Evaluation of Yield Components, Seed and Oil Yields of Safflower Fall Genotypes under Water Deficit Stress during Reproductive Period

The present research was done in order to evaluate the agronomical characteristics and to select drought tolerant safflower fall genotypes for cultivation in saline and marginal lands. The experiment was carried out in the East Azarbaijan Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center with saline soil (6.7 dS m-1), during 2017-18 cropping season. The experiment was conducted as split plot based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications. The experimental factors included drought stress with two levels: non-stressed and drought stress from flowering stage to maturity and safflower varieties and lines in 15 levels. The results indicated that drought from flowering stage by decreasing grain number per capitulum and 1000-seeds weight, significantly decreased the grain and oil yields in fall genotypes of safflower. It is concluded that drought stress diminished the seed and oil yields by decreasing grain number in capitulum and 1000-seeds weight. Significant differences were seen among genotypes in these portions of seed yield. The results of grouping genotypes by cluster analysis and ward method, located them in two low (Parnian, K.H.Y.23 and K.M.S.56) and high (other genotypes) yielding groups. The highest amounts seed and oil yields belonged to Mexico189, K.H.Y.2, K.M.S.38, Golemehr and Mexico295 in drought stress and non-stressed conditions. It seems that these genotypes could be used to cultivate in marginal and saline lands with similar climate to experimental location (semi-arid and cold climate according to Koppen climatic classification system).