Abstract
Studies to determine drought induced biochemical changes in safflower and their utilization in identifying stress tolerant genotypes were conducted under water deficit (60% field capacity) conditions at Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Nitrate Reductase (NRA) and Nitrite Reductase (NiRA) activities, total soluble proteins, DNA contents, fresh and dry biomass of plant and plant yield were adversely affected by drought stress in all safflower genotypes. However, genotypes Thori 78 and PI-387820 showed less reduction in these attributes. Total free amino acids, reducing, non reducing sugars and total sugars increased in all genotypes under drought stress. Comparison among safflower genotypes indicated that V1 (with greater biomass, yield, high NiRA, proteins and DNA level) performed best under drought stress followed by V6 (with high NiRA, proteins and unsaturation/saturation level). V3 proved itself poorer upon the basis of growth and biochemical parameters. From the results it can be concluded that biochemical markers can be used to select drought tolerant safflower genotypes.
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