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This research investigates the relationship between climatic variables, altitude and saffron flowering periods, toward predicting the flowering time in saffron as to assist scheduling harvest practices. The study was conducted over 4 years, from 2005 to 2009. Simple predicted models based on some climatic data, occurring during the previous month to critical flowering periods, first flowering date and peak or maximum of flowering, were computed. Four highly significant linear regressions were identified for the two critical dates. The first one include solar radiation and rainfall (R2=1, P‹0.05), and the second one is based on GDD (growing-degree-day) and rainfall (R2=0.99, P‹0.05). The maximum flowering date showed a high correlation with GDD cumulated over the period from 1 to 20 of October (R2=0.998, P‹0.001) for the first model and the solar radiation for the second model (R2=1.000, Pr›0.002). The altitude highly influences the flowering period. A high negative relationship was then observed (R2=-0,76, p‹0.001). Noticing the high year-to-year variability of flowering happenings in the same location and in different altitudes, the models presented could provide an approximate estimation of the flowering dates based on local climatic data and altitude which has to be included in subsequent predictive models.

The cultivation and the valorization of saffron in Morocco rely on an ancestral tradition with old practices mainly rooted in the region of Taliouine where this cultivation knows a considerable development. Trying to trace it back, its introduction and its cultivation in Morocco, a study about the empiricism of saffron cultivation in Taliouine region was conducted through the studying of archives, documents and very old contracts related to property, as well as surveys of resource persons living in the studied zone. The results unveil a deep attachment during the history of saffron cultivation practiced from father to son since centuries and dated back to the seventh generation according to some people. Some producers are still remembering the period of saffron introduction in their homes like in Iskaouen and Iznaguen. Also, some historical documents that we had the opportunity to examine, although they are not numerous, which refer to saffron cultivation, evoke that the exact period of saffron introduction and cultivation are still unknown and traced back to the Xth century, based on Arab-Muslim World manuscripts where saffron was cultivated in the Maghreb.

The main goal of this study is to propose saffron as a sustainable substitute crop with high added value in some Moroccan agricultural areas with low and erratic rainfalls for their socio-economical development. The quality of the saffron spice crop produced under different Moroccan environments has to be evaluated prior to recommendation for commercial production. For this purpose, saffron was experimented in eleven different experimental zones with a disparity of altitudes, soils and climate. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify the three saffron components crocins, picrocrocin, and safranal which are respectively responsible for its colour, taste and odor. Two commercial controls from Morocco, 'Taliouin Saffron' and 'Ourika Saffron' were tested for comparison. The first step of this work was successfully achieved and the regions for the new saffron crop introductions, based on crocins level, were identified. Analysis of environmental impact on saffron quality showed that the altitude significantly affects crocins content (R 2 =0.84, p 0.05) during three years of study. Meanwhile, there was a large variability in safranal content for the same period (p