Table of Contents

Section One: Cultural and Social Aspects of Saffron 1. Saffron and Folklore  2. Saffron and Religions 3. Saffron in the Ancient History of Iran

Section Two: Saffron Production 4. Evolution, Botanical and Agricultural Characteristics of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and Related Species 5. Soil Conditions for Sustainable Saffron Production 6. Water Requirement of Saffron 7. Saffron Seeds- The Corm 8. Advances in Modeling Saffron Growth and Development at Different Scales 9. Saffron Crop Protection 10.  Ecophysiology of Saffron 11. Emerging Innovation in Saffron

Section Three: Genetics and Biotechnology of Saffron 12. Molecular Biology and Genetics of Crocus sativus L. 13. Tissue and Cell Culture of Saffron 14.  Secondary Metabolites in Saffron

Section Four: Saffron Processing 15. Dehydration of Saffron Stigmas 16. Assessment and Monitoring of Saffron Microbiological Criteria 17. Saffron Adulteration

Section Five: Economy and Trade of Saffron 18. Saffron Cultivation: An Economic Analysis 19.  Saffron Marketing: Challenges and Opportunities 20. Environmental-Economic Analysis of Saffron Production with the Emphasis of Energy, Environmental Impacts and Ecosystem Functions

Section Six: Saffron and Health 21.  History of Saffron in Medicine 22. Phytochemistry of Saffron 23.  Saffron in Traditional Medicine 24. The Effectiveness of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on Memory Function, Learning Ability and Epilepsy 25.  Antidepressant and Antianxiety Properties of Saffron 26.  Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and its Constituents; their Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Effects 27. Cardiovascular Effects of Saffron and its Active Constituents 28. Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) and its Main Constituents, their Effect on Respiratory System 29. Saffron in Metabolic Disorders 30. Available Saffron Formulations and Patents

About the Author

Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran
Dr. Alireza Koocheki is professor at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in Mashhad, Iran. Dr. Koocheki earned a BSc in crop production from the University of Jundi-Shapur, Ahwaz, Iran, and an MSc and PhD in crop production from the University of Wales in the United Kingdom Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran
Mohammad Khajeh-Hosseini is an associate professor and is currently the Head of the department of Crop Science at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in Iran. He completed his BSc in Agronomy and Crop Breeding and MSc in Agronomy at the Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran and his PhD in Seed Science & Technology under supervision of Dr Alison Powell at the University of Aberdeen. His research interests include seed vigor, seed dormancy of medicinal plants, and crop transplanting