Effect of Trichoderma fungi treatment on agronomical traits, seed and oil yields of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) in saline soils around Urmia Lake

The present research aimed to study the effects of Trichoderma fungi on yield components, seed and oil yields of safflower, and select high-yielding genotypes to cultivate in saline soils around Urmia Lake.

Methods and Materials:

 An experiment was conducted as a split plot based on a randomized complete blocks design with three replications in the East Azarbaijan Agriculture and Natural Resources Research and Education Center during the 2021-22. The experimental factors were Trichoderma fungi (Trichoderma harzianum) including control and seed treatments and the second factor included 14 safflower genotypes.

The effect of Trichoderma on plant height, panicula per plant, 1000-seeds weight, oil percent, seed and oil yields was significant. Among studied genotypes, significant differences were seen in mentioned traits. In fungi treatment and control conditions Padideh, L1, PI426521, PI537698, and PI537694 genotypes indicated higher seed and oil yields. They are located in the same cluster group according to the studied characters. The treatment of safflower seeds with Trichoderma fungi led to an increase in seed yields of the above-mentioned genotypes 645,677,575, 494, and 520 Kg h-1 respectively and they reached 3727, 3521, 3345, 3322, and 3164 Kg h-1 respectively. These increases in seed yield can have an effective role in the sustainable development of safflower cultivation in saline areas.

It seems that Padideh, L1, PI426521, PI537698, and PI537694 genotypes are suitable for cultivation in saline areas around Urmia Lake. The treatment of seeds with Trichoderma fungi significantly increased seed and oil yields of safflower genotypes.