RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE SEED YIELD AND SOME AGRONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SAFFLOWER (Carthamus tinctorius L.) UNDER SEMI-ARID CONDITIONS

This study was carried out in the experimental field of Faculty of Agriculture, University of Eskisehir Osmangazi, in 2009 and 2010 under semi-arid conditions. Thirteen different safflower cultivars and lines (V-49/848, V-50/166, V-50/426, V-51/263, KN 144, Finch, Sahuaripa 88, Ole, AC Stirling, Oleic Leed, US 10, N 5, UC-1) were used as materials. The cultivars and lines were planted in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Significant differences (P<0.01) were found for all studied yield components. The seed yield differed significantly between 976.7 and 1666.0 kg/ha. The seed yield showed a positive and significant correlation with plant height, seed yield per plant, seed weight per head and biological yield per plant. The greatest direct effect corresponded to plant height, seed weight/head and 1000-seed weight on seed yield.