A Study of the Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis of Morphological Traits for Seed Yield and Oil Content in Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) under Late Sown Condition

Background: Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a significant oil crop produced under a wide range of agro-climatic conditions, and the inability to plant the crop on time frequently puts the crop at risk of heat stress, which negatively affects the seed production and oil content. Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between morphological traits and the effects of late-sowing on safflower seed production and oil content, both directly and indirectly. Method: The experiment was carried out in an augmented design with 150 accessions of safflower germplasm and four varieties of checks in Rabi 2014-15 and 2015-16. Yield and oil content were two of eleven quantitative characteristics. Results: There was a negative relationship between the days to 50% blooming and seed output and oil content, but a positive relationship between the number of effective capitula per plant, the number of seeds per capitulum, and 100-seed weight, according to the phenotypic correlation study. Path coefficient study showed that, in terms of direct positive impact on seed output, the number of effective capitula per plant was the most important factor, followed by 100-seed weight. When it came to oil content, the most positively impactful factor was 100-seed weight, whereas the most negatively impactful was days to flowering. Conclusion: These findings indicate that capitula number and seed weight selection would work well in enhancing seed plant output and oil content of safflower grown in late sown conditions.