Safflower is a crop domesticated from wild safflower and saffron thistle species. It is grown for its oil-rich seeds and also was historically grown for the yellow and red dyes extracted from its flowers. The document discusses safflower's origins, uses, nutritional profile, floral morphology, breeding objectives and methods, important varieties and hybrids. It is a self-pollinated crop tolerant of saline soils but sensitive to waterlogging. Breeding efforts aim to develop varieties and hybrids with higher yields, oil content, abiotic and biotic stress resistance, and no spines.

1. Prepared by,
HASANALI NADAF
Jr M.Sc (GPB)
safflower

2. Safflower / kusume
BN:- Carthamus tinctorius
 Family:- Compositae
 Origin:- Mediterranean and Persian gulf
 Chromosome no:- 2n=24
Cultivated spp. May have originated from two
related spp.
1. Carthamus oxycanthus (wild safflower)
2. Carthamus lanatus (saffron thistle)
 Genus carthamus contain about 25 valid spp.

3. Plant and Petal Flower and
Seed

4. Introduction:-
 It is one of the humans oldest crop but world wide
comparatively a minor crop limited in distribution
because of environmental factor and spiny nature of the
crop.
 Earlier- grown for its petals used for coloring beverages,
flavoring food and dye cotton and silk earlier to the
availability of low price aniline dyes.
 Floret contain two coloring material
1.Carthamidin(20%):- a water soluble yellow pigment
2.Carthamin(2%):- a orange red dye insoluble in
water but readily soluble in alkaline solution

5. Important facts about safflower:-
 More or less Day neutral crop but thermo-sensitive so grown as a rabi
crop.
 It has got phenotypic plasticity of plant population i.e. variation in
plant density changes structure and branching maintaining same yield
levels.
 Tolerant to salinity but sensitive to water logging conditions.
 Self pollinated crop with, out crossing - 5% to 40%(honey bees.)
 Both oil and protein content decreases with increased
altitude.(Optimum range is 300-1000 above MSL).

6. Uses of safflower:-
 Oil contains 90% PUFA so it is good for heart patients.
 Dried flowers- treat circulatory
inflammation and muscular
problems.
 Leaves-leafy vegetable.
(carotene, riboflavin and vit.C rich)
 Petal - for dyeing purposes.
 Guard crop - spiny nature.
 Used to feed the birds.

7. Nutritional aspects:-
Oil content:- 28 - 32 %
Protein :- 14 - 19 %
Crude fiber:- 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

8. Floral morphology:-
 Inflorescence is called as capitulum/head.
 It consist of 20 to 100 florets.
 It is surrounded by several layers of bracts,
outer layer is spined.
 A small apical opening through which
corolla tubes of flower protrude.
 Color of the flower vary from yellow
to red orange but deep yellow is common.
 Stigma is well covered by its own pollen ensuring self pollination.

9. • 1. Plant habit; 2. Flowering branch; 3.Detail of head; 4.
Lower part of flower; 5.Upper part of f lower (opened); 6.
achene(Seed)

10. Anthesis, floral biology:-
 On 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
prolongs till mid day.
 Self pollinated crop(90%) with Out crossing of 5-40%
depending on bee activity.

11. Selfing and crossing techniques:-
Selfing :-
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 before anthesis.
In the next morning freshly collected pollens are
dusted and head is covered with paper bag.

12. Breeding objectives:-
 Breeding for spinelessness.
Breeding for developing thermo insensitive
varieties.
Breeding for biotic and abiotic resistance .
Breeding for high yield.
Breeding for high oil content.
Breeding for developing M S lines.

13. BREEDING METHODS
Introduction and Pure line selection
• N-630,Nagpur-7, N-62-8, A-300, Manjira, S-144
Pedigree
• A-1 (1969), Tara (1976), Nira (1986), Girna (1990),
JSI-73 (1998), NARI-6 (2001), Phule Kusuma.
SSD by Fernandez and Gimenez (1986) in spain
• Tomejil (1986), Rancho (1986), Merced(1986),
Alameda (1986), Rinconda (1986).

14. CONT…….
Back cross used in U S A
• US-10 resistant to root rot (Phytopthora drechsleri),
UC-1, (high oleic acid both of them)
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)

15. NARI
• Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute Phaltan
Maharashtra – top in India
• Development of high oil varieties and hybrids with
minimal irrigation.
• Popularization of safflower florets as herbal tea.
• Non spiny V & Hs giving high seed weight & oil
content.
• Develop perfect CMS systems.
• Develop short duration safflower for poor water
holding and nutrient deficit soils.
Ex:- NARI series

16. VARIETES AND HYBRIDS
Varieties:-
S 144, A1, A2, A300, NARI 6, NARI 38, Parbhni
kusum, Phule kusum, Bhima, sharda, PBNS 40, SSF
658
Hybrids:-
DSH 129 :-First hybrid released by directorate of oil
seed research, hyderabad MKH 11, NARI 11, NARI-NH-1,
NARI-NH-15, MRSA-521

17. IMPORTANT VARIETIES & HYBRIDS
• A-1 (national check)
• Bhima (local chek)
• JSI-7 (non spiny check)
• DSH-129 1st Hybrid by DOR Hyderabad.
References:-
 Field crop production(commercial crops) vol-2
-Dr. Rajendra prasad, ICAR publication.
 WWW.Google.com
 www.wikipedia.com