Association of Seed Yield, Oil and Related Traits in Safflower Genotypes under Normal and Drought Stress

This research was investigated to study relationship among seed yield, seed yield components and morphological traits and their direct and indirect effects on seed yield of 100 safflower genotypes in two water environments (normal and drought stress) at Research Farm of Isfahan University of Technology during 2012. Seed yield had positive correlation with number of head per plant, seed per head, number of branch, 100-seed weight, oil percent, harvest index and biological yield and negative correlation with branching height in both moisture conditions. Stepwise regression analysis defined the most important components of seed yield and indicated that under normal condition number of head per plant and number of seed per head should be improved respectively but inverse trend was observed for drought stress. Path analysis indicated that number of seed per head had the greatest direct effect on seed yield in both moisture conditions. Factor analysis in non-stress condition showed that five factors (phenological, source, biological and economical factors) contributed around 74% of variation and under drought stress condition three factors (phenological, yield and economical factors) contributed around 63 of total variation. Result can be used for indirect selection in safflower breeding programs