Yield Of Safflower Research Articles

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) yield as affected by nitrogen fertilization and different water regimes

En función de su origen y rusticidad, el cártamo se produce generalmente en tierras secas, de baja fertilidad, con pocos insumos y sin riego. En Brasil, poco se sabe de la respuesta de este cultivo a la aplicación de nitrógeno (N) y al riego. Este estudio fue realizado próximo a Ingeniero Coelho, SP, Brasil, en la campaña agrícola de 2014,para determinar el efecto de dosis crescientes de nitrógeno (0; 50; 100; 150; 200; 250; 300; 350: 400; 450; 500; 550 e 600 kg.ha−1) en el cultivo de cártamo en secano e irrigado. La aplicación de riego en periodos secos, posibilitó reducir el estrés y así, aumentar de forma significativa los componentes de producción y el rendimiento de granos. La producción de cártamo es influenciada por la interacción entre el régimen hídrico y la dosis de nitrógeno. El rendimiento del grano puede variar dependiendo de varios factores, sin embargo, el rendimiento máximo se logró con tasas de 208 y 214 kg.N ha-1 en condiciones de riego y de secano, respectivamente. Para el rendimiento de aceite, 200 kg N. ha-1 fueron suficientes, independientemente del régimen hídrico.

Seed Oil Accumulation and Yield of Safflower Affected by Water Supply and Harvest Time

Core Ideas Deficit irrigation conditions decreased safflower seed and oil yield.Safflower cultivars demonstrated different reactions drought stress.Sina and Faraman cultivars had higher seed oil content across all irrigation treatments.Highest oil yield across all irrigation treatments was produced by Sina cultivarHarvest time deferment was associated with increased oil oxidation in all cultivars. Drought stress significantly declines crop yield. Efficient soil moisture management and its consequent effects on metabolic changes which happen in response to drought stress are important in dry regions agriculture. This research was performed to evaluate yield, yield components, and oil accumulation in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars seed in response to water deficit conditions. A field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of the College of Agriculture, Tabriz University during two growing seasons of 2014 and 2015. The treatments were arranged as split plots based on randomized complete block design with three replicates. Irrigation treatments (irrigation after 70, 100, 130, and 160 mm evaporation from class A pan) were assigned to the main plots and spring safflower cultivars (Faraman, Goldasht, Sina, and Soffeh) were allocated to the subplots. Safflower seeds were harvested in 5‐d intervals at seven stages during development and maturity period. The result showed that Sina cultivar had the highest seed yield per unit area. Maximum oil percentage of safflower seeds was obtained at 1 to 12 d after plant physiological maturity. Water stress caused seed oil percentage decline across all cultivars. Sina and Faraman cultivars had higher oil percentage across all irrigation treatments. The highest oil and seed yield per unit area under both full and limited irrigation conditions was produced by Sina cultivar. Drought stress decreased seed yield, yield components, and oil content across all safflower cultivars, however, the extent of the damage was limited due to cultivar genetic characteristics and ecological origin.

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates and Plant Densities on Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) yield and Quality under Arid Land Conditions

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates and Plant Densities on Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) yield and Quality under Arid Land Conditions

Combining ability × environment interaction and genetic analysis for agronomic traits in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.): biplot as a tool for diallel data

Combining ability × environment interaction is considerable to identify the effect of environment on the combining ability and gene action of the traits to select appropriate parents for safflower hybrid production. The 36 genotype (28 F2 progenies of eight-parent half-diallel crosses across 8 parental genotypes) of safflower were studied to investigate the mentioned parameters across different geographical regions of Iran. The results indicated significant differences among parents for general and specific combining ability, except for seeds per capitulum across three environments. The overall results indicated that K21 and Mex.22-191 were excellent parents with greater general combining ability for the improvement of seed yield in safflower. The K21 × Mex.22-191 hybrid could be, therefore, employed for the production of high seed yield in safflower breeding. The estimates of genetic variance components recommended the importance of additive- dominance genetic effects that contributed to variation in yield per plant. Such gene action expression for seed yield needs auxiliary methods based on hybridization and selection for seed yield advancement in safflower.

Productivity of safflower in the Caspian Coastal Arid Zone at different planting density

Oilseeds are commonly used in human nutrition, feeding farm animals, industry, construction, medicine, and perfumery. They are a valuable source of high-nutrient protein, which is contained in the oil cake and meal obtained by processing the seeds into the oil. Sunflower and mustard are traditionally cultivated in the Lower Volga Region. Safflower, camelina, and oilseed flax have not become widespread there, which can be associated with the insufficient studies of them, the lack of proven technologies for farming, and the specific biochemical composition of the oil of their seeds. The objective of the research was to study the effects of the different planting densities on the duration of the developmental interphase periods, the morphological traits, and the crop yields under the soil and climate conditions in the arid zone of the Lower Volga Region. It has been determined that the average safflower yield under such conditions can reach 1.63 t per hectare with the Astrakhanskii-747 variety at the planting density of 300000 plants per hectare.

PATH COEFFICIENT IN SAFFLOWER AS AFFECTED BY HARVEST DATES

In order to determine the traits that correlate to yield to rely on them as selection criteria for high yield in safflower; seeds of five cultivars .2081, Gelser Almais , Ordini, and rabia 500 planted in the field of Field Crop Dept. College of Agriculture –Uni. Of Baghdad during 2010and 2011.The design of experiments is randomize complete block design with split plot arrangement with three replication. Data were recorded for traits: yield/ plant, total yield, harvest index, oil%, number of seed/plant, number of seeds/capsules, seed weight,dry weight of plant, number of capsules/plant, number of primary and secondary branches and plant height. Results of statistical analysis illustrate that the genotypic and phenotypic correlation and direct and indirect effects were different due to differences in harvest dates and tow years of planting.The highest positive genetic correlation and direct effects with yield were for plant height and total yield for first harvest in first year, for second year were dry weight, number of capsules/ plant, number of seed/ plant and total yield. For second harvest in first year was total yield only. and number of capsule/ plant, dry weight, total yield and number of seeds/ plant, in second year. Also only total yield in third harvest in first year, and dry weight and total yield in second year. In fourth harvest first year the traits were number of capsules\plant and total yield, dry weight and total yield in second year. For that we can rely these traits as criteria for selection in breeding programs to improve the yield of safflower.

Estimating water balance, evapotranspiration and water use efficiency of spring safflower using the CROPGRO model

Inclusion of drought tolerant, low input crops such as safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is one of the strategies to extend the life of fast declining Ogallala Aquifer in the Southern High Plains (SHP). Crop modeling is a viable option to simulate safflower water footprints in different climatic scenarios to assess its feasibility in optimization of water use in the SHP. Such progress would join corollary efforts to improve irrigation management practices of safflower for increased water productivity. The primary objective of the study was to calibrate the CROPGRO model for improved ability to simulate water balance, evapotranspiration (ET) and water use efficiency (WUE) of spring safflower. The model was calibrated based on soil water extraction data from PI8311 cultivar in an experiment conducted during 2013 and 2014 at Clovis, NM. The observed data from other two cultivars, 99OL and Nutrisaff, were used to evaluate the model. The model was able to simulate total above ground biomass of safflower in a reasonable fashion. The optimal prediction of soil water content, water balance and seed yield of safflower led to excellent ET and WUE simulations with root mean square error of 34mm and 0.6kgha−1mm−1, respectively. The satisfactory performance of the model for an independent data demonstrates that the CROPGRO model is capable of predicting water use of spring safflower in semi-arid regions of the SHP; however, site-specific calibrations based on weather, especially soil and rooting inputs may be needed in different regions.

Correlation between accumulation of flavoneand expression of functional genes in Carthamus tinctorius

The average yield of safflower blooming from 1 to 7 day was recorded and calculated, HPLC was used to detect the percentage composition of HYSA,quercetin,naringenin and kaempferol, and the real-time PCR was used to analyze the expression of chs and chi. The average yield,percentage composition of HYSA and naringenin as well as functional genes' expression presented similar trends. The average yield reached the highest peak at the third day, showing highpositive correlation with the contents of HYSA (r=0.756,P<0.05), and significant correlation with the expression of chi (r=0.892,P<0.01). The contents of naringenin showed a high positive correlation with the expression of chs(r=0.766,P<0.05). The study provides a theory basis for the composition and regulation mechanism of the flavonoid constituents and lays foundation for molecular mechanisms which lead to the difference of quality in C. tinctorius.

Fertilizer improves seed and oil yield of safflower under tropical conditions

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) has gained importance as an oilseed crop due to its hardiness and oil, which can be used in the production of biofuels. Studying proper crop management methods is highly important for the development of safflower in Brazil, since applying fertilizers correctly and using the appropriate time are efficient ways to achieve higher yield. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate safflower yield components, seed yield and oil content in two growing seasons. Two experiments under dryland conditions were conducted in 2014 in Cascavel, PR, Brazil. A randomised complete block design with three replications was used. Five rates of NPK fertilizer were used (0, 200, 400, 600 and 800kgha−1 of N-P2O5-K2O formula 4-14-8) in two growing seasons (autumn and winter). Even in a Rhodic Acrudox with high concentrations of P and K, the application of NPK fertilizer in the furrow improved seed yield and oil yield in the autumnal growing season. Safflower seed yield averaged 2068 and 3820kgha−1 in autumn and winter, respectively. The application of NPK fertilizer to safflower in the autumnal growing season significantly increased oil content (23.9%). The linear plateau model predicted increased yield with NPK rates<652kg and <610NPKha−1, resulting in seed yield and oil yield of approximately 4374kgha−1 and 1048kgha−1, respectively. Safflower seems promising as an alternative oilseed crop for Southern Brazil when seeded in autumn with basic fertilization.

Spring Safflower Performance under Growth Stage Based Irrigation in the Southern High Plains

Water stress is the most important environmental factor limiting crop yield in the southern High Plains. Drought tolerant crops along with deficit irrigation strategies may be promising for sustainable agriculture in the region. The objective of this study was to assess water relations, photosynthesis, yield‐forming components, and yield of spring safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars under growth stage based irrigation management. A blocked split plot design was used with irrigation treatments (fully irrigated [FI], stress at vegetative stage [VS], stress at reproductive stage [RS], and dryland [DL]) as the main plot and cultivars (PI8311, 99OL and Nutrisaff) as subplot in four replications. Measurements of water potential (Ψl) indicated that irrigation treatments imposed water stress on safflower. Safflower responded to stress by regulating stomata and osmotic adjustment. Water stress significantly reduced photosynthesis (Pn), leaf area index (LAI) and light interception in all stress treatments, resulting in decreased biomass accumulation. Seed yield of safflower was strongly related to biomass production (R2 = 0.61). Among yield‐forming traits, heads per plant were more influential in yield formation than seeds per head and 1000‐seed weight. Compared to the FI treatment, RS treatment reduced seed yield by 19 and 20% in 2013 and 2014, respectively; while the same reduction in VS treatment was 25 and 22%, respectively. However, seed yield differences between RS and VS treatments were not statistically significant.

Yield attributes and nutrient uptake of organic safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) in drylands of Maharashtra

A field experiment on 'organic farming' in safflower was conducted at Dry Farming Research Station (DFRS), Solapur for five years (2009-10 to 2013-14) with the objective to explore the possibilities of substituting chemical inputs through organic source and to evaluate its effect on nutrient uptake. Well decomposed farm yard manure, vermicompost, neem seed cake, Azotobacter, Tricoderma and neem seed kernel extract were used as organic inputs. While, urea, SSP, dimethoate and arbendezim were used as synthetic sources of inputs. Significantly higher seed yield (1189 kg ha -1 ) of safflower was recorded under RDF (50:25:0 NPK kg/ha + chemical control). Treatment with application of FYM @ 5ton/ha + BF+ biopesticide (Neem cake @ 200kg/ ha, Trichoderma seed treatment @ 5 g / kg seed + spray of NSKE 5%) and treatment FYM alone @ 6.5 ton/ha were at par with RDF (50:25:0) NPK kg/ha + chemical control. Numerically higher values of test weight (5.87 g) were recorded under (FYM @ 2.5 ton/ha + biofertilizer) and T 8 (FYM (equal to 50 kg N) = 6.5 ton/ha). Higher volume weight (722 g lit -1 ) was recorded under the treatment T3. Significantly higher uptake of nitrogen was recorded under T 9 i.e. RDF (50:25:0) NPK kg/ha + chemical control and it was at par with T 3 i.e FYM @ 5ton/ha + BF + biopesticide in respect of P 2 O 5 and K 2 O.

Yield and yield attributes of safflower in integrated nutrient management in black gram (Vigna mungo L.) - Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) crop sequence

An experiment on integrated nutrient management in black gram - safflower crop sequence was conducted at DFRS, Solapur for four years (1910-11 to 1913-14) with the objective to integrate the different sources of plant nutrients for safflower based cropping system to economize fertilizer use and sustain productivity. The fertilizer dose of 100 per cent NP to both the crops in sequence recorded significantly higher seed equivalent yield (2456 kg ha -1 ). Whereas, treatment with 100 % N+ 50 % P +PSB to blackgram followed by 100 per cent NP to safflower was at par with it (2285 kg ha -1 ). Plant height (103.4 cm) and total dry matter (53.41 g plant -1 ) were reported significantly superior under 100 % N + 50 % P + PSB to blackgram and 100 per cent NP to safflower. Number of branches and number of capitulas per plant were noticed higher in treatment with 100 per cent NP to both the crops. Higher volume weight (755 g) was noticed under 100 per cent NP to blackgram and 50 % N + Azotobacter + 100 % P to safflower. Higher net returns of Rs. 43683/ha and B:C ratio of 2.33 were recorded under 100 % N+ 50% P +PSB to blackgram followed by 100 per cent NP to safflower. Second in order were under 100 % N + 50 % P + PSB to blackgram and 50 % NP + Azotobacter + PSB to safflower with Rs. 41871 and 2.27 net returns and BC ratio, respectively.

Effect of nano-silicon foliar application on safflower growth under organic and inorganic fertilizer regimes

Abstract Silicon nanoparticles have distinctive physicochemical characteristics and are able to enter into plants and impact the metabolism of plants as well as improve plant growth and yield under unfavourable environmental conditions. Besides, low soil organic matter content, imbalanced nutrient and inadequate water supply may adversely affect crop productivity in semiarid areas. To understand the effects of foliar spray of silicon dioxide nanoparticles (nSiO2) with application of farmyard manure (FYM) or inorganic fertilizer on morpho-physiological traits and yield of safflower, a field experiment was carried out in a highland semiarid region of Maragheh, northwest Iran. The experiment consisted of two levels of nSiO2 (0 and 20 mM) and four fertilizer regimes (control, 15 t ha−1 FYM, 30 t ha−1 FYM, 90 kg ha−1 N-P-K chemical fertilizer). Safflower plants were treated with nSiO2 suspension at leaf development, branching and capitulum emergence stages. Although the nSiO2 significantly improved some growth parameters such as canopy spread, stem diameter, plant height, ground cover and the number of achenes in capitulum, it did not affect achene yield and harvest index. However, fertilizer treatments considerably affected most of morpho-physiological traits, achene yield and yield components. The result showed that the best growth and the highest achene yield were achieved by application of 30 t ha−1 FYM before sowing. Application of high FYM increased the achene yield by 48% compared to the control, however, application of N-P-K chemical fertilizer or of 15 t ha−1 FYM improved achene yield only up to 17% over the no fertilizer condition. Moreover, this work revealed some positive effects of exogenous application of nSiO2 on safflower growth. This finding suggests that application of organic fertilizers with foliar spray of nSiO2 can improve safflower production and is an advisable agronomic option.

Effects of irrigation strategies, planting methods and nitrogen fertilization on yield, water and nitrogen efficiencies of safflower

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a multipurpose crop that is used as food dyeing spice, edible oil, livestock feed, biofuels and medicinal applications in many areas of the world. Drought and scarce resource of irrigation water are serious concerns in agricultural production and global food security that have occurred in Iran and other arid and semi-arid regions. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of partial root drying (PRD) irrigation, planting method and different nitrogen application rates on yield, water and nitrogen use efficiencies of safflower. The experiment was designed as split-split plot that arranged in randomized complete blocks with irrigation strategy as the main plot, planting method as the subplot and nitrogen levels as the sub-subplot in three replications. The irrigation strategies consisted of ordinary furrow irrigation (OFI) and variable alternate furrow irrigation (VAFI) as a PRD technique. The planting methods included of on-ridge planting (ORP) and in-furrow planting (IFP) methods. The fertilizer levels were 0 (N0), 100 (N1) and 200 (N2) kgha−1 of urea as 0, 46 and 92kgNha−1. In present study, VAFI technique dominantly saved applied irrigation water by 30.2% against only a 13% reduction in safflower seed yield that was not statistically significant among treatments. The coefficient of crop response to water (Ky) obtained as 0.83 which shows that safflower is a tolerant crop to VAFI strategy which is recommended in areas with limited water resources. Furthermore, in-furrow planting method resulted in 13.5% enhancement in safflower seed yield due to the better soil conditions (temperature and moisture) that is provided by this technique. Therefore, this method is considered as an appropriate alternative for safflower planting due to its favourable influence on water use efficiency (WUE) and other safflower traits, especially in semi-arid and arid regions. Most of safflower traits were definitely enhanced by application of 46kgNha−1 such as yield production, WUE and nitrogen use efficiencies; whereas higher rate of nitrogen showed negligible effect on safflower traits compared with 46kgNha−1.

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) yield forecasting in India - an application of Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model

The present study was carried out for forecasting the safflower productivity of India by fitting univariate Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models. The data on safflower yield collected from 1965-66 to 2013-14 has been used for present study. The order of an ARIMA model is usually denoted by the notation ARIMA (p,d,q), where p is the order of the autoregressive part; d is the order of the differencing; q is the order of the moving-average process. For different values of p and q, various ARIMA models were fitted and appropriate model was chosen corresponding to minimum value of Akaike information criteria (AIC), Schwarz-Bayesian information criteria (SBC). ARIMA (1, 1, 2) model was found suitable for all India safflower yield with minimum MAPE (5.4).

Intraspecific variability of carbon isotope discrimination and its correlation with grain yield in safflower: prospects for selection in a Mediterranean climate

ABSTRACTThe goals of the present study were to obtain a first estimate of intraspecific variability of carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) in safflower, a thistle-like herbaceous plant, and to determine the statistical relationship between Δ and grain yield as well as its components in a collection of 45 accessions of different origins. Grain yield and aboveground biomass, harvest index, average grain weight, and Δ (measured on the bulk leaf organic matter) were investigated in experimental field conditions. A large variability was noted for all traits but a principal component analysis (PCA) allowed to identify several homogeneous groups of accessions. Average grain yield per plant varied between 1 and 39 g. Δ varied between 21.3 and 25.2 ‰, i.e. a large variation of 3.9 ‰. In our experiment, the variation of Δ was not significantly related to that of grain yield in the whole accession sample. However, we found contrasting trends for this relation within accession groups. These initial results motivate further experiments to assess more in depth correlation between Δ and yield in safflower and are encouraging regarding the possibility of using Δ as an effective selection index in safflower to obtain genotypes that efficiently consume water. This study also highlighted one accession that combines the two characters required in the Mediterranean regions, i.e. high yield performance and high water-use efficiency.

Response of greengram-safflower cropping sequence to phosphorus management in relation to yield, nutrient uptake and phosphorus use efficiency in Vertisols

Field experiment was conducted during 2006-2007 to study the effect of phosphorus management in greengram-safflower sequence in a Vertisol. The twelve treatments and three replications designed in RBD consisted of 100% RDF (20:40:20 NPK kg/ ha to greengram and 25:25:25 NPK kg/ ha to safflower), 50% recommended P, No P, 50% recommended P + PSB (25 g/ kg seed), 5 t FYM/ ha, 5 t FYM/ ha + PSB applied in various combinations to greengram in &lt;italic&gt;kharif&lt;/italic&gt; and safflower in &lt;italic&gt;rabi&lt;/italic&gt; season. The results indicated that application of 100 % recommended P along with recommended N and K significantly enhanced the yield of greengram and safflower. However, these results were comparable with application of 50 % P (20 kg/ ha to greengram and 12.5 kg/ ha to safflower) + PSB along with recommended dose of N (20 kg/ ha to greengram and 25 kg/ ha to safflower) and K (20 kg/ ha to greengram and 25 kg/ ha to safflower) to greengram and safflower in crop productivity with higher nutrient uptake and apparent nutrient balance. The higher P use efficiency was observed with the application of 50 % recommended P to both the crops alongwith PSB.

Adapting the CROPGRO Model to Simulate Growth and Yield of Spring Safflower in Semiarid Conditions

The importance of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is increasing as a low input, stress‐tolerant oilseed crop around the world. Adapting a crop growth model for safflower will help to assess the feasibility of this crop under diverse environmental conditions with relatively limited field experimentation. The objective of the project was to adapt the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) Cropping System Model (CSM‐CROPGRO) to simulate growth and seed yield of spring safflower. The CROPGRO template approach was used, and parameters in species and cultivar files were developed based on safflower literature and calibration to field data. The entered base temperatures for photosynthetic, vegetative, and reproductive processes of safflower ranged from 0 to 5°C while corresponding optimum temperatures varied from 19 to 40°C. Simulated results were compared with observed data collected from field experiments conducted at Clovis, NM, during 2013 and 2014. The model predicted the crop life cycle (anthesis and harvest maturity date) with relative root mean square error (RRMSE) of 0.07. Average plant biomass, head mass, head number and seed number were satisfactorily simulated when compared to observed values. Seed yield, averaged over irrigation treatments and years, was predicted as 1963 kg ha−1 compared to measured value of 1902 kg ha−1 with RRMSE of 0.12. Reasonable prediction of phenology, growth, and yield by the model adapted for safflower suggested that the CROPGRO‐safflower model is promising to simulate safflower production in semiarid climates. However, further testing of the CROPGRO‐safflower model under different environments is needed.

Microwave-Assisted Chemical Preparation of ZnO Nanoparticles and Its Application on the Improving Grain Yield, Quantity and Quality of Safflower (Carthamus Tinctorius L.)

ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by a microwave-assisted chemical method. ZnO nanostructures were synthesized via a fast reaction between zinc acetate and ammonia at presence citric acid and other effective agents in chemical procedure. Nanostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction , scanning electron microscopy. Seed yield and seed quality of safflower grown under drought stress. The test includes control treatments priming with distilled water, priming with zinc sulphate in the amount of 300 mg per ml, priming with sulfate of zinc to 600 mg per liter, priming with Nano priming on the amount of 300 mg per liter, with Nano on priming rate of 600 mg per liter, priming with zinc sulphate in the amount of 300 mg/l zinc sulphate along with spraying the amount of 300 mg, zinc sulfate with priming to the amount of 600 mg/l zinc sulphate along with spraying the amount of 600 mg, priming with Nano over the amount of 300 mg per liter plus the foliar application of nano on the amount of 300 mg, priming with Nano over the amount of 600 mg per liter plus the foliar application to nano on 600 mg, zinc sulfate to foliar application with the amount of 300 mg per liter, foliar application with Nano over the amount of 300 Mg/l, respectively.

Characters Associations and Path Analysis in Safflower (&lt;i&gt;Carthamus tinctorious&lt;/i&gt;) Accessions

Safflower as a potential oil crops which can be used as an alternative to the existing widely cultivated oil crops in Ethiopia needs seed yield improvement which inturn relies on its component characters. Examining character association and their interrelationships is helpful in selecting the breeding material for improving the complex trait such as seed yield. A study was carried out during 2012 cropping season to determine the associations of characters and partition of this association into direct and indirect effects on seed yield of safflower. Correlation coefficient analysis showed that seed yield recorded significant positive association with days to flowering (0.190), plant height (0.234), number of capitula (0.172), number of seed per plant (0.834) and hundred seed weight (0.197). The highest positive direct effect was revealed by number of seed per plant (0.89) followed by hundred seed weight (0.106) as depicted by path coefficient analysis. This study showed that number of seed per plant is the most important yield component followed by seed weight. Therefore, this suggests that direct selection based on these characters would be effective for the improvement of safflower.