this and is willing to share their knowledge.

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#2

I would hypothesize the fertility of any subsequent offspring would vary according to whether they end up being diploid or triploid which could go either way depending on the meiosis… I’m guessing that although possible, the fertility of the saffron would be pretty low due to being triploid. Triploids are often considered to be sterile for practical purposes, but in reality they do occasionally “mess up” and make a fertile seed here and there.

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