Adaptability and Stability of Safflower Genotypes for Oil Production

Area of Science:

• Agronomy
• Plant Breeding
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a vital oilseed crop.
• Assessing genotype adaptability and stability is crucial for crop improvement in diverse environments.
• The Brazilian Cerrado presents unique agricultural conditions for crop cultivation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the agronomic performance of safflower genotypes.
• To identify stable safflower genotypes with high grain yield and oil content.
• To evaluate safflower's potential for out-of-season cultivation in the Brazilian Cerrado.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of 11 safflower genotypes across four distinct environments in the Brazilian Cerrado.
• Application of adaptability and stability analysis methods.
• Assessment of grain yield and oil content as key performance indicators.

Main Results:

• Genotypes P30, P35, P9, P11, and P31 showed superior grain yield.
• Genotypes P43, P7, P11, and P31 demonstrated higher oil content.
• Genotype P9 exhibited the highest stability (Wricke index 0.41%), followed by P35 and P31.
• Genotypes P11 (1045.6 kg ha⁻¹ grain yield, 19.7% oil) and P21 (952.7 kg ha⁻¹ grain yield, 20.6% oil) are recommended.

Conclusions:

• Safflower genotypes P11 and P21 are recommended for cultivation in the Brazilian Cerrado due to their high yield and oil content.
• Safflower demonstrates viability for out-of-season cultivation in this region.
• The crop offers potential for farmer profitability and consistent oil production, especially during periods of corn production uncertainty.