The Saffron Genome (eBook)

This book is about Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) that is the most expensive spice in the world. Though there are other books on saffron but none of them has comprehensive information on saffron genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome and microbiome. The book has been divided into five sections and 17 chapters that cover all the areas related to its cultivation, market & economy, genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, tissue culture, microbiomics, metagenomics etc. In addition a chapter on molecular markers and their use in molecular genetic mapping in saffron that lacks genetic diversity as a sterile plant paves a way for selection of elite varieties based on the epigenetic variability. A section on in-vitro propagation elaborates on the corm production under controlled conditions. In summary this book encompasses most of the information available on this golden spice

Dr. Seyed Alireza Salami has about two decades of experience in bioscience, molecular genetics, and bioinformatics. He is currently CEO and the R&D manager of a start-up biotechnology company (OMICS) in Iran which led many projects on next generation sequencing and database technology, CRISPR-Cas editing technology, and recombinant proteins.

Dr. Salami received his Ph.D. in Biotechnology and Molecular Genetics on 'Genetics of Host-Pathogen Interactions'. His interest in medicinal plants and pharmaceutical industry led him to start two mega projects on medicinal herbs mainly cannabis (CannOMICS) and saffron (CrocOMICS) since 2010 towards putting valuable natural metabolites in food and health baskets.

He is collaborating with numerous university and research centers around the world which led to generate several research funding. He is a reviewer of several scientific journals and is the author and the co-author of more than 60 scientific papers in reputed scientific journals. He is the owner of MedCannaBase.org and SaffronOmics.com which aim to gather all cannabis and Crocus experts together as a Union. He is also a member of Organization of Saffron Exporting Countries (OSEC), head of Industrial and Medical Cannabis Research Institute (IMCRI), member of Iranian Society for Horticultural Science (irSHS), and Dean of Biotechnology and Genetic Resources branch of irSHS.