Identification of pathogenic bacteria in saffron (Crocus sativus L.) by high-throughput sequencing and the evaluation of the antifungal properties of different plant essential oils.

Background: Saffron (Crocus sativus L.), a Chinese herbal medicine of significant medicinal value, is extensively cultivated worldwide. However, fungal pathogen-induced corm rot disease poses a major challenge to saffron cultivation, causing substantial economic losses and long-standing concern among researchers and industry professionals.