Assessment of Genetic Variability, Heritability, and Trait Associations in Safflower (<i>carthamus tinctorius</i> L.) Genotypes under Field Conditions

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is known as an important oilseed crop being grown worldwide including Pakistan, it is valued for its multipurpose uses, including high-quality edible oil. It is a multipurpose oilseed crop with nutritional and industrial importance, but low productivity persists due to limited genetic improvement and narrow germplasm diversity. The current study was carried out to evaluate genetic diversity, heritability, genetic advancement, and trait associations in safflower genotypes and to identify high-yielding as well high oil content genotype for breeding programs. Hence, the current trial conducted at the Oilseeds Research Institute, Tando jam, Pakistan, during 2023-24. Total fifteen genotypes and four replications carried in randomization completely block scheme. Total ten characters investigated in this experiment like (days to 75% flowering, days to 90% maturity, plant height, branches plant-1, capitula plant-1, number of seeds plant-1, seed yield plant-1, 100-seed index, biological yield plant-1, and oil content (%). Analysis of variance found high and significantly differed (p < 0.05) between verities for overall characters. Coefficient of variance in genotypes and phenotypes are also specified higher for number of seeds, seed yield, and biological yield, nonetheless for 100-seed index obtained lower. Heritability (broad sense) exhibited moderate to higher range and higher heritability genetic advance by seed yield and number of seeds plant-1, it is governed by additive genetic action and very helpful in selections. Correlation results indicated strong positive relationship in branches, capitula, and number of seeds plant-1 with seed yield and biological yield plant-1, highlighting their importance as indirect selection criteria. The safflower genotypes, T-Saf-248, T-Saf-253, T-Saf-306, and T-Saf-251 demonstrated superior overall performance for both seed yield and oil content and the findings provide an outline for selecting these superior safflower genotypes under field conditions