Crocus sativus is a triploid sterile plant with long red stigmas which form commercial saffron. Saffron is the site for synthesis and accumulation of apocarotenoids like crocin, picrocrin and safranal which are responsible for its color, flavour and aroma making it world’s most expensive spice. | Identification cloning and characterization of an ultrapetala transcription factor CsULT1 from Crocus A novel regulator of apocarotenoid biosynthesis