Consortium and groups

The creation of a bank of germplasm in saffron requires the participation of some non-EC countries

Coordinated Implementation Plan

The action comprises three basic tasks: collection, conservation, evaluation and utilisation of Crocus genetic diversity. The first duty will be completed by the participation of 12 groups of the consortium. Each group has the responsibility to collect the quoted plant material using botanic gardens, personal contacts, other collections and explorations to the field. The Crocus wild species that are included in the list are the complete genus, as described by Brian Mathew (Mathew, B. 1982, The Crocus. A Revision of the Genus Crocus (Iridaceae). B.T. Batsford Ltd. London). explorations to the field. The Crocus wild species that are included in the list are the complete genus, as described by Brian Mathew (Mathew, B. 1982, The Crocus. A Revision of the Genus Crocus (Iridaceae). B.T. Batsford Ltd.

Explorations and collection per area are designed on the basis of the geographical proximity of both saffron production areas and Crocus spp. population habitats. The programme of collection of Crocus taxa is planned on a basis of maximums, in order to obtain different subspecies and populations of each species. Partial results are not considered a failure since the purpose is to obtain as many accessions as possible, representative of the species range and diversity, according to the financial and human resources available.

The conservation, multiplication, maintenance, documentation and management of the collection will be carried out by the JCCM Group (CIA-Albaladejito, Cuenca), Centre specialised in the management of germplasm banks of the Castilla-La Mancha region in Spain, amongst them, the dedicated to “aromatic and medicinal plants”.

According with the objectives of the project, translated into workpakages, various overlapping groups are established. The first one, named “ Saffron Collectors Group (SCG)” is integrated by partners 0, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, under the supervision of partner 0 (UCLM, Spain), and will carry out WP-01. The second is the “Crocus Collectors Group (CCG) ” composed by partners 0, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, under the command of partner 11 (NIAR, Greece), will carry out WP-02. The partners 1, 4, 5, and 10 constitute the “Descriptors Group (DG)” whose manager is partner 4 (UPV, Spain), and will carry out WP-03. The "Multiplication and Conservation Group (MCG)" is organized by partners 0, 1, 6 and 9 , with partner 1 (JCCM, Spain ) as manager, and will carry out WP-04. The characterization and evaluation task (WP-05) is approached by two groups: (1) morphological, physiological and agronomical level, with partners 0, 1, 4, 7, 10 and 11 leaded by partner 1, and (2) chemical and molecular level, with partners 0, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13, under the organization of partner 2 (AUA, Greece). These groups are called CEGA and CEGC, respectively. The coordination of the complete WP-05 will be made by the project coordinator (partner 2). The application of the germplasm information and banked accessions (WP-06) is implemented by the “ Application Group (AG) ” integrated by partners 0, 1, 3 and 9, leaded by the latest (UL, UK).The management and coordination of the project (WP-07) is the responsibility of the project coordinator (partner 0) assisted by the Project Management Committee, PMC (partners 1, 2, 4, 9 and 10). Partner 0 (UCLM, Spain) is the overall project coordinator, whereas partner 1 (JCCM, Spain) is the manager of the collections and the central information system.

SCG activities consist in the collection of saffron corms from different EU and non-EU countries, in an attempt to store the maximum genetic variability present in this crop. The wide commercial experience and good knowledge of saffron cropping areas of the French company (Tradimpex JM Thiercelin SA) (partner 5) will be extremely convenient for this achievement. CCG task is the collection of Crocus taxa by means of requests to different collection holders or visiting specific locations at appropriate date to collect either cultivated or wild specimens (seeds and/or bulbs). It is of particular interest to collect a wide representation of taxa phylogenetically close to saffron (i.e. Crocus series of the genus) for their interest in saffron breeding. These species are present in Greece and its islands. The Greek sub-coordinator (partner 3) has a long experience in C. sativus studies and incorporates experienced geneticists and plant breeders. Included in partner 9 we gain the participation of the Crocus Group (historically) a splinter group from the British Iris Society, that is an assemblage of persons with a shared interest in the genus Crocus . The group was created in 1974 and includes botanists, Crocus growers and people dedicated to computing, seed exchange and other duties. Anthony Goode is coordinator of the Crocus Group and will be subcontracted by partner 9. He is an expert in cropping conditions and techniques for a big number of Crocus . His valuable practical knowledge is of major interest for the Crocus germplasm project.