Description of the bacterial community associated with saffron (Crocus sativus L.) rhizosphere

Saffron, derived from the Crocus sativus flower, holds significant importance in various aspects, including culinary, medicinal, and economic significance. The production of saffron is impacted by the microbial community colonizing the rhizosphere of Crocus sativus, which plays crucial roles in plant growth and health. In order to evaluate the bacterial diversity in the saffron plant rhizosphere, metabarcoding analysis was performed on rhizospheric and bulk soil samples from three villages in the Sous-Massa region of Morocco (Tassoussfi, Sidi Hssaine, Assaisse). The V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was targeted for paired-end sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq platform. The study aims to enhance our understanding of the bacterial diversity that could impact the saffron plant development.