Relationship Among Seed Yield and Its Components in Genotypes of Safflower ( Carthamus tinctorius L.)

In order to investigate the relationship among seed yield and its components in safflower, path and factor analysis were conducted using the agronomic and morphological traits of 32 genotypes. Genotypes were evaluated on the Research Farm of Isfahan University of Technology, using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The correlation coefficients showed that number of seeds per capitula and number of capitula per plant had the highest positive correlation with both seed yield and seed yield per plant. The results of regression analysis showed that number of capitula per plant explained 43.6%, and along with seeds per capitula and plant height 60% of the phenotypic variations for seed yield. The regression analysis for seed yield per plant also revealed that seeds per capitula, capitula per plant and seed weight in order had more contributions to the variation of seed yield per plant and explained 81.2% of its variation. Path analysis showed that capitula per plant had the most direct positive effect on both seed yield and seed yield per plant however, this effect was decreased by the indirect and negative effect of seed weight. Results of factor analysis recognized 3 main factors which explained 81.81 % of total variation of the data. These factors were named the seed yield and its components, phenological traits and branching. In general, it can be concluded that seeds per capitula, capitula per plant and seed weight in order contributed more to the seed yield of safflower genotypes. In conclusion, these yield components can be used as selection criteria in breeding programs.