Path analysis of grain yield, its components, and some morphological characterstics in spring safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

In order to study the correlation between grain yield and its components with some morphological characterstics, an experiment was conducted at the research station of Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University–Shabestar Branch in 2005. This experiment was arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications, and 15 traits were measured. The results of analysis of variance showed that significant difference exist among genotypes in almost traits. Positive and significant relationships were found among grain yield with plant height, hectoliter weight, biological yield and oil yield but non-significant relationship was seen among grain yield with number of head per plant and oil percentage. Stepwise regression and path coefficient analysis of grain yield as dependent variables indicated that plant height, number of seeds per head, 100-seed weight and hectoliter weight had positive and a high effect on the grain yield. The greatest effect was related to the 100-seed weight (0.352) and the least effect was from the number of head per plant (0.138) on grain yield. The main head weight and number of seed per head impacts the most changes on 100-seed weight.