Supporting Dataset for the Study "Tissue-specific Dynamics of Saffron Apocarotenoids Across Reproductive and Vegetative Phases"

Apocarotenoids such as crocetin, crocins, and picrocrocin are key metabolites produced in saffron (Crocus sativus L.) stigmas, conferring its organoleptic properties and contributing to ecological interactions. While their synthesis in stigmas during anthesis is well established, their redistribution and persistence across tissues during the saffron life cycle remain poorly understood. Here, we applied LC-HRMS-based metabolomic profiling to dissect the temporal and spatial dynamics of apocarotenoids in multiple tissues (stigma, ovary, peduncle, corm, mother corm, and two types of roots) across three key developmental stages: November (Nov.0, Nov.1 and Nov.2) (flowering and stigma senescence), March (corm enlargement with green leaves), and April (leaf senescence and corm feeding on maternal reserves). Overall, our analyses revealed pronounced tissue-specific specialization.