GENOTYPE REACTION AND EFFECT OF THE SOWING TIME UNDER ARID ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS IN SAFFLOWER (CARTHAMUS TINCTORIUS L.)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine effect of winter and spring sowing on some agronomic and quality characteristics of eighteen safflower lines developed by selection breeding method and two varieties in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). The experiment was conducted at the GAP Koruklu Agricultural Research and Development Station, south of Sanliurfa province, using randomized complete block split-plot design with three replicates in 20112012 and 2012-2013 years. According to research mean of seed yield 1862.3 kg ha(-1) and 2695.9 kg ha(-1), number of head per plant 12.8 and 16.7, 1000 seed weight 39.6 g and 41.5 g, plant height 74.3 cm and 121.0 cm, oil content 32.5 % and 32.8 %, oil yield 642.7 kg ha(-1) and 915.5 kg ha(-1) were recorded in spring and winter sowing time, respectively. In this study, sowing time and genotype has important effect on seed and oil yield more affected by environmental conditions. Winter sowing is the most suitable time to obtain higher seed and oil yield under arid condition. Line GAP/UR/36-12 and GEGAP/UR/36-1 can recommend for seed and oil yield in both sowing time especially winter sowing time production arid ecological condition.