The Role of Salicylic Acid and Chitosan Foliar Applications ‎under Drought Stress Condition on Some Physiological Traits ‎and Oil Yield of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)‎

To study the effects of drought and foliar applications of salicylic acid and chitosan on some physiological traits and oil yield of safflower under drought a split plot experiment with three replications based on a randomized complete block design was conducted at the University of Zabol, Iran. Treatments were three levels irrigations at 25, 50 and 75% of soil available water assigned to main plots, and four levels of foliar applications of salicylic acid and chitosan (control, 0.424 g/liter of salicylic acid, 5 g/liter of chitosan and mixed application of salicylic acid and chitosan) to sub-plots. Water stress reduced oil yield and phosphorus, potassium and calcium contents of shoot. Oil yield was decreased with increasing drought stress by 11% as compared to that of control. Severe water stress also increased the amount of sodium in seed, but its effects on nitrogen and iron control of shoot, membrane stability index and relative humidity were not significant. Foliar application of salicylic acid and chitosan increased macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) and micronutrients (calcium and iron). Seed oil yield was not affected by foliar spray. In general, combined application chitosan and salicylic acid on traits under study was effective. It can be suggested that combined application of chitosan and salicylic acid could be effective in growing safflower at this region.