Estimates of broad-sense heritability for seed yield and yield components of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.).

This study was carried out to estimate the broad-sense heritability for seed yield and some yield components of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivars. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications in the 2004 growing season in the Middle Black Sea Region conditions of Turkey. Three safflower cultivars (5-154, Dinçer and Yenice) were grown at five locations (Bafra, Ladik, Suluova, Gümüşhaciköy and Osmancik). The heritability for seed yield, plant height, first branch height, number of branch, head diameter, number of seed per head, 1000-seed weight and oil content were estimates as 35%, 93%, 99%, 45%, 21%, 69%, 81% and 59%, respectively. It was found that first branch height was the least affected trait over environments and followed plant height, thousand seed weight and number of seed per head. On the other hand, head diameter, seed yield, number of branch and oil content were the most affected traits versus environmental conditions. The first branch height, plant height and 1000-seed weight could be used to succeed in selection in early generation.