Genetic evaluation of some safflower genotypes under salinity stress

In the context of the increasing demand for cultivation of marginal lands affected by salinity, it became necessary to assess the most important crop traits that can be relied upon as well as to identify genotypes that have the potential to withstand adverse environmental conditions. In this study, ten genotypes of safflower were evaluated under two salinity levels during two successive agricultural seasons. According to correlation and path coefficient analysis and positive direct effect of studied traits, 100 seed weight followed by number of capitulum per plant strongly related to seed yield. Also, the results confirmed based on tolerance indices to salt stress, that line 6 was followed by local cultivar recorded the highest values as an indicator of tolerance. Protein analyses were conducted to identify protein markers associated with salinity tolerance for selection of promising lines tolerant to salt stress. This investigation revealed substantial polymorphism in protein markers that could be useful tools to assist breeders in the selecting and breeding of safflower lines tolerant to salinity stress.