THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The world-famous Kashmiri saffron, known as red gold, has bloomed in the Plant Biotechnology Lab of the Vellayani Agricultural College. Kashmiri saffron, the world's most valuable spice, was made to bloom in a controlled environment in a laboratory as part of a study led by Assistant Professor Dr Smitha Bhasi, Department of Plant Biotechnology. The scientific name of saffron is Crocus Sativus L.

The rare feat was achieved by a team comprising Dr KB Soni, Head of the Department of Biotechnology, Prof. Dr Swapna Alex and Research Student Midhu Krishna under the encouragement of Agriculture College Dean Dr Roy Stephen. The seeds for this were procured from farmers in Kashmir. The team had also sought guidelines from Kashmir Agricultural University.

Attempts to make the flower bloom in test tubes through tissue culture (in-vitro flowering) have also yielded results. Further scientific studies will be conducted for commercial production.