Estimation of Yield Potential, Oil Content and Fatty Acid Composition of Safflower in Different Ecological Zones

Abstract

Unfavorable temperatures threaten global crop productivity and sustainability to a significant extent under changing climate scenarios. Drastic impact of climatic variability demands suitable solutions including adaption through climate-proof cropping system. Similar intervention was focused through the subject study conducted during winter 2019 to assess cultivation of exotic USDA safflower accessions under various environments of Punjab, Pakistan. Four locations i.e. Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Kasur and Rawalpindi were selected for cultivation of previously screened six safflower candidate lines in a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangements. Seed yield, oil quality and contents was calculated. Results revealed that the performance of safflower accessions of exotic origin perofmred variably under variety of climates. Safflower accession PI-198990 exhibited the highest seed yield at Kasur whereas, PI-199907reflected the least yield at Bahawalpur. High oil contents were estimated at Faisalabad when compared withother locations under study. However, the maximum accumulation of oleic acid was recorded in safflower planted at Bahawalpur. On the other hand, Rawalpindi sown safflower exhibited the maximum content of linoleic acid. As far the morpho-physiological attributes are concerned, positive and significant relationship of seed yield with number of branches, number of heads and thousand seed weight were recorded whereas, linoleic acid showed strongly negative correlation with oleic acid content. Therefore, it is concluded that environmental variation had significantly influenced safflower yield, oil and fatty acids contents.