PJB-2024-156
INTERRELATIONSHIPS AMONG AGRO-MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF IRANIAN SAFFLOWER GERMPLASM UNDER COLD AND RAIN-FED CONDITIONS
Hossein Zeinalzadeh-Tabrizi
Abstract
In semi-arid regions like Iran, safflower possesses considerable potential as an oilseed crop. However, traditional analysis of its yield and contributing factors is often hindered by the inherent interconnectedness of these elements. This study employed a more sophisticated tool – sequential path analysis – to meticulously examine these relationships under cold, rain-fed conditions in Iran. The experiment was conducted in terms of RCBD with three replication under dryland conditions during the agricultural year of 2019-2020 in the cold rain-fed conditions at the Dryland Research Station of Maragheh, Iran (46.2139° E and 37.3467° N; elevation = 1730). The analysis revealed significant positive correlations between safflower seed yield and crucial components such as plant height, the number of seeds per head, and 1000 seed weight. Notably, the analysis identified biological yield, harvest index, and kernel weight as the most critical initial determinants of seed yield. Interestingly, while biological yield and harvest index displayed positive direct effects on seed yield, kernel weight exhibited a negative direct effect. This seemingly counterintuitive finding underscores the intricate interplay between factors influencing seed weight and overall yield. Further investigation revealed that plant height and thousand-seed weight significantly influenced biological yield, suggesting that taller plants with heavier individual seeds contribute positively to total biomass production. Interestingly, lower branching height was associated with a higher harvest index, implying that plants with shorter branching patterns might allocate more resources towards seed production compared to vegetative growth. Notably, kernel weight was primarily driven by husk weight, highlighting the crucial role of husk weight in determining overall seed weight. This finding suggests that breeding efforts focusing on optimizing hull weight could potentially enhance seed yield without compromising the valuable oil content within the kernel. This study exemplifies the effectiveness of sequential path analysis in untangling the complex interplay of factors affecting safflower seed yield. By providing valuable insights into these intricate relationships, this research offers valuable guidance for breeding programs aiming to enhance safflower production in challenging environments, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and secure source of oilseed in arid and semi-arid regions.
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