Response of Seed and Oil Yield of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) Cultivars to Saline Irrigation Water in Sistan Region in Iran

To evaluate response of seed yield, oil content and oil yield of eight safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars; Goldashat, Parnian, Padideh, Golmehr, Sofeh, Mexico 6, Faraman and Mexico 13 to saline irrigation water (5.5-6.0 ds m-1) using randomized complete block design with three replications in Zahak agricultural research station, Iran, in 2014 and 2015 cropping seasons. Combined analysis of variance showed that there was significant (P < 0.01) differences between safflower cultivars for all traits. The highest seed yield belonged to cv. Goldashat, cv. Parnian and Faraman with mean of 2753, 2407 and 2326 kg ha-1, respectively. The highest oil content belonged to cv. Faraman and cv. Mexico 13, respectively. The seeds no. head-1 (r = 0.64**), 1000 seed weight (r = 0.60**), and oil yield (r = 0.91**) had strong significant positive correlation with seed yield. Goldasht had the highest seed no. head-1, 1000 seeds weight and highest seed yield in comparison with other cultivars. Therefore, cv. Goldasht was identified as a suitable safflower cultivar for being grown under saline irrigation water conditions in Sistan region.