Mapping global saffron (Crocus sativus L.) research: A bibliometric coupling analysis on flower and corm performance

Saffron ( Crocus sativus L.) is a crop of global economic and agronomic importance, yet the scientific literature on this species remains fragmented and heterogeneous, making the synthesis of accumulated knowledge particularly challenging. This study addresses this gap through a bibliometric analysis of 483 research articles aimed at mapping the intellectual structure of saffron research and identifying its major thematic trends. It also examines the author and institutional networks driving this field. By providing a systematic and objective synthesis, this work offers a consolidated reference base for the scientific community. The corpus reveals a marked acceleration in scientific output, with 127 of the 483 articles published between 2023 and 2024, compared with no more than two publications per year between 1977 and 2007. Using bibliographic coupling, our analyses identify three dominant research clusters: agronomic optimization, saffron quality and bioactive compounds, and the quantitative and qualitative determinants of crop performance. The results indicate that saffron research is concentrated on yield improvement, metabolite quality, and molecular and developmental determinants, but these themes remain only partially integrated across the literature. The network structure showed limited integration among agronomic, quality, and molecular research, indicating that saffron performance is still being studied through partly separate scientific lenses. Future progress will depend on linking agronomic management with climate adaptation, water-use efficiency, postharvest quality control, and molecular understanding of yield and quality formation. This study provides a consolidated reference map for saffron research and highlights priority areas for future interdisciplinary work.