SCREENING OF GERMPLASM LINES AGAINST SAFFLOWER WILT CAUSED BY FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM F. SP. CARTHAMI

Abstract

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) occupies prominent place in the agricultural wealth and economy of India. It belongs to family Compositae and believes
to be native of Afghanistan. The word Carthamus is arabic word quartum (means the colour of dye obtained from florets). It is described as “Kusumbha†in ancient Sanskrit literature. Other Indian names, like Kusum, Karrad (Hindi), Kusumpuli (Bengali), Kusumbo (Gujrathi), Kardi, Kurdi (Marathi), Sendurakam (Tamil), Kusuma (Telgu), Kusube, Kusume (Kannada), Kusumba (Punjabi) seem to have been derived from “Kusumbhaâ€. Present the most common name being “Kusum†or “Kardiâ€. It is a rich source of proteins and edible oil and so many farmers plant it.