RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SEED COLOR AND VIABILITY, GERMINATION AND SEEDLING GROWTH OF WILD SAFFLOWER ECOTYPES

Abstract

Seed of wild safflower (Carthamus oxyacantha Bieb.) ecotypes were collected from six different locations. The proportion of white, gray and black seeds, viability percentage and 1,000-seed weight were determined. The proportion of gray seeds differed in different locations. The seed coats of white seeds were thinner than those of colored seeds and white seeds were smaller than dark seeds. The viability of the seed from locations with high soil salinity was low. The germination percentage and seedling lengths of scarified and non-scarified seeds of each ecotype grouped according to color were determined after 7 days at 18 ± 2 C. Significant differences were found among ecotypes for germination percentage and seedling length. Scarification improved germination but did not affect seedling length. Germination was highest in non-scarified white seeds but when seeds were scarified, black and gray seeds had the highest germinations.