Saffron
Nathan Lange (Fri, 07 Nov 2014 14:49:12 PST)

The limiting factor in saffron production is that each flower only
produces one pistil with a single branched style. Using plant
biology's favorite model plant, Arabidopsis, genetically modified
plants can already be produced with flowers consisting of any floral
organ in place of any other floral organ. For example, Arabidopsis
flowers with pistil tissue (including the style) in place of stamens,
petals, and/or sepals. It's a relatively simple matter to find
homologues of the same floral architectural genes in other plant
species, including monocots. That was 20 years ago. Imagine a
genetically modified Crocus sativus plant with flowers consisting of
multiple pistils with a corresponding bundle of numerous orange
styles (with or without the tepals, depending or whether tepals are
still deemed necessary to protect the bundle of styles). Increasing
the number of pistils per flower is one likely future of commercial
saffron production.

Nathan