Toward improvement of oil content in safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Abstract

Safflower is one of the humanities oldest crop but world wide comparatively a minor crop limited in distribution because of environmental factor and spiny nature of the crop. More or less Day neutral crop but thermosensitive 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. Safflower, a multipurpose oilseed crop Seed - cooking oil, bird seed Petals - natural dyes (Carthamin) and medicinal use (herbal tea). However in India safflower is manly grown for its premium Oil. The oil content off ruling varieties viz, A1, PBNS -12, Bhima, Phule Kusuma and SSF-708 is around 28-3o% and hence scope for increase the oil content. India import oil more than 60% percent of its annual Requirement. In important to make effort toward the increasing oil production by improving the oil content.