This document provides information on hybrid seed production in safflower. It begins with an introduction to safflower including its botanical name, family, origin, and economic importance. It then discusses safflower's floral morphology, flowering habit, pollination, and breeding methods used like selfing and crossing. The document outlines the process of hybrid seed production including maintenance of parent lines, rouging, and quality control during production. Post-harvest processes of harvesting, threshing, cleaning and standards for hybrid safflower seeds are also summarized. Popular hybrids developed in India and their parentage are listed at the end.

1. COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE DHARWAD
COURSE NAME : SEED PRODUCTION IN FIELD CROPS
SST 503 [2+1]
PRESENTATION TOPIC : HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION IN SAFFLOWER
PRESENTED TO
Dr . V. K . DESHPANDE
HOD OF SST DEPT
UASD
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES ,DHARWAD
PRESENTED BY
PAVAN B K
Jr M.sc

2. INTRODUCTION
 Botanical name - Carthamus tinctorius
 Family – Compositae/Asteraceae
 Origin :-according to
 Decondolle – Arabia
 Vavilov – India, Afghanistan,Ethiopia
 Chromosome no: 2n=24
 Safflower was known to ancient India and the poet laurate kalidas
compared safflower to the “sakhis of shakuntala” as Kusum (or)
kusumba in Sanskrit literature.

3. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
 Safflower oil is rich in poly unsaturated fatty acids as
linoleic acid up to 78% which play an important role in
reducing cholesterol content and it is also recommended
for heart patients.
 Safflower oil is the healthiest oil of all vegetable oil and its
value is increased when it is blended with rice bran oil.
 The Safflower cake is used as cattle feed which contain
20% protein.
 Dry petal is used in the preparation of herbal medicine
and drugs. The Safflower also used to provide resistance to
inflammation and muscular problem.
 Safflower is grown as border crop to protect the main crop
of wheat in North India and is also green manure crop at
young stage.
 Hull is used is manufacture of cellulose insulations.

4. Cont….
The floret contains two colouring materials.
Water soluble yellow pigment(20%) “CARTHAMIDIN” and
Orange red dye (2%) which is insoluble in water but readily
soluble in alkaline solution is known as “CARTHAMIN”.
 Carthamin is of commercial importance and is used as
additive in food, beverage, cosmetics & paints. Also for
dyeing of cotton and fabrics

5. Chemical composition
• Oil content :- 28-32%
• Protein:-14-19%
• Crude fibre:-32-34%
• Ash :-5-7%
Oil contains
Fatty acid Percentage%
Linoleic acid 70-80
Oleic acid 6-8
Palmitic acid 5-8
Stearic acid 2-3

6. Area , production and productivity of safflower ( 2020-2021)
• India ranks first in area (60%) and production (66%)in the world
Maharashtra and Karnataka are the major growing states with 94%area and
80% of production
safflower Area production productivity
world 1.19m ha 1.01mt 846kg/ha
India 0.71m ha 0.43mt 606kg/ha
Karnataka 97487ha 58727t 634kg/ha
Source www.agristat.com

7. Floral morphology
Inflorescence is called as capitulum/head
It consist of 20 to 100 florets collected closely together
on a circular receptacle
It is surrounded by several layers of bracts, outer layer
is spined
A small apical opening through which corolla tubes of
flower protrude
Colour of the flower vary from yellow to red orange but
deep yellow is common
Stigma is well covered with florets ensuring self
pollination

8. FLOWER
Safflower has a composite type of inflorescence,
with each plant producing several flowering heads
commonly called capitula.
Each capitulum consists of several flowers, with
the number ranging from 20 to 250 .
 Flowers are enclosed by bracts in circular
order.
The disk flowers are attached to a flat or convex
receptacle
A safflower flower is composed of petals that are
attached to a corolla tube .
 The corolla tube in turn is attached at its base to
an inferior ovary.

9. FLOWERING HABIT
 The flowering period in safflower lasts for a month, as the capitula based on
primary branches flower first, followed by flowering of the capitula based on
secondaries and tertiaries.
Flowering in a capitulum begins in the outermost whorl of florets and proceeds
centripetally over 3 to 5 days.
The flower color in safflower is broadly grouped into four classes:
1.Yellow in bloom, turning to red on drying (Y-R)
2. Yellow in bloom, turning to yellow on drying (Y-Y)
3. Orange in bloom, turning to dark red on drying (O-dark R)
4. White in bloom, turning to white on drying (W-W)

10. POLLINATION
Flower develops into a single-seeded fruit called an
achene, which is commonly known as seed.
Unpollinated stigma remains receptive for several days.
Pollination has been reported to range from 0 to as high
as 59% in different genotypes in India
Safflower pollen is transferred by insects and not by
wind. (honey bees)
 Bees visit the safflower flowers for both pollen and
nectar.
 Each safflower capitulum produces 15 to 60 seeds

11. Anthesis
On the main branch flower blooms earlier than on secondary branches
Within a capitulum blooming begins in the outer circle of floret and
progresses centripetally.
Disc florets usually begin to open in the morning and prolong till mid
night .
Self pollinated crops (90%) with out crossing of 5-40% depending on bee
activity.
Safflower attains maturity in 30 to 35 days from the time when flowering
ends.

12. • Each branch will usually have one to five flower head
• Each flower head contain 15-20 seeds
• Ray florets are absent in safflower. The disc florets are
hermaphrodite.
• When the florets fully emerge from the corolla tube, size of the
anther is about 3.5-4.5 mm.
• Anthesis of disc florets takes place between 05:30-08:00 am.
• The stigma remains receptive 14 hrs. before anthesis and after
72 hrs the receptivity is completely lost.
• The percentage of seed setting declines in the florets pollinated
after 32, 48 and 56 hrs after anthesis. There is no seed setting in
the florets pollinated after 72 hrs after anthesis
• Stigma remains receptive for 32-56 hrs.

13. Breeding objectives :
1) Breeding for high oil content : Normal oil content is 32% of which 72% is
linoleic acid, the factor which reduces blood cholesterol. Oil content is negatively
correlated with yield.
2) Breeding for non -spiny varieties with high oil content. A very limited
success was achieved in safflower
3) Breeding varieties having thin shell :-Thin shelled varieties have high oil
content.
4)Breeding varieties for dry land conditions:-Under dry land conditions the
spiny nature will be more pronounced. How ever dry land varieties with less
pronounced spines were evolved.
5) Breeding varieties resistant to pest and diseases

14. Selfing :
• Safflower is a self pollinated crop(90-100%) with an out
crossing of 5-40% depending on bee activity
• Selfing can be achieved through covering the capitulum
with paper cover before opening of the flowers.
Crossing:
• Flower should be emasculated before anthesis i.e.
stamens are removed without damaging stigma.
•In the next morning freshly collected pollens are dusted
and head is coved with paper cover.

15.  Presently genetic male sterility (GMS), cytoplasmic male sterility
(CMS) and thermo sensitive genetic male sterility (TGMS) lines are
available in India.
 Development of agronomically superior genetic male-sterile lines in
safflower in India have resulted in the development and release of
 Spiny safflower hybrids DSH-129 and MKH-11 in 1997 and NARI
H-15 in 2005, the first non-spiny hybrid safflower NARI-NH-1 in
2001.
Male sterility system in Safflower hybrid seed production

16. BREEDING METHODS
• Introduction and Pure line selection
N-630, Nagpur-7, N-62-8, A-300, Manjira, S-144
• Pedigree method
A-1 (1969), Tara (1976), Nira (1986), Girna (1990), JSI-73 (1998),
NARI-6 (2001), Phule Kusuma.
• Hybrid (gms & cms)
DSH-129 and MKH-11 in 1997 1st non spiny hybrid NARI-NH-1 in
2001, Spiny hybrid NARI-H-15 in 2005.
• Germplasm collection
7316 accessions in GMU, DOR Hyderabad. (consists accessions
from AICRP, local collections, and exotic collections)

17. CLIMATE
 Safflower is well adapted to wide range of climatic condition.
 Temperature is the most important climatic parameter as it is
thermo sensitive and it is mainly grown as rabi oil seed crop.
 Optimum temperature of soil for seed germination 15-16°C. It
may tolerate to temperature of 49°C, if sufficient soil moisture is
available.
 Temperature more than 40°C reduced the plant height, dry
matter production and seed set and test weight
 It is a day neutral plant, but a day length of 12-14 hour is
essential for flowering and seed set

18. Soil :
Being a drought resistant, it is cultivated in all type of soils,
 but well drained, fertile and deep soil with high water holding
capacity are the best.
Safflower is mostly grown on residual soil moisture.
South India – Deep black soil (A.P, Karnataka, Maharashtra).
 North India – latosols (Laterite and sandy loam soil).
Commercial cultivation is extended on medium to deep black
soils in peninsular India
Higher yield are obtained at neutral soil pH ranged of 5-8.0.

19. Isolation
• Isolation distance of 1000 m breeder seed production
• 400 m for foundation seed production
• 200 m for certified seed production
LAND PREPARATION:field should be free from clods.
 it requires deep ploughing. Crop raised for dye purpose
require more and fine tilth than oil crop.
 One deep ploughing with M.B. plough is sufficient
followed by 2-3 harrowing with planking.
Land should be free from volunteer plant

20. Seed source : collected from authenticated source.
Sowing Season – rabi
 Spacing – 60x30cm. Planting ratio- 6:2
Method of sowing – hand dibbling &seed drill.
Depth of sowing – 4-5 cm (Normal).
Seed rate :-9-10kg/ha

21. Irrigation :-water requirement 250-300mm
• sowing & flower bud formation stage (critical stage)
• Rosette stage (Early vegetative stage) is the most critical
stage of safflower i.e. 21 DAS or 4-6 leaf stage and yield
can be increased by 40-60%.
Fertilizer-50Kg N+50kg P+50kg/ha basal,
25KG N top dressing at flowering stage.
Intercultural and weed control:-1-2 hand weeding
+hoeing at 3 weeks and 6-7 weeks DAS

22. ROUGING
• Rouging of male fertile plants appearing in the female rows
should be started atlest 5-6 days before flower initiation.
• Generally 4-5 skilled labours required for rouging of one ha area
in 6-7 days
• Rouging of diseased and offtype plants before flowering.
Field inspection
3 inspection should be carried.
• 1st at vegetative growth stage before development of spines.
• 2nd at the time of flowering to check pollen shedders.
• 3rd at harvesting time to look after physical contamination.

23. PEST MANAGEMENT
PEST CONTROL
Safflower aphid: Spray dimethoate 30
EC @ 750 ml/ha,40
and 60 days after
sowing.
Capsule fly/ Safflower
bud fly:
malathion 50 EC @
1.00 litre/ha or
phosphomidon 100
EC@ 150-200 ml/ha
Safflower caterpillar Spraying of carbaryl 50
WP@ 2.5 - 3.00 kg/ha

24. Diseases
1.Alternaria blight Spray Mancozeb
(0.25%) immediately
after disease is noticed
2.Leaf spot Seed treatment with
thiram 3 g/kg and
spraying of mancozeb
2.5 g
3.Mosaic Spraying of systemic
insecticides,
monocrotophos 1.5
ml/l
4.Powdery mildew Spray wettable sulphur
3 g/l
1.
2.
3.
4.

25. Harvesting and threshing
The crops comes to maturity within 110-120 days.
 Harvest the crop preferably in the morning hours when
shattering would be minimum and spines relatively soft
Maturity index:- heads dry and seed rubs out easily in the hand
 First harvest male rows, then female rows to avoid physical
contamination.
Threshing should be done separately by beating dried stalks with
sticks
The seeds are later cleaned by winnowing or machine
 Dry the produce up to 8% moisture level.

26. Cleaning
Screen aperture size in mm
Top screen Bottom screen
7.25 mm 1.20 mm
Round
perforation
Slotted
perforation
Yield :- 6-7 q/ha

27. Field standards
Specific requirements
factor foundation certified
Off type (max in
%)
0.05 0.10
Objectionable
weed plants
None none

28. Seed standards

29. HYBRIDS PARENTAGE (F X M)
DSH-129 MS9 X A1
NARI-NH-1 MMS X C2829
NARI-H-15 MSV-10-1-5 X GMU 2369
DSH-185 A-133 X 1705-P22
MKH-11 MS-5008 X NMK-3480
MRSA-521 NMK-3480 X MS-5008